Ah, the Wild Coast, where green hills tumble into the ocean, where the rivers have hidden waterfalls, where the beaches are deserted…
The landscape, punctuated by cattle and rondavels, hasn’t changed much over the last few decades. It’s the heartland of the amaXhosa people and save for a few busy spots like Coffee Bay and Port St Johns, you feel more like a guest than a tourist.
There are new tar roads and bridges in the pipeline, but for now, this corner of the Eastern Cape between the Kei and Mtamvuna rivers is still wild and pristine.
Several other rivers also empty into the sea along this stretch, making it almost impossible to travel along the coastline. Places might only be a few kilometres apart as the oystercatcher flies, but it can take hours to travel between them because you have to head inland to find a bridge.
But who’s complaining? The abundant natural beauty means that every place to stay – be it a backpacker lodge, caravan park, self-catering house or family hotel – has a sea view and a beach that’s even prettier than the last one.
FOR THE FAMILY
1 Trennerys
When I pull up at the reception office, a guest in a Toyota Fortuner stares at my Mahindra Scorpio. “Looks like you also came prepared for dirt roads. When I came here on my motorbike five years ago, all the roads were dirt,” he says a little glumly.
These days, the road from the pont over the Kei River is tarred, which makes it even easier to stay at Trennerys.
Denne historien er fra December 2021/January 2022-utgaven av go! - South Africa.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra December 2021/January 2022-utgaven av go! - South Africa.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Rolling out the big guns
If you're still scanning the horizon for a Chinese automotive invasion you're looking the wrong way. It's already happening, and the new GWM Tank is the off-road spearhead into the highly lucrative and hotly contested lifestyle market.
TAKE A HIKE
The beautiful agony of Tienuurkop
Time out in Dullies
A long weekend in Dullstroom is just long enough to make you realise you need to spend several more weekends here! There's food, drink, art and action in abundance. Here's your guide.
Gallivanting in the Galápagos!
The Galápagos Islands are on many a traveller's wish list. They were on Hanlie and Vivian Gericke's too, even though the price of visiting made their eyes water. Was it worth it? Read on...
BURCHELL AND THE COUNTRY OF THE BUSHMEN
How many times have you driven through a landscape and wished you could have seen it centuries ago? In 1811, the English artist and explorer, William John Burchell, travelled through South Africa. Join us as we follow in his footsteps.
Long live the Hibiscus Coast
The KZN South Coast is a national treasure. It's still the place to go if you want a classic seaside holiday complete with warm waves, cold beer, soft serve and good vibes. Here's your guide.
The island at the end of the earth
Imagine adlace-with the cleanest air arid:the clearest seawater, where_no human.oranimabwants to:harm you: A placewhere the climates balmy. year-round:-with a sekrhistory ahd wwild scenery. A place like this:exist8” and it’s called St Helena.
A day on the road
You never know what the road will bring. Toast Coetzer heads south on the N1 and discovers South Africa.
The wilder shore
The final leg of a 30-day trek across East Africa sees lan Tyrer and the Africa - Wild & Untamed crew explore both shores of Lake Malawi. Get ready for an overloaded ferry, a croc attack and being surrounded by elephants...
A river runs through it
Sabie is onthe Drakensberg escaromentialongMpumalanga’s famous Panorama Route. Want a weekend away surrounded by forests and waterfalls? Here's wnat you need to know.
