Wild Coast Road Trip
The Wild Coast still feels properly wild. Roads wind between green hills, rivers cut through the landscape and long beaches appear below rugged cliffs. This trip runs between East London and Port Edward, with ferries, waterfalls and nature reserves along the way.
Highlights include:
- Crossing the Great Kei River by pontoon ferry at Kei Mouth
- Seeing the krantzes at Morgan Bay
- Exploring Dwesa-Cwebe Nature Reserve
- Visiting the Nelson Mandela Museum in Qunu
- Stopping at Coffee Bay and Mdumbi Beach
- Seeing the Umzimvubu River mouth at Port St Johns
- Visiting Magwa Falls
- Exploring Mkambati Nature Reserve
South Africa road trip from East London to Port Edward (501 km, about 8 hours driving). Plan this trip with Sideroads Africa.
Stops along the way
- East London
- Areena Riverside Resort: A peaceful riverfront sanctuary along the Kwelera River, perfect for spotting wildlife or kayaking.
- Morgan Bay Hotel: Third-generation family hotel beneath the Morgan Bay krantzes
- Kei River Ferry (Kei Mouth): Drive your car onto a traditional pontoon ferry to cross the Great Kei River into the true Wild Coast.
- Trennerys & Qolora Mouth: Discover quiet estuaries, pristine coastal forests, and historical sites steeped in Xhosa folklore.
- Shell Butterworth: N2 Wild Coast approach fuel stop in Butterworth (Gcuwa).
- Dwesa-Cwebe Nature Reserve: A remote haven where lush indigenous forests meet protected marine waters and deserted beaches.
- Nelson Mandela Museum (Qunu): Honors the childhood life and legacy of Nelson Mandela in the rolling hills of his home village.
- Coffee Bay: A famous, relaxed coastal village known for its vibrant traveler culture, dramatic cliffs, and rolling green hills.
- Mdumbi Beach: A pristine, secluded bay celebrated for its world-class surf break, tranquil river estuary, and community eco-tourism.
- Umngazi Hotel & Spa: Iconic Wild Coast lagoon resort set in lush coastal hills
- Port St. Johns & Second Beach: Experience the raw energy of the Umzimvubu River mouth where towering green peaks plunge straight into the sea.
- Silaka Nature Reserve: A serene coastal reserve offering quiet forest trails, dramatic rock formations, and abundant birdlife.
- Magwa Falls: A breathtaking 144-meter waterfall plunging into a narrow canyon, tucked deep inside a lush tea plantation.
- Mkambati Nature Reserve: A wilderness paradise where crystal-clear rivers cascade over grassy cliffs and drop directly into the ocean.
- Engen Port Edward: Southern KZN N2 / Wild Coast end-of-route fuel stop in Port Edward.
- Estuary Hotel & Spa: Lagoon-side spa hotel on the KZN South Coast