Coffee Bay
A barefoot Wild Coast village — Hole in the Wall, cliffs, and the most backpacker-famous stretch of the Eastern Cape coast.
Trip Role
Ideal stay
Best for
Our take
The Wild Coast's most famous barefoot stop — go for the cliffs, stay for the slowness.
The Wild Coast's most famous barefoot stop — go for the cliffs, stay for the slowness.
- Trip Role
- Worth a Detour
- Ideal Stay
- 2-3 nights
- Best For
- Backpackers and Wild Coast explorers
- Go If
- You want the real Wild Coast and don't mind rough roads.
Why go
Coffee Bay is the Wild Coast's backpacker heart — a river mouth, dramatic cliffs, the iconic Hole in the Wall, and a slow, barefoot pace. Hard to reach, easy to stay.
What we love
The walk to Hole in the Wall along the cliffs.
What to know
No airport; a car is essential (5h from Mthatha, rough roads). Cash for everything. Go for the landscape, not the luxury.
What's here
Best things nearby
More village in Eastern Cape
Chintsa
A laid-back Wild Coast beach village north of East London — lagoon, backpacker lodges, and the soft entry to the Wild Coast.
Port St Johns
A jungle-clad Wild Coast village at the Umzimvubu river mouth — dramatic, decaying, and the Sardine Run base.
Storms River Village
A tiny village at the Tsitsikamma end of the Garden Route — the Mouth, suspension bridge, and forest canopy tours.