Pondoland paradise

When the great African coastline was formed one part of it was left rugged, wild and untamed. This section of our coastline has known many names and was the birth place of one of the greatest tribes in all Africa: the Xhosa. The Xhosa of this part of the

ADVENTURE ITINERARY DAY 1

We meet in outskirts of the town of Lusikisiki (an hour’s drive from Port St Johns or Kokstad) early afternoon and then proceed to our first lodge on the Mbotyi River where we will spend the next two nights. Mbotyi River Lodge is a nature lover’s paradise and the perfect place for relaxing away from the everyday stresses of life. The Lodge has an extensive range of facilities that include a swimming pool, mountain bikes, canoes and a multitude of sunny decks for relaxing.

DAY 2

After early-morning coffee and rusks there will be a little free time to walk along the beach or go for a paddle on the magnificent Mbotyi Estuary. Our day trip, with a picnic lunch en route, will take us to a Cape Vulture colony (the rarest vultures in Africa) of over 170 birds nesting on cliffs of a magnificent gorge. We then head on to the meandering jeep tracks that will take us along the coastline. We will only be using existing legal tracks and never drive along the beach. We will visit the wreck site of the Grosvenor and get some insight into the unbelievable treasure-hunting tactics that people have attempted over the years to get to her alleged secret treasure. We return to the lodge in the late afternoon in time for a beach sundowner before dinner and bed.

DAY 3

We pack up after breakfast. Our route for the day, which leads to our next hotel, will take us through the local tea plantations and past some awe-inspiring waterfalls. We will also visit a World War II airstrip and bunker complex used by airmen to bomb German U-boats off the coast. Our hotel for the next two nights is the Ocean View Hotel in Coffee Bay, right on the beach. Accommodation at Ocean View is characterised by light airy rooms overlooking spectacular beaches and sea views. All the rooms are comfortably furnished and have en-suite bathrooms. After check-in there is time for a late afternoon beach walk or a cast or two.

DAY 4

After a hearty breakfast we once again pack the vehicles for a day trip that takes us to one of the unspoilt estuaries in the area and a visit to the famous and awe-inspiring Holein-the-Wall rock.

DAY 5

After breakfast we say our goodbyes and you have an hour long drive to reach the N2 just west of Umthatha.