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AA bird’s-eye view of Waterfall Bluff south of the Mkambathi Nature Reserve along the Wild Coast of the Eastern Cape would reveal one of Africa’s greatest coastal rock formations.
One minute you would be flying past seaside developments that make up the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, the next you’re on the Wild Coast as deep green lands spread out below you.
Your fly-over takes you on a marvellous game drive - eland, blesbuck, blue wildebeest and red hartebeest canter lazily away down there. The grasslands are studded with wild banana outcrops.
You hover briefly over a particularly lovely tannin-stained river – the Mkhambathi – that descends in a series of waterfalls directly into the Indian Ocean. There are very few places in the world where you find such waterfall formations.
The rivers that empty into the waters beyond the Wild Coast rise in the Drakensberg. In the northern areas, these flows are met with rocky crags.
The most rewarding way to see Waterfall Bluff, however, is on a Wild Coast hike. The length of the whole trail is 280km (most people only do shorter chunks of it) and will take a seasoned hiker 25 days to complete.
Right next to Waterfall Bluff is the free-standing, pyramid-shaped Cathedral Rock, rising out of the sea.
The geography you hike through consists of a series of secluded, pristine beaches, deep coastal forests, rocky shores and estuaries. You will also see the miniature coconut palm called the Mkambathi palm – a drift-in from another continent.
Offshore, there’s a sliver of cold water pushing its way north in the winter, bearing a great migration of sardines, pursued by gannets, sharks and dolphins. It has been dubbed ‘the greatest shoal on Earth’.
In this 8 000ha reserve, birdwatchers should look out for the red-shouldered widow, the yellow-throated longclaw, the croaking cisticola, Gurney’s sugarbird, and the tiny, yet dazzlingly beautiful double-collared sunbird.
Did You Know?
Travel tips & planning info
Who to contact
Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency
Tel: +27 (0)43 705 4400
Email: info@ecpta.co.za
How to get here
Waterfall Bluff is best-accessed via the Mkambathi Nature Reserve.
Best time to visit
The change of seasons are prime times - April-May (autumn) and September-October (spring).
Things to do
There are also horseback trails in the area. You can take a boat trip up the Mtamvuna River or go canoeing on the Great Kei River. A microlight flight is a great way to see the Wild Coast and Waterfall Bluff.
What to pack
Take local advice on what hiking gear and supplies to pack.
Where to stay
Stay at Mkambathi Nature Reserve or in Port St Johns, in which case you will need guided transport to the Waterfall Bluff area.
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