Transkei Wild Coast Drive

If you decide to drive through this former homeland, you're in for a very special treat (not to mention a totally different look at the other side of South Africa). Transkei is the land of the Xhosa and it is also Nelson Mandela's birthplace. When driving through this land of rolling hills you'll see an occasional thatched hut, grazing herds of goats and, despite the low standard of living, you'll also see smiling people everywhere you look.

This is a great place for travellers who like to take their time, and who enjoy a friendly chat with the locals. The coastline is also especially beautiful here. You'll find white beaches perfect for surfing, surrounded by subtropical trees and plants. The name Wild Coast eludes to, among other things, the great number of ships that have been wrecked here. If you decide to visit the Transkei Wild Coast, set your senses on high alert to smell, taste and experience this very unique part of South Africa.

Duration	5 days, 4 nights	Departures	Daily
Comfort (1-5)	3 See accommodation	Accommodation	Comfortable double occupancy hotel rooms with shower/toilet: 2 stays in Coffee Bay, 1 stay in Stutterheim and 1 stay in Addo
Price	£156 per person - based on 2 people	Included	Overnight stay with breakfast, dinner at Coffee Bay and trail information
Transportation	Rental car	Excluded	Car rental and entrance fees wildlife reserves

Day 1: Durban/Umhlanga - Coffee Bay

Today you can expect to travel from Durban or Umhlanga to Coffee Bay. The route to Coffee Bay will lead you from one side of South Africa to the other. First you'll drive approximately 100 km to the hectic, slightly rundown, yet typical African capital city of Umtata (this is a good place to exchange currency if you need to). Then you'll head towards the sea for approximately 80 km until you reach Coffee Bay; one of the most beautiful coastal towns along the Wild Coast. Coffee Bay has a long sandy stretch of beach and is idyllically situated between green hills and turquoise sea. The bay was named in 1893 when a ship loaded with coffee beans shipwrecked there. Some of the coffee beans sprouted, however the plants did not survive and there are no coffee bean plants left in the area today. This evening you'll spend the night in a comfortable hotel with pool, on the beach.

Total distance on Day 1 is approximately 480 km.

Day 2: Coffee Bay

Spend the second day of your trip relaxing on the beach or by the pool. Want to unwind from your long drives in a more active manner? How about a horseback ride or a surf? Be sure to visit the Hole in the Wall, a spectacular rock formation which is the result of centuries of waves and erosion (see the picture to the left). You could also go dolphin-spotting or whale-watching (when in season). There are also organized township tours that leave from the village. At the end of the day, you'll spend another night in Coffee Bay.

Day 3: Coffee Bay - Stutterheim

Your next stop, Stutterheim, is a picturesque town at the foot of the Amatola Mountains. From here you can visit the Mgwali Village and get to know the Xhosa people of South Africa. The language spoken by these people is also referred to as Xhosa, but is better known as the clicking language. The letter x is pronounced with a click. The language is far from easy, but perhaps you can practice Xhosa while you're here. You'll be welcomed by English speaking staff at the guest house. There is also a swimming pool on the property.

Total distance on Day 3 is approximately 300 km.

Day 4: Stutterheim - Addo Elephant National Park

When thinking of South Africa, most people have visions of elephants roaming the land. Well, today you will be able to meet these majestic creatures in Addo Elephant Park. This extremely wooded bush field is located at the Sunday River Valley, on the Eastern Cape. The park was declared a national park in 1931, when there were only 12 elephants left in the area. These days the eco-system has been restored and you'll find more than 350 elephants, 300 buffalos, black rhino and all kinds of antelopes here (luckily not all in the same spot). There are plans to expand the 125.000 acre park by approximately 4x its size. You'll spend the night in a chalet, the national park's own accommodation. During the evening you can go on an organized game drive in the Schotia game reserve. Your accommodation can give you more information about this activity.

Total distance on Day 4 is approximately 200 km.

Day 5: Addo

This module ends after breakfast this morning. However, if you want to travel further you can continue on over the Garden Route, for instance, with our module Garden Route adventure Trail.

Along the way you can stop at the beach towns Francis Bay or Jeffrey’s Bay. Later you'll reach the Tsitsikamma National Park, where you can stop for a while and go on one of the many hikes or trails set out through the area.

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