Luxury slackpacking hike from Kob Inn to Chintsa (or part thereof).
Luggage transfers and guided with overnight accommodation in family hotels.
Dinner, bed and breakfast and packed lunches on hike days.
Shuttle from airport and/or back to start hotel.
To see this info on a mobile device, click here
Kob Inn (Qora Mouth) : Kob Beach Resort is a family resort offering a perfect mix of Wild Coast hospitality, relaxation and homely cuisine.
The setting is right on the sea front with a secluded swimming beach and pictureque lagoon.
Mazeppa Bay: Nestled in a beautiful setting of palms and tropical plants surrounding a broad beach, Mazeppa Bay is characterized by its own island accessed by a suspension bridge.
Serendipity (Cebe) : A lovely home built right on the beach and furnished in an eclectic style with plenty of home style
comfort.
Personal attention and delicious home cooked meals.
Wavecrest (Nxaxo Mouth) : Situated on a pristine, mangrove-lined estuary, surrounded by magnificent dune forests and endless beaches.
Wavecrest will appeal to those who appreciate an unspoilt natural environment.
Seagulls : A recently renovated hotel situated right on the beach with rock and surf fishing. Vibey bar and friendly hosts give Seagulls its own unique character.
Trennerys (Qolora) : Situated at Qolora Mouth and bordering riverine forest the hotel maintains an Old World Charm and relaxed hospitality. Fascinating wildlife and Xhosa cultural walks can be taken from Trennerys with Trevor's Trails
Morgan Bay Hotel : A holiday destination where guests are made to feel special. Morgan bay hotel has a deserved reputation for excellent cuisine and warm hospitality.
New renovations include health spa and beauty parlor.
Mitford Lodge : Situated at the end of a mile long beach below the famous Morgan bay cliffs, the lodge offers large tastefully furnished rooms and restaurant with reputation for good food and service.
Haga Haga Resort : Located in a quiet historic village with white walled period cottages and offering hotel and cabana rooms right on the beach. Explore rocky beaches or whale watch from the headlands of Cape Henderson Reserve
Crawfords (Chitntsa East) : Four star resort with stylish thatched cabanas and luxury rooms blending into coastal bush. Long sandy beach fronting the resort ends at a quiet lagoon below village of Chintsa.
Inkwenkwezi PGR (Chintsa West) : A private game reserve set in coastal bush with magnificent wildlife and wilderness views. Two luxury tented safari bushcamps provide privacy and exclusivity 'Al fresco' meals at lapa restauarant.
Areena Resort (Kwelera) : Situated on the banks of a tidal river, the resort is a well know game sanctuary and holiday resort offering a mix of cabins and caravan accommodation.
Option to canoe up the Kwelera River to end your hike.
Qora River to Mazeppa (6 km) A short walk takes you down to the Qora river mouth where a rowboat will ferry you across. From there it is about a 1 hour scenic walk beneath towering sand dunes and along fishermans paths to Mazeppa point itself. An easy first day intro to your Wild Coast Hike
Leaving the hotel you will see your destination, Sandy Point, in the far distance. Although long, the walking is easy with much to see on a low tide. Enjoy the many swimming beaches and take regular breaks along the way. The walk can stop at Cebe for a night at Serendipity (approx 13km) or continue round Sandy Point for a long beach walk into Wavecrest (20km).
Nxaxo River to Qolora (16 km) Check the tide table before today's hike of 16km down to Trennerys or Seagulls hotel. You will switch guides and porters halfway at the Kobanqaba River, which you should try and time for low tide to make wading across easier. Soon thereafter, you will pass the wreck of the Jacaranda which makes for an interesting lunch stop, and from here it is an easy walk to the hotel.
You may want to do a local cultural tour with Trevors Trails before you leave (approx 3hrs) as its only short 6km hike along the beach to the pont at Kei River. Take the ferry accross the Kei and walk through the town until reach the golf course from where you will pick up Strandloper footprints taking you through the coastal reserve and lighthouse to Morgan Bay.
Morgan Bay to Haga Haga This is the most spectacular part of the hike with the trail following the edge of the Morgan bay cliffs rising vertically over 50m from the sea, before dropping down to Double Mouth reserve and the river crossing (cross at low tide). From here it is a varied and interesting hike along rocky headlands and coves to Haga Haga passing shell strewn beaches and the abalone farm along the way.
The day starts with a stiff hike up to the top of the point on Pullens bay where you have a good chance of watching dolphin and whales from a birds-eye vantage. The hike continues along wave-hewn rocky beach and gullies until it reaches Cape Henderson with its broad sandy beaches running beneath wild dune forest and passing several blind river estuaries on your long walk into Chintsa
The "hotel-hopping" trail extends southwards from Kob Inn in the north to the small town of Chintsa in the south. The first 3-4 days of the trail lies to the north of the Kei River in what was formerly known as the Transkei, while the last section extends along the eastern Cape holiday coast north of East London.
The hike takes in some of the most unspoilt and picturesque sections of our coastline and can be walked by anyone who is reasonably fit and enjoys rambling, as there are no serious challenges other than the odd river which must be waded. When river levels are up after heavy rains, a ferry will be arranged. The Kei river marks the border between the Transkei and the eastern Cape and you will cross this broad river by means of one of the last operating pontoons in the country.
The full trail is 85 km long. The trail is not marked in the Transkei section and a guide is required for first time hikers. It is important that you time your day's walk to coincide with the tides so that you walk on the hard sand with a receding tide and reach the river mouths at low tide to make the crossing easier. Your guide will assist you with this and show you the best place to cross.
A number of options exist along this trail catering for more budget conscious hikers and/or those looking to include other adventure activities such as visits to game reserves, river cruises and canoeing. This allows you to do the full trail or selected sections and to spend more time at the locations you pass through - enjoying nature and outdoor based activities along the way.
A new extension is now offered from Mbashe river mouth to Kob Inn with an overnight stay at Nqabara Eco Lodge. It is now possible to hike between Haven Hotel and Kob Inn over 2 days through the remote and scenically stunning Dwesa Reserve. Hikers will have to be prepared to walk up to 24 km per day and carry their own bags (food provided) for this section which can be added onto the Meander hike or a walk up from Coffee Bay.
An updated price list of the different package options can obtained by completing the short form on the Enquiries page. The quote will depend on when you want to go, the number of hikers, catering and accommodation arrangments as well as whether you will be driving yourself down to the Wild Coast or flying into East London and requiring a shuttle to and from the airport. Self drive hikers will always get a shuttle back to their start point included in the trail package.