If you are traveling with Bazbus or if you are on your own, this is a place that you should stop without hesitation. If you like being away from big cities, being in a relaxed place, being able to hike and surf this paradise is perfect for you.
Coffee Bay is almost 2 hours from the main road. If you come with Bazbus, you must coordinate with the hostel to pick you up in Mthatha with their shuttle service. I recommend you stay at Coffee Shack, an incredible place to get away from everything at a very good price. This hostel has it all and is super cheap. If you want to learn to surf this is the cheapest place in all of South Africa and with excellent instructors.
I was going to stay for 2 nights here but it was not enough and I changed my whole itinerary. I ended up staying 5 nights enjoying each day trying to do some activities or surfing. Archie (the instructor) takes the time to teach you from zero and show you all the essentials so you can stand on the board and understand the sea.
Coffee Bay is a place that perfectly describes Wild Coast. This area of South Africa is famous for its amazing beaches and cliffs. It is sadly a little forgotten area and home of the Xhosa with its click language. This town does not have much so they depend on local trade and tourism in these remote places. For this reason, Coffee Shack helps locals a lot and carries out activities that involve them.
Surf school
Coffee Bay is a very small town so the beach ends up being almost entirely for Coffee Shack students. My first experience surfing was here and the instructors make every effort so you can learn easily.
The bay is a good place to learn because the waves are not very strong and it is not very deep so everything is perfect for beginners. The important thing is that you enjoy every moment so this is the perfect opportunity. You can take the 2 hour individual lessons or take the 5 day surf package.
Hole in the wall
A walk of approximately 3 hours by the cliffs enjoying the landscapes and the nearby towns. It is a relatively straightforward path so you don’t have much to worry about.
On the way you will cross waterfalls, several mountains and if you are lucky you will see different wild animals.
Cliffs and caves of Mpuzi
This day trip is a perfect mix of adventure, history, sport, hiking and relaxation. Wild Coast is full of secrets between its cliffs and this is why several were important in the Apartheid era.
For several years, groups tried to hide in caves in these cliffs to avoid being caught by the government, which is why they were home to many families since they were difficult to access.
For this same reason, the path is a bit dangerous since it is necessary to go through several narrow passes and it is important to know the tide because in some steps it is crucial a low tide. After discovering the caves, you can get to some natural pools where you can climb the cliffs and jump for a dip.
Beach day
If relaxing, being on the beach with friends and surfing is your thing, this is the perfect plan. Every Wednesday there is a beach day where you can play volleyball, use the surfboards, have lunch and have fun
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[…] my journey to Cape Town with Bazbus and after extending my stay in Coffee Bay, it was time to continue and look for my next adventure. Port Elizabeth is the end of the Wild […]