When to Go
The best time to hike the Wild Coast is during the Autumn to Spring months (eg from about late March to end of October). At this time of year the days are generally clear and cool for hiking and the rivers are low for easy crossing.
We do not norally accept bookings for peak holiday season (eg long weekends and over Easter and December school holidays) because of the difficulty in securing rooms for one night stays over the hotel's busy season. All quotes are for "out of season" bookings and shared room accommodation.
Planning Your Itinerary
Most trails are customised for each group depending on individual preferrences (eg hotel options and number of day's hikng), budget and abilities as hikers. It helps to submit your special requirements when making an enquiry so that an itinerary and quote will be worked out in full consulation with your needs.
Getting There
The choice is whether to self drive to the start hotel and get a lift back to your cars after your trail has been completed, or to fly into East London and get a shuttle out to your start hotel and a return shuttle back to the airport after you finish.
If driving to the Wild Coast from the Western Cape it may suit to leave your cars at the end hotel and rather get a shuttle up to the start hotel the next morning to avoid travelling in your own car on the bad gravel roads of the Transkei. Note that it generally takes at least 2 hours to get to these hotels from EL or vicinity, so please try and arrange for a morning departure so that you can get to the hotel in good time with enought time for the driver to return to East London the same day.
What to Bring
A suggested packing list will be sent to you on booking. Remember that this is a slackpack hike and your bags will be carried by a porter for a least part of the way. Please keep your clothing to a minimum (we are very relaxed on the Wild Coast) and pack your belongings into soft bag or rucksac of less than 15kg total weight.
Porters and Guides
In the Transkei (north of Kei river mouth) a guide will always be provided and is included in your package. Although guides can be provided from Morgan Bay southwards, most hikers find it sufficient to use the excellent Strandloper Maps and follow the trail marking on their way down to Chintsa.
Advisory information on the use and payment of porters will be sent to you on booking. Porters are employed by all the Transkei hotels whike vehicular baggage transfers are preferred from Morgan Bay. Porters operate on an 'out and back' system from each hotel and must be paid in cash on the day. Porters may often walk ahead of you as they must deliver your bags and return to hotel of origin the same day. Do not be unduly concerned about safety, but suggest carry cash and valuable items in your day pack for your own peace of mind.
What Does it Cost ?
A detailed itinerary will be worked out with you on enquiry and a full quote given depending on your needs. Cost will mostly depend on hiking days and number of hikers in your group. Groups of 7 to 12 hikers are preferred and get the best rates. Standard hiking packages of 5 nights and 4 days have been planned to provide for the most economic rates. Trail packages for 2012 can be sent to you on appllication in the enquiry form below.
Mazeppa bay area
On the Way to Wavecrest - Day 1
Just a note to say a big thank you for a very well organised trip. ( you even managed to organise us the weather). We thoroughly enjoyed our trail and we seriously considering coming back to do it with another group of people.
The guides and the porters where punctual and courteous at all times.
We have returned from our walk after a very enjoyable 4 days hiking. My whole party loved the hotels, service and guiding. All arrangements were excellent, with hotel staff expecting us and understanding our requirements beforehand.
We are back from our Wild Coast walk and can only say that we are enriched by our experience - what a beautiful unspoiled stretch of the coast and what warm and friendly people.