Coffee Bay

Coffee Bay situated on the Wild Coast is a not to be missed

Coffee bay is one of the most beautiful spots on the Wild Coast in South Africa. The small community of Coffee Bay is not much more here than some huts, a trading store, a plain camping site and an hotel, but the coast is stunning and the beach untouched between the green rolling hills and the sea.

Coffee Bay got its name from a cargo ship that supposedly ran ashore here in the 19th century and spilled some of its coffee bean shipment on the shore. Local stories have it that some of these bean took root and grew into coffee trees, but unfortunately they are nowhere to be seen today.

A misty, untouched bay, haunted by the ghosts of shipwrecked sailors, in the heart of the Wild Coast. Coffee Bay offers excellent fishing as well as spectacular walks through coastal bush that is full of bird life. One of the must see places in this area is the `hole in the wall, a geological marvel. Various hiking trails abound around the area, the famous Wild Coast Hiking Trail being one. The rest of the Wild Coast is also worth-while exploring, as is the Sunshine Coast and East London.

Coffee Bay has the advantage of being accessible by tarred road from the N2 and is just the place for those holiday makers who are looking for a nice, out of the way place, with activities like swimming, shell collecting, walking, fishing, surfing, spearfishing, scuba diving, horse riding and golf.

Attractions at Coffee Bay

include the Hluleka Nature Reserve, a reserve of majestic beauty, between Coffee Bay and Port St Johns. Rocky seahores, endless beaches, lagoons and evergreen forests support a large bird and wildlife population. There is excellent fishing from a coastline often visited by dolphins and whales. A large saltmarsh is home to the Cape clawless Otter.

Coffee Bay is a popular stop on the Wild Coast. The road is good with only the occasional pothole and once you’re here the laid-back atmosphere makes it difficult to leave. The scenery is dramatic, with cliffs backing a stretch of perfect beach. The gentle hills around the bay are covered by a network of trails that lead through nearby villages and to secluded secret spots.

Things to do at Coffee bay

• Take a hike
  Don’t miss the walk to Hole-in-the-Wall - a remarkable piece of rock that’s had a huge hole eroded through it after millennia of pounding waves. It takes about 3 hours and is really worthwhile.
• More info
  Take your own provisions if you’re into self-catering.
  There are some good surf spots around.
• trans-Kei trips by the Coffee Shack
  A mouthwatering selection of adventures from the Coffee Shack

Located in the heart of the Wild Coast and named after a coffee-carrying ship which ran aground here in 1863, Coffee Bay lies at the mouth of the Nenga River (Xhosa word for Whale) and offers a variety of outdoor activities, including shell collecting, fishing, walking and spearfishing

GENERAL INFORMATION

How to get there

Umtata 90 km

Average Temperatures

Summer Max 28°c Min 17°c; Winter Max 21°c Min 8°c

Banks

Absa

Rivers

Nenga

HISTORICAL VIEW

Shipwrecks Grosvenor – 1782 (Pondoland Coast)

Oceanos - 1991 (Near Coffee Bay), Sao Joao – June 1552, San Bento – 1554 (Near the mouth of the Umtata River), Santo Alberto

NATURE

Hluleka Nature Reserve

This beautiful, hilly coastal reserve is a combination of rocky seashore, lagoon and evergreen forest. The Hluleka River flows through and out of the forest into an open area where large Coral Trees (Erythrina Caffra), Quinine Trees (Rauvolfia caffra) and Natal figs (Ficus natalensis) grow along it’s banks. The Coral Trees bloom during July and August when their scarlet flowers provide a breathtaking display against their stark, leafless branches. Before fanning out into a long lagoon, the river widens to provide an ideal habitat for Black Duck, Dabchick and African Jacana, which tread delicately across the waterlily pads. Many forest birds emerge to feed on the fruits of the figs, making this the ideal place to observe species such as Blackbellied Starling and Green Pigeon. Olive bishshrike, Cape Batis, Dusky Flycatcher and Pygmy Kingfisher forage among the riverine vegetation, while Pied, Brown hooded, Giant and Halfcollared Kingfishers excavate their nests in the river bank. The impressive Longcrested Eagle, with it’s black and white plumage, may be seen in the treetops with it’s erect crest blowing in the breeze. Burchall’s zebra, blesbuck and blue wildebeest, which have all been introduced but appear to be doing well, are regularly encountered in the open areas along the river. A large saltmarsh flanks the northern banks of the lagoon and is home to the Cape clawless otter, monitor lizard, Blackheaded Heron and Yellowthroated Longclaw. On the southern side, an aloe and euphorbia clad hill drops steeply down to the water’s edge before sweeping around to a rocky buttress where rock dassies (hyrax) sunbathe. There’s a small sandy bay at the mouth of the river and as you move up the coast, many interesting rock formations may be seen. Look out for the strange pock-marked rocks where hard rock nodules are imbedded in sandstone, which is weathering at a more rapid rate. The stumpy Euphorbia woodii clings to rock faces, brightly coloured gazanias bloom against the lichen, and the quarrelsome Whitenecked Ravens nest in potholes. There is excellent fishing along the rocky shore with blacktail, zebra, shad and kob being regular catches. A path winds through the forest of strelitzias to the top of the grassy hills, which provide a good view from which to search for dolphins and whales offshore. Watsonias and red-hot pokers bloom here in summer. A number of well planned paths lead through the forest, which is dominated by the Stink Ebony (Edywoodia Lucens) and draped in climbers and creepers. Natal, Brown and Chorister Robins can be heard throughout the year and are joined in winter by the Cape and Starred Robins, which migrate to the coast from the highlands. A large number of invasive alien plants grow in the reserve, most originating from the days when the area was private farmland. A dense thicket of bamboo chokes the banks of parts of the Hluleka River, mango and guava trees encroach the forest edge, and beautiful, but out of place, bougainvillea and frangipani grow around the buildings. There are other species are slowly being eradicated. The rest camp has self contained wooden chalets, some on stilts to provide views of the ocean and forest. Each chalet is able to accommodate six people and all you need bring is your food and drink

How to get there

Travel east out of Umtata for 28 km to Libode. From here, the 90 km road to the reserve is signposted. The road is not good but can be negotiated with any car.

ATTRACTIONS

Hole-In-The-Wall

This extraordinary rock formation is a well-known landmark in the area. Located 8 km south of Coffee Bay. The ‘tunnel’ is large enough for a large fishing vessel to pass through, and has been cut out of the solid rock by the pounding of the waves over millions of years

Shell Collection

ACTIVITIES

Outdoors

Fishing, Spear Fishing

Sport

Golf

A beautiful golf course with lovely scenic views

Accommodation in and around Coffee Bay