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Wild Coast Holidays | Wild Coast Accommodation & Activities South Africa
The Eastern Cape Wild Coast of South Africa offers adventurous family holidays with accommodation ranging from camping, bed & breakfast and self-catering apartments to hotel luxury. The Wild Coast:The Wild Coast originally encompassed the rural 'Transkei' region only, and stretched from the Kei River in the south to the Mthamvuma River, 250km to the north. Included in the Wild Coast region today, are the pretty seaside villages that run south along the coastline between the Kei River and East London. The Wild Coast is so far off the beaten tourist track that it has remained relatively untouched and unspoilt. Apart from the larger towns of Port St Johns and Coffee Bay, most settlements north of the Kei River are made up of only a handful of fisherman's cottages, with accommodation in the form of a lone backpackers hostel or hotel. The Transkei is home to several of the Xhosa tribes; it is a green and pleasant grassland stretching inland from the coast to the foothills of the Drakensberg Mountains. Living in the south is the Gcaleka section of the Xhosa tribe, in the middle the Tembu and Bomvana tribes, and in the north the Pondo and Mpondomise tribes. Smaller tribal groups include the Cele, Xesibe and the Mfengu. Each tribe has its own distinguishing costumes, colours, beads and articles of clothing. Red and orange are the favourite colours of the Xhosa, Thembu and Bomvana. Light blue is the favoured colour of the closely related Pondo and Mpondomise tribes. The countryside is dotted with thatched rondavel type huts, all built with doors facing east. The land is communally owned and huts are grouped in family units (umzi). The people grow mielies (corn) and keep cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, geese and chickens. Men along the coast supplement their income by catching fish and crayfish, which they sell to tourists. People tend to wear western style clothing these days and this is especially prevalent amongst the younger generation. Traditional clothing is still worn at ceremonies and tourists visiting between late autumn and early spring will be sure to see the outfits worn by the "abakwetha", boys who are undergoing initiation into manhood. Witchcraft and superstition play a large part in the lives of the people, and they are want to believe in creatures such as the uthikoloshe, a mischievous hairy goblin who can only be seen by children. Christianity is well rooted, but traditional religious practices continue to flourish and there is belief in a supreme being, a creator of everything, known variously as umDali, Qamata or uThixo. The ancestors are venerated and it is believed that failure to placate the dead will result in misfortune. For this purpose, advice should be sought from an "igqhira" (diviner / witchdoctor) who can communicate with the spirit world. Most witchdoctors are women who have undergone a lengthy apprenticeship. Scenically, the Transkei is at its best on the coast, the roads to which lead through unforgettable scenery that offers interesting glimpses into the way of life of a people living in a manner totally different to that of those in Europe or America. 
It can be said without exaggeration that the Wild Coast is the pearl in the crown of the Eastern Cape with countless natural attractions and a rich cultural heritage. It is a place of spirit and adventure; of rugged coastline rich in diversity and wilderness; of sweeping estuaries and beautiful sandy beaches broken by rocky headlands. The rivers and villages here have names known only to the adventurous few who have been there. After a long day filled with exploration and adventure, head home to relaxing, comfortable accommodation that will leave you refreshed and ready for another day. The Wild Coast is well known for its magnificent hiking trails, including the legendary "Strandloper Trail", which begins near Kei Mouth and passes through Morgan Bay, Haga Haga and the Jikeleza Route villages, before terminating at Gonubie. Wrecks along this stretch of rugged coastline will stir the imagination and intrepid explorers will be thrilled by the pontoon adventure, as vehicles and passengers are ferried across the river at Kei Mouth. Famous landmarks include "the Gates" at Port St Johns, Hole in the Wall, Magwa Falls, Waterfall Bluff, the Jacaranda shipwreck, Nongqawuse's pools, the Morgan Bay cliffs and bead beach at Double Mouth, where it is thought the Santo Espirito floundered in 1608. It's the perfect place to do a little treasure hunting for Ming porcelain and Carnelian beads. Witness a spectacular sight during the winter months, as shoals of sardines attract a frenzy of activity from gannets, seals, dolphins and predatory fish as they migrate up the Wild Coast. Vantage points along the coastline, such as the cliffs at Coffee Bay and Morgan Bay are great places to do some dolphin and whale watching. Humpback and Southern Right Whales migrate from the Antarctic to the shores of South Africa to calve and are often seen from these vantage points. The area has always been a firm favourite with anglers, offering excellent fishing grounds both at the coast and in the estuaries, particularly at the mouth of the Kei River, which is navigable for several kilometres upstream. Launching from the Kei River Mouth is an exhilarating start to a wonderful day out at sea with magnificent views of the coast. Other activities on the Wild Coast include golf, deep-sea fishing, dolphin and whale watching, fly fishing, mountain biking, hiking and nature trails, rock climbing, abseiling, surfing, canoeing, horse riding, game viewing and bird watching. The environment of the Wild Coast remains largely untouched by developers, leaving a wealth of scenic beauty for the adventurous visitor to discover. This coupled with a great climate, hot summers with mild & dry winters, makes it an ideal tourist destination. Whilst there is vast range of accommodation and available to the visitor, tourism is still a small-scale industry in many places, with some villages consisting of only one hotel or backpackers and a few fishermen's cottages. It is only in the 'larger' villages and towns, that accommodation becomes more varied, ranging from hotels, game farms, guest lodges, backpackers, bed & breakfast and self-catering apartments to caravan and camping sites. History of the Transkei:Approximately 500 to 1200 years ago Bantu speaking peoples began to settle along the East Coast of Southern Africa. The area was home to nomadic San and Khoi people who eventually became integrated into the Xhosa tribes and brought with them the three characteristic clicks that are found in the language today. In the late 1700's the Xhosa speaking tribes were beginning to feel the squeeze on their territories. Refugees were fleeing Shaka and his Zulu Impis (warriors) in the North and there were sporadic wars with the Boers in the East and British to the South. The 'cattle killing' of 1856 and the resulting famine devastated the Xhosa and their resistance to the colonial forces fell. On the advice of the prophetess Nongqawuse, people consumed or destroyed all of their cattle and crops. She foretold that all who did not, together with all the whites were to be swept into the sea by a strong wind on the 18th of February 1857. After the Ninth Frontier War the area was incorporated into the Cape Provincial Administration. It was never really populated by European settlers because of its war-like reputation and was left largely to the indigenous peoples. In 1963, under the 'separate development' policies of Apartheid South Africa, 'self-government' was awarded to the area and it became known as the Transkei. 'Full independence' followed in 1976. After South Africa's first free and fair elections in 1994 the area became part of the Eastern Cape Province. Where is it?:The Wild Coast lies in the eastern half of South Africa's Eastern Cape Province. It starts with the coastal towns along the Jikeleza Route, 10km north east of East London, and stretches approximately 270 kilometres (170 miles) to the banks of the Mthamvuna River, just south of Port Edward. About us:Wild Coast Holidays is a new website that provides a guide to the accommodation and activities found in and around the beautiful seaside villages that dot this truly unique coastline. We are currently expanding the website to cover the entire Wild Coast from top to bottom, and should have this done by the end of April this year. Travel safely, be responsible and remember, don't take the 'Wild' out of the Wild Coast. |