The Eastern Cape Wild Coast runs along a rugged coast of untouched shorelines and traditional Xhosa villages. It is as if time stood still on this picturous coastline. Friendly people, cows 🐄 and goats, crazing 🐐 , immensely beautiful waterfalls, and streams contribute to this unforgettable hiking experience
Day 1 🚙
On our way to hike the Wild Coast of South Africa 🇿🇦👣 Cremorne to Misikaba
Day 2 👣
Wild Coast of South Africa 🇿🇦👣 Our first hiking day, Misikaba to Mkweni 🥾🥳
Wonderful day walking in the rain. On the way we met the Gosh family (of Umngazi). They appeared out of the mist out of nowhere. They kindly invited us for coffee ☕️ & delicious Pandoro cake (an Italian Christmas 🎄 cake) at their home. They were very kind to us and Offered their kayaks 🛶 to us, this way our backpacks 🎒 safely crossed the river and stay dry. Lovely people !
We pitched our hiking tents under beautiful Milkwood and Red Milkwood trees ⛺️ Spending the night around a camp fire. A "million stars lodge" !!!
Day 3 👣
On our second hiking day from Mkweni, we passed some of the most amazing waterfalls including the 80-metre high Waterfall Bluff which plunge directly into the ocean, Cathedral rock and Top Hat, along the way.
Through traditional Pondo villages, rolling grass hills, rocky headlands, and sandy beaches. We ended this magnificent day at a lovely spot on the banks of a stream where we pitched our hiking tents. Million stars 🌟🌟tent!⛺️ Fantastic!
Day 4 👣
Our 3rd hiking day and we walked to Mboyti. Where we enjoyed a delicious buffet at the lodge. The seafood soup is to die for!
The sheer beauty of the valleys, hills, deep gorges, lush vegetation and waterfalls, indigenous forests with bird singing makes this area a hikers paradise.
Mbotyi, Its name is the Xhosa word for 'place of beans' and, unsurprisingly, the climate and fertile soils are perfect for growing beans. It is also condusive to growing tea, and the Magwa Tea Estates sprawl around Mbotyi - one of the larest tea estates in the country, employing a great many of the local people.
Wild Coast of South Africa 🇿🇦👣 Our 4th hiking day, from Mbotyi to Manteka🥾🥳
Another wonderful day hiking along this untamed beautiful coastline. Ending the crossing the Manteku River. An extremely beautiful river mouth.
We pitched our hiking tents close to the Manteka River next to a large area of mint growing wild. ⛺️ A "million stars lodge" !!!
Glorius evening around a camp fire🔥, sipping mint water. 🍹
Another wonderful day hiking along steep grassy hills with amazing views, along beaches and enjoyed the river crossings.
We stayed at Ntafufu Tented camp, high on a hill with awesome panoramic views of the sea, Ntafufu estuary and river valley. Surrounded by indigenous forest with birds singing in the trees. We were we blessed by the call of the African Fish Eagle. ⛺️
The Ntafufu estuaries provides a suitable habitat for mangroves (the only trees that can tolerate sea water). We were privileged to see fine stands of Black, White and Red mangroves. These in turn provide an indespensable nursery area for many juvenile marine fish and crustaceans. Eventually these fish, prawns and crabs grow to provide food and recreational angling for both locals and visitors. The beautiful Mangrove Kingfisher is one of the rarest birds and is still found in the area.
Another wonderful day hiking along steep grassy hills with amazing views, along beaches and enjoyed the river crossings.
The Ntafufu estuaries provides a suitable habitat for mangroves (the only trees that can tolerate sea water). We were privileged to see fine stands of Black, White and Red mangroves. These in turn provide an indespensable nursery area for many juvenile marine fish and crustaceans. Eventually these fish, prawns and crabs grow to provide food and recreational angling for both locals and visitors. The beautiful Mangrove Kingfisher is one of the rarest birds and is still found in the area.
