The Wild Coast is like no other location in South Africa. Far from the turmoil of the cities, it's a place where backpackers join Xhosa villagers, dedicated web surfers and new-age hippies far from the rest of the world. You'll understand you've reached the Wild Coast when the highway gives-way to a rough dirt track, and you begin to see more roaming animals than vehicles on the roadway. Psychedelic green hills, crested with essential mud rondavels control the scenery then part to expose a large and endless shoreline framed beneath an incredible sky.
Scattered along this coastline you'll find some of South Africa's best backpackers. The vibes are transmittable, the setting spectacular and there suffice activities available to keep even the most passionate adventurist busy. Here are 30 reason's why you'll want to include the Wild Coast to your next South African travel plan, and why it might simply be the very best location to be a backpacker on the planet!
1. Discovering your own secret beach
The wild coast provides some 300 km of continuous shoreline. Safeguarded from view by soaring cliffs, there are limitless bays, coves and secret spots ripe for discovery. And other than for the grazing cattle, you're almost guaranteed to have them all to yourself.
2. Consuming the best seafood you have probably ever tasted
Wander the coastline and you make certain to encounter town children collecting oysters and mussels, or a regional fishermen returning with his early morning catch. Treat yourself to the freshest seafood picnic you'll ever have right there on the beach.
3. Watching an ideal sundown over the ocean (from a cliff, with a complimentary sundowner).
All along the Wild Coast you will have your choice of cliffs providing ideal 360 panoramas of the sundown What could be much better? How about the complimentary sundowners provided by the Coffee Shack as you rest on a hill ignoring the ocean, or the complementary flight up to Port St. John's old airstrip by the Amapondo team for unparalleled view of the entire coast.
4. Discovering to surf with the least expensive lessons on the coast.
With broad sand beaches and browse catering to all levels, the Wild Coast is the perfect place to pick up a board. The hostels provide some unbelievable deals on newbie lessons, with 2 hours group lessons for as low as 50 Rand. Multi-day programs are likewise available for those desiring a more extensive experience, or merely rent a board and set out on your own.
5. Canoeing down the Wild Coast's pristine rivers.
The Wild Coast is blessed with a bounty of rivers ending in lovely coastal lagoons. Hire a canoe and direct anybody of these waterways going through deep gorges, and taking in the vibrant towns where the regional kids will greet you with a smile.
6. Free, yes FREE seafood!
Free sundowner sounded quite amazing? Well how about complimentary seafood? The Coffee Shack likes their freebies. From welcome drinks, to free nights' lodging they have a long list of extraordinary incentives that will have backpackers staying longer than prepared. My preferred? The piping hot bowls of fresh mussels served totally free at the bar each night before dinner. Yum!
7. Cliff leaping.
Adrenaline addicts will love the opportunity to throw themselves off the Mpuzi cliffs into the breaking waves into the azar blue waves below. Found between Coffee Bay and Mdumbi the cliffs offer amazing views. It's a nice day trek, so even if you're not inclined to start, it's the ideal place to pull up with a picnic and chill by the sea.
8. Slim dipping on Chintsa beach.
Chintsa has among many amazing beaches I've ever gone to. Soft great sand stretches around a cove so big that when the ocean breeze starts can be found in you can't even see the other side. It's the ideal place for a long walk, a romantic picnic or to get a bit cheeky and take that nudie dip.
9. Experiencing a local taxi.
We've all seen the crazy mini bus taxi's blaring music and swerving alarmingly around Jo' burg and Cape Town. In the Wild Coast the regional taxis are an entire various experience and a terrific method to get a sense of real community life. Flag down a converted bakkie as it rambles down a dusty road, and sign up with the school child, chickens and chattering ladies jostling for area on their method to the marketplace. It's going to be a bumpy ride, however will likely provide the most enduring impression from your entire journey.
10. Taking part on an impromptu game of beach soccer.
All over on the Wild Coast you'll be greeted by smiling school kids fishing, swimming or making their way to and from school. As evening sets in impromptu games of soccer break out every where. The town kids will be more going to take you on and demonstrate their really impressive abilities.
