A long stretch of the Eastern Cape coastline is known as the Wild Coast because of its lack of development and its many untouched sandy and rocky beaches. It comprises the area along the Indian Ocean between Port Edward on the border of Kwazulu Natal and the Great Kei River mouth in Eastern Cape. The Wild Coast is home to the Pondo and Xhosa people and their villages and huts are dotted around the hills and valleys. Some areas of the Wild Coast are only accessible with a 4WD vehicle, especially in summer when the rains turn the gravel roads to mud. In the dry season, however, the gravel roads can be negotiated with caution in a normal vehicle.
Pondoland between Port St. Johns and Port Edward is the prime area of untouched beauty along the Wild Coast. There are hiking trails all along the Wild Coast that rate as the best coastal walks in South Africa. Special places along the Pondoland coast include Mkambati, Msikaba, Port Grosvenor, Lambasi Bay, Luputhana, Mbotyi, Mzintlava Mouth and Mntafufu Mouth.
Port St. Johns is a small town at the mouth of the Mzimvubu River with guest houses, B & B’s and holiday homes for rental.
Coffee Bay is a popular landmark with a few hotels and guest houses and can be reached on a tar road. Close by is the spectacular Hole in the Wall, a sandstone island with a large hole in the centre where waves come crashing through.
Eastern Cape Parks offer very reasonably priced accommodation in spectacular Wild Coast reserves such as Dwesa, Hluleka and Silaka that are definitely worth visiting.
Several small and reasonably priced hotels can be found at accessible areas along the Wild Coast.The Wild Coast is for adventurous people who love the combination of untouched shores, fantastic hiking and mountain biking and the relaxed Xhosa and Pondo way of life.