The Wild Coast Hike - Port St Johns to Coffee Bay - A Day-By-Day Storyboard
Day 1: Port St Johns to Madakeni > Day 2: Madakeni to Tsweleni > Day 3: Tsweleni to Hluleka > Day 4: Hluleka to Tshani > Day 5: Tshani to Coffee Bay
Day 1: Port St Johns to Madakeni
- Distance: +/- 18km
- Walking time: +/- 5-6 hours
- Terrain: Hilly at the start. Flattens out in afternoon section
- Highlights: Wildlife at Silaka Nature Reserve. Panoramic views of Sicambeni
The hike departs from Second Beach in Port St Johns and heads towards Sugarloaf Rock. The trail then veers slightly inland towards Sicambeni. You stop for lunch at the Mngazi River Mouth, where Nelson Mandela spent a night during his honeymoon. After lunch, the trail closely follows the coast. After stopping at a beach for a refreshing swim, you reach the Mngazana River in the mid-afternoon. This estuary contains the second-largest Mangrove swamp in Southern Africa. Here a community-owned canoeing project helps you to explore the estuary and lush mangroves, while contributing to alleviating the poverty found in this beautiful but isolated area.
If you like fishing, you can hire a local gilly to show you the best spots and help you bait up, or you can go off on your owm. After dinner, you can visit the Y-Not Phuza Tavern to drink Transkei Dumpies (which are 750ml quarts!) and chat with locals about the history and customs of the Xhosa people. Accommodation is village-based in traditional rondavels.
