The Wild Coast of South Africa is a 300km stretch between East London in the Eastern Cape and the KwaZulu-Natal border. Previously known as the Transkei, the Wild Coast is one of the most remote and difficult places to access in the country. As such, the region has remained virtually untouched by modernity and is…
The West Coast, as the name suggests is the stretch of coastline on the western side of South Africa and north of the city of Cape Town. It is characterised by small coastal towns, bustling fishing industries and miles and miles of empty beaches. The West Coast Peninsula is a prominent feature along this stretch…
The Panorama Route in Mpumalanga is so named for its unbelievable views at just about every turn. The route traverses the Great Escarpment all the way down to the Kruger Lowveld via a number of mountain passes, including the famous Long Tom Pass. In the past, a section of the Panorama Route was used as a…
Kosi Bay and the Elephant Coast are among the most unique and beautiful jewels in KwaZulu-Natal’s illustrious quiver of natural attractions. One of the best ways to experience this area (as with so many areas in KwaZulu-Natal) is on foot, which is why we’re about to recommend that you do everything you can to get…
![The perfect KwaZulu-Natal road trip [A first-timer’s guide]](https://www.strayalongtheway.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Valley-of-a-thousand-hills-768x514.jpg)
Planning your first KwaZulu-Natal road trip? Then you’ve just landed on the perfect page to help you with that! KwaZulu-Natal on the east coast of South Africa is highly undervalued as a tourist destination, and often overlooked in favor of destinations like the Kruger National Park and Cape Town. Having grown up in this amazing…
The Umlalazi Nature Reserve in Mtunzini is a pristine stretch of coastline known for its rich biodiversity, history and natural beauty. It’s situated at the mouth of the Mlalazi River which bends its way through the reserve and creates a beautiful centrepiece for this stunning region. The thickly vegetated dunes, mangrove forests, and Raffia palms make…
Ithala Game Reserve is one of the only big-game national parks that allows visitors the unique opportunity to do self-guided hiking trails. This was something we took full advantage of during our Ultimate South African Road Trip, and something you should too. Highlights Ithala Game Reserve Ithala Game Reserve is a lesser-known national park just outside…
![Hiking the Storms River Mouth [Guide]](https://www.strayalongtheway.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/tsitsikamma-view-site-768x514.jpg)
Storms River Mouth in the Tsitsikamma Section of the Garden Route National Park is best known to hikers as the start of the famous Otter Trail; the strenuous, multi-day trail which follows the craggy coastline all the way to Nature’s Valley. The park is also well-known for its spectacular coastal scenery, and is home to…
The Knysna Forest is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream location and offers some of the best hiking and birding opportunities in the region. It is also a place of deep mystery and intrigue as ancient trees shroud and protect one of South Africa’s most elusive creatures… Knysna Forest highlights The Garden Route and Knysna Forest Few…
Nature’s Valley is a small coastal town surrounded by a big beach, big mountains, a big forest and a big river (the Grootrivier). It’s also the finish line for one of South Africa’s biggest hiking trails: the Otter Trail. With so much bigness around, it’s possible that one just might miss a few of this…
When last did you come across a living organism that is over 900-years old? We were amazed to discover that Africa’s last ancient, indigenous fig forest can be found in Mkhuze Game Reserve right on Durban’s doorstep. Highlights The Sycamore Fig forest in Mkhuze Game Reserve Hiking in the Mkhuze Fig Forest was one of…
![Hike to Bat Cave in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park [Guide]](https://www.strayalongtheway.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/bevan-hiking-bat-cave-isimangaliso-768x514.jpg)
Bat Cave is a little-known secret spot within the famous iSimangaliso Wetland Park that can be accessed from Mission Rocks – a section of coastline characterised by a rocky platform that is full of rock pools at low tide. This flat and easy hike along the beach gives hikers a unique perspective of an enchanted…
![The Sentinel Peak (chain ladders) hike [Guide]](https://www.strayalongtheway.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Tugela-falls-at-the-top-of-the-amphitheatre-768x514.jpg)
The Sentinel Peak is one of the icons of the northern section of the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg. Standing at 3166 m, it stands guard at the western end of the famous Amphitheatre. It is also home to the Tugela Falls, the second-highest waterfall in the world! Hiking the Sentinel Peak The Sentinel Peak forms part of a…
Planning for overseas adventure travel can be a little unnerving. After all, there are no second chances once you head out the door and you’re pretty much at the mercy of your preparations from that point onward. Adventure travel is particularly tricky considering you may need to deal with specialised gear and arrangements that don’t…
