South Africa is rightly famous for its beaches - I saw some amazing coastal scenery - firstly along the Garden Route, then the spectacular Wild Coast and finishing on the Dolphin Coast north of Durban.
There were some amazing coastal walks especially on the Wild Coast but a noticeable absence of dolphins on the Dolphin Coast!
The weather was amazing, just a couple of rainy days in over 2 weeks of coastal living - and they have the cheek to call it winter!
Another benefit of coastal exploration is the great fish cuisine they have here - even more delicious when you sit outside with the sun on your back!
The following images are from my hike along the Salt River Trail
Durban was my final destination - I CouchSurfed (no ocean involved just a nice bed!) just north of there and the sun shone strongly for my last couple of days in South Africa
There were some amazing coastal walks especially on the Wild Coast but a noticeable absence of dolphins on the Dolphin Coast!
The weather was amazing, just a couple of rainy days in over 2 weeks of coastal living - and they have the cheek to call it winter!
Another benefit of coastal exploration is the great fish cuisine they have here - even more delicious when you sit outside with the sun on your back!
I stayed mostly at backpackers - some of places being in the most stunning locations - a little hard to reach sometimes but worth the effort!
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| The coast west of Port Elizabeth |
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| Waggy tails at Jefferey's Bay |
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| Beginners surf lessons at JBay |
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| Horse riding along the beach at JBay |
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| Waves Beach, Keurboomstrand Garden Route |
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| Nature's Valley Beach from Fynbos clad hills |
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| Nature's Valley Beach |
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| Doggy footprints at Nature's Valley |
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| Why SA beaches look so great... |
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Course I didn't use that boring other pathway...
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| Sunrise at Chintsa |
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| Wild Coast hinterland - The Transkei... |
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| Bulungula Village - Wild Coast |
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| Bulungula Lodge - Wild Coast |
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| Whale Hip |
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| Sunrise Bulungula |
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The following images are from my coastal hike from Lubanzi Backpackers to the "Hole in the Wall" |
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| "Hole in the Wall" Wild Coast |
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| Wild horses on the beach |
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| Returning to the backpackers which you can see on the hill... |
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| A tranquil evening at Lubanzi... |
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| Local Xhosa people fishing for their dinner |
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| Sunrise at Lubanzi |
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| My companion on the sunrise walk |
The following images are from my walk to "Secret Beach" - in 4 hours I crossed 7 beaches and headlands - all pristine - all deserted - if you don't count donkeys, goats and cows!
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| My destination - "Secret Beach" |
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| The sun setting as I got back to the hostel... |
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| Mdumbi beach further along the Wild Coast |
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| Umhlanga Rocks beach north of Durban |
My South African journey started on the coast and ended there - once again I was stunned by the coastal landscape and hiking here - as good as anywhere I've been
That was it for South Africa - 5 weeks here went so quickly - there was so much more to see and do...
For now the wandering is over - hope you have enjoyed the blogs...they will resume next year!
