The Wild Coast draws many fishers. Catches include musselcracker and sardines. Southern Right whales and their calves are regularly spotted from May to November, and common and bottlenose dolphins are often seen close to shore. Coffee Bay is popular among surfers, anglers and shell collectors. To the south, 'the Hole in the Wall' is a prominent landmark. Waves continuously crash through the huge hole in the cliff. The coast on both sides of the cliff is notorious for the number of ships that have been wrecked there. In addition to fishing, the giant sand dunes and rich oyster beds, the Wild Coast is renowned for its beautiful beaches. Visitors to the rural village of Qunu are shown the plot where former President Nelson Mandela's childhood home used to stand, as well as his parents' graves.
Hole in the Wall Copyright: Hole in the Wall Hotel
Coffee Bay located in the heart of the Wild Coast and named after a coffee-carrying ship which ran aground here in 1863. Coffee Bay is best known for its extraordinary rock formation, The Hole-In-The-Wall, located 8 km south of Coffee Bay. The tunnel is large enough for a large fishing vessel to pass through, and has been cut out of solid rock by the pounding of the waves over millions of years.
2nd beach Port St. Johns Copyright: Backpack.co.za
Port St Johns is a small coastal village in South Africa known as the Jewel of the Wild Coast. The Wild Coast is a stretch of 250 kilometres of coast, still untouched by plastic civilisation and offers rich experiences and adventures. The Transkei refers to the Easternn region of the Eastern Cape.
The Wild Coast is the coastal area of this region, running from Kei Mouth to Port Edward. The village perches next to a massive river estuary the Umzimvubu which has carved its way through the mountains leaving two towering 300 meter ramparts on both sides. The village has escaped industrial development and is renowned instead for its unparalleled natural beauty and relaxed lifestyle which makes it a wonderful place to have a holiday. The African noise and colour is contrasted by the crumbling reminders of its colonial history. Dense tropical bush encroaches into the village and a short walk will take you into silent forests.
The largest town in the Wild Coast region Umtata, named after the river on which it lies. Umtata was the capital of what was known as the Transkei homeland in the Apartheid time. The town was originally built as a buffer between Xhosa tribes, the Mpondo and Thembu. President Nelson Mandela was born in the area in a small village near to Umtata, and his clan is related to the Thembu royal family.
Lusikisiki
Located 30 kms from Port St. Johns under the warm African sun, Lusikisiki is the perfect town to experience the warmth of the Mpondo people and the beauty of the Wild coast. The region is wild and untamed, bordered by the warm Indian Ocean. Lusikisiki is home of legends like Khotso Sethunsa, a medicine man who was world famous in his time. This is also the home of the King of amaMpondo in Quakeni, his majesty King Sigcau. It is also an excellent location for hiking / rock climbing / mountain biking. Popular sites in the region are Cathedral Rock and Waterfall Bluff. With lush green forests and roaring waterfalls, Lusikisiki is a jewel in Pondoland.
