The beauty and drama of the Wild Coast is undeniable but could you stand it for 25 days?

The 280km Wild Coast Hiking Trail puts a new spin on the concept of suffering for beauty. It's definitely backbreaking. But when you have the time and are surrounded by grand cliffs, lagoons, mangrove swamps, rocky and sandy beaches, birds and sharp rock formations, why back down?

The hike is divided into five three to six-day stretches. Of course turning back is always an option and you'll be pleased to note that quite a few do after the first or second stretch.

Get Legal

Whether you decide to do the whole hog or not, it’s important to book your permit from the Department of Agriculture and Forestry well in advance. They take bookings up to 11 months prior to embarkation, so you can schedule your trip without much hassle. The last thing you need is for authorities to tell you to 'take a hike'.

Best bits

The hike starts from Umtamvuna River and goes all the way to the Great Kei River. For most hikers the best stretches are Port Edward to Port St Johns and Port St Johns to Hole-in-the-wall. The Port Edward-Port St Johns stretch is loved for its rough terrain, trenchant river gorges and awesome rock formations. The second is appreciated for the swamps, gentle terrains and pleasant scenery. It’s a something-for-everyone situation.

Breaking it down

The first five-day stretch goes all the way from Port St Johns to Coffee bay. It’s about 100km long and can be done in about five days. There are camps throughout the route, one every 12km, namely Silaka Nature Reserve, Mngazana, Mpande, Hluleka Nature Reserve and Coffee Bay. So psych yourself with this thought when the going gets tough.

And then you can tackle the route from Coffee Bay to Cwebe Nature Reserve. It’s a great area with the mouth of the Bashee River and huts at Coffee Bay forming part of the scenery. You can do this in about two days.

Practicalities

It’s advisable to do this epic hike within a group because they are all self-guided. But no more than twelve people can do the hike at any given time. Despite the physical demands, the hike is easy to navigate because all the trails are marked across the entire coastal stretch. But if by some fluke you get lost it’s a good idea to stay close to the coast and navigate from there.

The beauts

Take time to enjoy great features like the Pondoland coconut, Cathedral Rock, the Mamba Pools and Port St Johns' fossil beds. And of course there’s no way you’ll miss the Hole-in-the-Wall, also in Port St Johns.

You don’t have to be an all or nothing kind of hiker to enjoy the hike. You can spend the night without any facilities at the different sleeping areas on the trail if you want to. But if you love your amenities, there are three nature reserves where you can lie down in comfort. Try the Mkambati between the Msikaba and Mtentu rivers, Hluleka, about 30km south of Port St Johns and Dwesa in Coffee Bay.

Take a hike on the wild side. Click here