Tailor-made The Wild Coast: Introduction

The Wild Coast is arguably the most attractive region in South Africa. Stretching from East London up to the KwaZulu-Natal border, it is an area of lush tropical forest hugging river valleys whose estuaries spill into lagoons behind white sandy beaches. Visitors are a rarity, and often you will share huge stretches of coastline with one or two local fishermen and perhaps the odd cow: cattle are prolific in this exclusively rural area.

The coastal towns are small and popular with backpackers and surfers, whilst our preferred accommodation is often slightly away from urban areas for a real sense of exploring an untouched region. You can spend just a couple of days at one of the simple resorts or hotels, but we encourage people to take longer to uncover the area. There are a number of guided hiking trails for the active, comprising walks of around six hours a day along empty beaches, across attractive river mouths and always ending in a hospitable venue for food, drinks and a well-earned rest. There are ample opportunities for fishing, swimming, birdwatching, watersports and learning about the local Xhosa culture.

This really is a place to stop a while, unwind and appreciate one of the real unspoilt, undiscovered gems of southern Africa.

Selected Highlights

Our specialists have travelled the length and breadth of the country to research the best places to stay and things to do. Here they list a few of their favourite “unmissables”. Click here for more highlights

Approaching Port St Johns

As you drive towards Port St Johns, the road hugs a river bank, dense with tropical vegetation. The atmosphere is steamy and a pair of verdant...  [more]

Hole In The Wall

Near the small town of Coffee Bay, along a rutted 4x4 trail, is Hole in the Wall. This is an isolated ridge of rock, not far off the shore where the...  [more]

The Cliff Top Paths

Much of the coastline round here is a series of remote bays linked by towering cliffs. Walking along the cliff tops, passing the flowering aloes and...  [more]