• Chintsa-East

    Chintsa is supposedly named after the "crumbling" banks of its river during floods, the small town of Cintsa is split into two by the river and as it's one of the last towns before the Wild Coast starts, it already has some of the Wild Coast feel and beaches that run for miles and miles. We think that it's a lovely stop.
  • Morgan's Bay

    Morgan's Bay has some of the most dramatic high cliff scenery anywhere south of the Transkei Wild Coast.
  • Hole in the Wall

    The Hole in the Wall has formed through millennia of crashing waves and constant erosion.
  • Coffee Bay

    Unspoilt and undeveloped, Coffee Bay is a backpackers paradise with most people stopping off here on their trip up the coast. All you need is time…
  • Mpande EC

    Mpande is surrounded by exquisite scenery, wild walks and a warm little rural village.
  • Mthatha Eastern Cape

    Mthatha had a former name of Umtata, Mthatha is the Wild Coast's biggest city.Mthatha is a great place to get your shopping and banking needs if you are going to spend a bit of time on the Wild Coast.
  • Port St Johns

    Once a busy trading port, Port St Johns nestles on the banks of the Umzimvubu River. Many people arrive planning on spending just a few days, and end up leaving months later. It's called Pondo Fever and it's a pleasure.
  • Lubanzi

    A large area villages along the Transkei coast with breathtaking views
  • Bulungula

    Bulngula is situated south of Coffee Bay and is the Wild Coast at its best. If you are offer the perfect holiday destination, you can't get much better than this.
  • Mdumbi

    This small coastal settlement boasts great surf and fishing

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Wild Coast

The Wild Coast has some of the countries best backpackers.It is a wilderness where man is a part of the landscape, nor it's unordained boss. Rolling green hills are met by sky-sized bursts of cloudbreak and patches of brilliant blue, the hillsides littered with sheep, goats, cows and pin pricks of mud huts.

Where every backpacker should visit.

This is a wilderness where man is a part of the landscape, not it’s unordained boss, where rolling green hills are met by sky-sized bursts of cloudbreak and patches of brilliant blue, where hillsides are littered with sheep, goats, cows and pin pricks of mud huts.
It is a place where young boys herd goats, throwing expertly aimed pebbles to re-route the wayward, where women wash noisily in rivers and the old wait patiently. For life? For death? For the passing of time?
It is a place where dusty black pigs snuffle alongside the road and where wide smiles greet passing travellers…

There is space to breathe here. And time to do anything, or nothing. Because, here in Africa, time is savoured slowly, not rushed and overburdened like in the white man’s land...

Kick off your shoes
Get ready to kick off your shoes and eat with your hands…
A message from Mother Earth
Scarce natural resources are being pillaged to feed seafood hungry tourists. Sadly, both the local people and the Transkei hostels aren’t giving any thought to the long-term effects of tourism and how it’s affecting our oceans.
Please don’t buy under-sized or out-of-season crayfish/seafood. Rather support local crafts that not only develop skills, but help to create sustainable futures and enrich tradition.
Driving Miss daisy mad

Dust and potholes are the Main Feature on any trip, with pedestrians and animals offer entertaining side-shows.
They’re a doubly bad hazard at night so don’t drive after dark. It’s daft.
Thermal insulation
Ever wonder why they don’t paint the whole mud hut? It’s so the sun warms up the mud (you’ll notice the plain mud rectangle on the side that the sun shines strongest) and keeps the hut warm at night. Clever huh?
Great hiking trail
There’s a great hiking trail from Port St Johns to Coffee Bay.
Escape the winter chills

The Transkei is a good winter destination - the days are warm and sunny, the nights are cool and there’s no rain!
It’s also the fishing season - so you can feast on cheap seafood legally.


Places to Stay

  • Areena Riverside Resort

    Areena Riverside Resort lies on a small piece of paradise overlooking a stunning lagoon that meanders into the sea in Chintsa.
  • Buccaneers Lodge and Backpackers

    Buccaneers is one of the best backpackers in South Africa, this unique backpackers is a place that most travellers will visit - check it out for yourself.
  • Bulungula Lodge

    A true African paradise with Ivory coloured beaches framed by green hills
  • Jungle Monkey

    Perched on a hill overlooking the sea, Jungle Monkey Backpackers Lodge promises warm welcomes and cold beers…
  • Mdumbi Backpackers

    In the Mdumbi River valley in the heart of rural Transkei, this small settlement on the coast has brilliant surf and great fishing. As there’s only one small shop, we suggest that self-caterers stock up before arriving.
  • Mtentu River Lodge

    Mtentu River Lodge lies in an isolated part of the Wild Coast between Port St Johns and Port Shepstone.
  • Mthatha Backpackers and Tours

    Mthatha backpackers in Mthatha offer many exciting things to do in the capital of the Wild Coast. Do not leave town without a visit to Mandela's birthplace.
  • WildRooster Backpackers

    This Backpackers is perched on a hill where hutted green hills roll down to the river mouth and to the sea - an oasis of tranquillity

What to do

  • Amadiba Adventures

    This is an amazing trip into the heart of the Wild Coast. Their office open daily from 7am to 10pm.
  • Wild Side Hiking

    Wet, wild and wickedly gorgeous – that’s a 5-day Wild Coast hike with Wild Side Hiking.
 Feeling lucky?
(randomly selected service providers from all regions)

Funky Safaris
Safari time.
(Nelspruit,Mpumalanga)

Pippins Country House
An escape from city lights with the Winelands, beach and the airport within easy reach.
(Grabouw,Overberg )

Amphitheatre Adventures
A rare opportunity to visit a remote area of Lesotho.
(Northern Drakensberg,Lesotho)

Bayside Beach House
Backed by a nature reserve and not far from the lagoon and sea, this is a great spot for some time out.
(Betty's Bay,Overberg )

Stumble Inn
This Stellenbosch backpackers is an easy going place in the centre of Stellenbosch with lots of upbeat energy.
(Stellenbosch,Wine Region)

Drakensberg Adventures
Based at Sani Lodge, they offer tours into the spectacular mountain kingdom of Lesotho.
(Southern Drakensberg,Lesotho)

Hole in the Wall Backpackers
This Wild coast hostel creates space and time to do absolutely nothing in, if that's what you desire.
(Coffee Bay,Wild Coast)

Travellers Inn
Travellers Inn is in Rustenburg, conveniently situated for access to the Magaliesberg, Sterkfontein, Plilanesberg and Sun City.
(Rustenburg and surrounds,North West Province)

Brown Sugar Backpackers
A perfect backpackers to stay at when in Johannesburg.
(Johannesburg,Johannesburg)

Cat and Moose Backpackers
The Cape Town backpackers which is located at the top end of Long Street, next to the Long Street Baths and all the action.
(Cape Town City Centre,Cape Town)