Packing for a day hike? Don’t leave without these day hike essentials! Day hiking is an awesome way to spend time outdoors. It’s probably the outdoor activity we do the most (next to surfing) and it’s our favourite way to explore a new place. There are a few things to consider when packing for a…
We love campfire cooking! No kitchens, no electricity, and very few other modern conveniences. Somehow, everything tastes better when you’ve worked that much harder for it. And how can you beat the ambiance of al fresco dining on an African evening under the stars? In this post we’ll cover: Campfire cooking tips and tricks Campfire…
The Golden Grotto hike on the east coast of Taiwan is a fantastic half-day river tracing adventure into the heart of the Sanzhan River valley. The hike follows the course of the river, quite literally, into Taiwan’s coastal mountains and into a narrow canyon. A waterfall that empties into a small hollow at the end…
If there’s one place that combines incredible coastal scenery and unparalleled hiking in an unspoiled setting, it’s the Tsitsikamma National Park on South Africa’s south-eastern coastline. This unique park boasts the oldest and largest marine protected area in Africa, the iconic suspension bridge across the Storms River mouth, a plethora of coastal day-hikes and of course, the…
There are thousands of incredible hiking trails in South Africa. It truly is one of the best places in the world to explore on foot. From empty beaches to mountain trails and forest meanders, there is quite literally something for everyone. So, with all these amazing options on offer, we decided to put together a…
South Africa’s Wild Coast is one of those few remaining places where it’s possible to truly escape. The rhythm of life here is metered by the tide, or the crunch of a cow’s hooves over beach sand or grassy slopes. Visitors to this stretch of coastline find a simple way of life set in the unparalleled natural…
Cape Point Nature Reserve on the Cape Peninsula, South Africa’s most south-western tip, is a region famed for its rugged beauty. It is also romantically, although mistakenly, thought of as the meeting point between the cold Atlantic and warm Indian Oceans that wash South Africa’s coastlines. Regardless, it has plenty in the way of scenic…
Visiting Cape Town and planning on heading up Table Mountain? The Cableway is great, but the best way to experience the incredible views over the Mother City and to really get to know this iconic mountain is by tackling a Table Mountain hike! There are a number of routes up the mountain, but without a…
Try to picture a Wild Coast hike and you’ll inevitably conjure up images of half-trodden cattle trails that meander through rural landscapes, precipitous coastlines and undulating hills. These are the scenes that have become synonymous with this incredible region, and they are what hundreds of adventures-seekers from around the world come to find year in…
The Entumeni Nature Reserve is a quiet patch of indigenous forest just outside the small town of Eshowe in KwaZulu-Natal. The altitude of the reserve puts it further into the mist belt than other forests in the region like the Dlinza Forest and Ongoye Forest Reserve. Hikers and visitors are treated to a truly unique setting…
In a region known for its beautiful hiking trails, the Madonna and Child Falls hike in Hogsback is one of the best! Madonna and Child Falls hike highlights Hogsback: Eden of the Eastern Cape Hogsback is an enchanted little village situated in the Amatola Mountain range of the Eastern Cape. It’s a strange, quirky little…
Superman, who can change the course of mighty rivers, bend steel in his bare hands, and who, disguised as Grant Christie, a mild-mannered explorer from Dullstroom, recently completed an epic hiking trail called “The Coast of South Africa.” An outline of the route can be found on any map of South Africa. Simply find the…
The Drakensberg is famous for its incredible hiking trails, and one hike that definitely deserves a mention is the Wodehouse Peak hiking trail in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park. Hiking the Wodehouse Peak trail The Golden Gate Highlands National Park is definitely one of the most beautiful national parks in South Africa. That puts…
The idea of heading out on a wilderness trail might seem a little bizarre to some. Who would willingly give up every modern convenience, including the basics of a bathroom, to spend time out in the wild, sleeping on the ground and exposed to the elements? What is more, what could be the point of…
In our experience, KwaZulu-Natal has a few absolute gems – places that very few people know about and even fewer have managed to explore. The Ongoye Forest Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal is an unspoiled patch of rare scarp forest, set on a ridge high above the coastline to the east. It is a rare and diverse habitat…
The Eastern Cape coastline is well-known for its Wild Coast; a wild, undeveloped and rugged stretch from just north of East London right up to Port Edward and the border with KwaZulu-Natal. The Wild Coast includes such popular holiday destinations as Coffee Bay and Hole in the Wall, and is the ideal destination if you…
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