Located on the eastern seaboard of South Africa, the Wild Coast, as its name suggests, is rugged and treacherous -- eerie evidence is in the many shipwrecks that lie stranded along its deserted beaches. Often considered too remote for modern development, the Wild Coast has remained a virtually unspoilt rural landscape -- a vast natural area interspersed with Xhosa homesteads and maize fields.
For the eco traveller, the Wild Coast offers many secluded bays and beaches, undulating hills, lush indigenous forests, rocky headlands and some of the best hiking, horseriding, birding, surfing, fishing...
Wildlife is sparse along this stretch even though great tracts of the coast are deserted. The reserves have been created mainly to preserve the indigenous flora, such as the endemic Pondo coconut palm in Mkambati Nature Reserve. If you venture along the coast you are certain to see fish eagles as they perch on the skeletons of wrecked ships. In the vegetated and wooded areas the birdlife is prolific.
Southern right and humpback whales and their calves are regularly spotted from the high dunes, usually between May and November, while common and bottlenose dolphins are often seen close to shore.
The whole region, once known as the Transkei homeland, is the home of a major section of the Xhosa-speaking southern Nguni (or Pondo) tribes. Brightly coloured examples of their beadwork, together with traditional pottery and basketry can be bought from roadside vendors and at some trading posts.
Visitors to the rural village of Qunu can see the childhood home of former President Mandela, while in the city of Umtata, the Nelson Mandela Museum tells the story of this great figure.
Hiking is undoubtedly the most popular adventure activity on the wild coast -- the Wild Coast Hiking Trail offers backpackers some of the most spectacular coastal wilderness in Southern Africa.
Diving opportunities are rather limited on the Wild Coast even though the reefs are unspoilt, colourful, alive.
Fishing is one of the major drawcards of the Wild Coast and the entire coastline is a fisherman's paradise. Anglers can find tremendous sport and many an excellent meal among the vast number of fish species frequenting the waters off the coast - more than 800 species have been identified.
Other travel activities include birdwatching, boat trips, canoeing, beach combing and shelling, golf, shipwrecks, surfing, and walking.
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