Wild Coast Coffee Bay Tour

4 days

Show All photos
Wild Coast Coffee Bay Tour
  • About
  • Gallery
  • Itinerary
  • Location
  • Things to keep in mind

This 3 night 4 day tour takes in the very best of authentic African scenery, from the photogenic Hole in Wall to the golden beaches and secluded estuaries around Presleys Bay. Walk through the aloe dotted grassy headlands of Lwandile and stretch your legs along long sandy beaches of Mdumbi before crossing Umthata river mouth by rowboat ferry. Experience the daily lives of the rural Xhosa communities as you walk through the villages and settlements surrounding Coffee Bay and take in the magnificent sunrises and sunsets from the cliffs above your base at Ocean View.

Daily distances are very manageable (less than 10km per day) so you have plenty of time to connect with the magnificent scenery and unspoilt essence of the Wild Coast. We recommend an extra day at Mdumbi with its world class surfing beach or take a quiet birding paddle up its beautiful lagoon.

Coffee Bay is an easy day’s drive from Durban or East London or a convenient fly in and pick up from Umthata airport if coming from Gauteng. The hike is fully guided with shuttles to the start and luggage transfers included in the package.

About
  • 4 nights dinner, bed and breakfast (DBB)
  • Packed lunch on hike days
  • Shuttle to/from the trail each day
  • Bag transfer between overnight stays (if moving)
  • Dedicated local guide each day
  • Maps, permits and info pack

  • Shuttle from Umthata airport to Coffee Bay and back if needed  (R 650 pp one way)
  • Drinks at the hotels
  • Ferry service at river mouths (must be paid in cash)
  • Tips and gratuities

  • Suggested packing list for the coast will be sent once the tour is confirmed
  • 20% deposit per person required on booking.
  • Balance of payment, due 30 days before travel date.
Gallery
Videos
Wild Coast Coffee Bay Tour
Wild Coast Coffee Bay Tour
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival

You can choose to self drive to Coffee Bay from either Durban or East London (approx 6 hrs travel time)  or you can fly into Umthata airport from where we will collect you by shuttle bus.  Suggest arrive in early afternoon as road to Coffee Bay is tarred but badly potholed in places so you don't want to drive this section in the dark.  Settle into you sea facing rooms and enjoy a tasty dinner in anticipation of your walk the following day.

Day 2: Presleys Bay to Mdumbi

After a hearty breakfast you will meet your guide and shuttle driver and be transported by 4 wheel drive vehicle along the scenic back roads of the Transkei to the small settlement of Presleys Bay from where you will start your hike.  The 10km long hike follows the coastline (beaches and rocky bays) down to the well known surfing spot of Mdumbi where you will spend that night at Swell Eco-Lodge, a collection of Xhosa themed huts fully equipped for self catering with magnificent views of the bay and the river mouth.  

You can decide whether to enjoy 1 or 2 nights at this idyllic rural setting or continue your walk onto Coffee Bay the next day.

Day 3: Mdumbi to Coffee Bay

This  11km guided walk from Mdumbi back to your base at Ocean View is your most diverse and culturally enriching day.  You start with a short beach walk before crossing the Umthata river mouth by rowboat ferry.   You then follow the cliff-line traversing  grass covered hills by-passing the huts and villages of the the Xhosa community.  Meet and greet the local people and observe their traditional way of life at first hand through the eyes of your guide.

A spectacular descent through riverine forest will bring you back to your hotel at Ocean View for the next 2 nights.

Day 4: Hole in Wall

This is your last day of leisure to explore the iconic and spectacular Hole in Wall south of Coffee Bay.

You can decide whether to hike the 9km to HIW along mainly grassy footpaths of this rocky coastline or to drive there with your guide and walk (or drive) back.

A final swim in the warm Indian Ocean and a last sunset to be savoured with dinner at Ocean View concludes a memorable few days as you depart the next day for home.

Location
Things to keep in mind
  • Cancellation (within one month of the tour taking place) will be facilitated with as minimal penalty as possible. Tour groups choosing to cancel will be refunded in ZAR on all monies received, less an amount not exceeding 20% of the full booking cost. Half of the money retained will be paid over to the service providers (accommodation owners, guides etc) as their portion of the cancellation fee.
  • A booking fee of ZAR 1000 per person will be levied on all bookings which is non refundable in the event of cancellation

Covid-19 Adjusted Booking & Cancellation Terms

In the light of the Covid 19-pandemic, and possible national and international travel restrictions, SA Trails offers the following terms on all tour group bookings :

Flexible booking & Postponement terms : valid up to one week before the trip: if a member of your party has contracted Covid-19, been in direct contact with a person that has, or there are new travel restrictions imposed: you can postpone without penalty for up to 6 months.

Postponements can be made up to 12 months from the original booking date, but at the following year rates if these apply – ie if taken in the year after that in which the original bookings was made with the client being responsible for any inflationary increase.