11. Riding a horse down miles of untouched beach.
Simply when you thought you couldn't find a more romantic type of place, Bulangula lodge offers sunset horse rides along their gorgeous stretch of untouched beach. What a great way to end a best day!
12. Decreasing your footprint.
The Wild Coast is just that: wild, rugged, undiscovered, pristine. Preserving this paradise is the ethos of most hostel owners here and can be seen in every element of their operations. Built utilizing sustainable methods and running partially or absolutely off the grid, these locations use solar power, rocket shows and in your area grown produce to provide you with all your conveniences while preserving the paradise that surrounds them. Go To the Wild Lubanzi to discover their imaginative and funky eco-friendly renovations, and sleep under the stars.
13. Learning to play the drums.
Evenings are a chance to listen to some unbelievable local music as talented young villagers pull-up around the campfire and fill the night air with local rhythms. Grab a drum and see if you can maintain. Or sign-up for among the drum making workshop in the town and find out to play your custom-made made drum.
14. Listening to the sounds of the ocean from your tent.
Outdoor camping is an excellent budget plan option for backpackers and the Wild Coast has some of the very best websites I've come across on my journeys. The wide open spaces suggest you won't need to worry about that noisy intoxicated backpacker lumbering through, trying to find the loos, so the only sound you'll require to fret about is the lapping of the waves.
15. Going to a moon celebration at the famous Coffee Shack.
A night on the Wild Coast is usually spent star looking or around the fire listening to the rhythms of local drummers. Once every month things are taken up a notch as tourists come from near and fare to experience the Coffee Shack's famous moon parties. Don't anticipate to get much sleep!
16. Getting lost hiking.
The wild coast offers an incredible network of coastal tracks extending all the method from Port Saint John's to Bulangula. From day walkings to week long adventures, there is something for everyone and it makes certain to take your breath away. Paths go through local towns, green pastures and swelling coastline. Be prepared to cross rivers, find untouched beaches and ask directions from friendly villagers when you get a little lost.
17. Consuming Umbako (standard Xhosa bread).
There is seriously nothing much better than the piping hot Xhosa bread found all use the wild coast. Baked in a poitjie over the fire, this mealie bread is dense and scrumptious. With a dob of butter it is merely divine.
18. Spending a night around the campfire.
I can't think of a much better way to end up a day than bring up to a roaring fire under the stars. Weather condition permitting, you're almost ensured to find a fire pit crackling at each and every backpackers. What much better location to loosen up, split a beer and swap stories about the days events.
19. Digging into common suppers.
A big part of being a backpacker is socializing with like-minded tourists as you pick up the very best tips on where to head next. The communal suppers provided at the majority of Wild Coast hostels create the best setting. Food is locally grown and merely delicious. Believe huge portions, fresh produce, and traditional Xhosa dishes. Make sure to join one at Bulangula or the Wild Lubanzi.
20. Understanding that you are returning.
The majority of the backpackers on the wild coast are partially or totally community owned, and all work closely with their regional towns to secure cultural integrity and enhance education and services. This implies you can spend your dollars guilt complimentary understanding it's going to the people who need it most in an area with a few of the most affordable education and employment rates in South Africa.
21. Experiencing Bulangula's rocket showers.
Being off the grid does not indicate you need to sacrificing on comfort, and no location shows this much better than Bulangula! Their piping hot outside showers run an in your area developed gas rocket chimney. Sounds remarkable? It is!
22. Checking out the Hole in the Wall.
The Hole is the Wall is among those places where nature really flaunts. Here, where the Mpako river meets the coast, the Indian Ocean's remarkable power is exposed in the remarkable tunnels and caverns sculpted into the rock. Hole in the Wall can be checked out on a good day hike from Coffee Bay or Wild Lubanzi, however likewise hosts a backpackers, a resort and a spectacular strip of beach if you choose to stay. The river uses fantastic swimming for those wanting a break from the browse, and its shady banks are the perfect place to park for a lazy afternoon