Get lost on the Wild Coast

Sea breezes, roaring waterfalls, verdant valleys and footprint-free, cliff-fringed beaches define the untrammeled domain of the Wild Coast, a suitably called, 250km-long sweep of coastline fronting the Indian Ocean in the Eastern Cape. This is the spot to get away from it all, to absorb in the quiet of unspoiled nature, where cows outnumber people. Be warned: the roads are riddled with potholes, and petrol stations are few and far between, but that's what keeps the less daring away.

Hike, swim, ride horses, canoe, surf, or simply relax on your own own beach. The three-hour journey to Hole in the Wall along the coast winds through rolling hills and tiny communities before arriving at the famed rock arch with its bathing lagoon. With dazzling clean waters and vibrant Xhosa cottages along its banks, the Xhosa River is a canoeing heaven. SUPers, kayakers, and canoers flock to the mirror smooth Jbay Lagoon. For millennia, the Xhosa people have lived in this enchanting country, and you can see their turquoise rondavels dotting the lush green hills.

This is also where anti-apartheid revolutionary leader Nelson Mandela was born, and numerous small museums in Mthatha and Quno are available to the public. Hike through beautiful woods, meadows, and shoreline on one of Dwesa Nature Reserve's walking routes. It provides a haven for a diverse range of animals, including over 290 bird species.