The Wildebeest's guide to South Africa

Coffee Bay

Afrikaans name: Koffiebaai

Coffee Bay

Coffee Bay

Photo © Johan van Zyl

Eastern Cape

The small village of Coffee Bay is situated on a stretch of beautiful coastline, known as the "Wild Coast", in the Eastern Cape province. The surrounding area is still very rural and the town itself only has a population of a few hundred people. The nearest town of any significance is Mthatha which is 95 km away.

The village is at the mouth of the Nenga River which means 'river of the whale'. Two other rivers, the Mapuzi and Mtata, flow into the sea nearby.

The name Coffee Bay comes from an incident in 1863 when a ship, laden with coffee beans, ran aground here. Somehow some beans reached the shoreline and the coffee plants grew naturally in the area for a few years.

Coffee Bay has a lot to offer visitors including great beaches, scenery, fishing, hiking, birding and more. A few kilometres south of Coffee Bay is the magnificent Hole in the Wall which is definitely worth a visit.

Have you visited Coffee Bay? Would you recommend it?



Coffee Bay shop

Above - Coffee Bay shop

Photo © Johan van Zyl

Coffee Bay coastline

Above - Coastline just south from Coffee Bay

Photo © Johan van Zyl

References and further reading

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