Port St Johns Beach
A river-mouth beach town on the Wild Coast — cliffs, forest, and the country's most atmospheric empty sand.
Trip Role
Ideal stay
Best for
Our take
A rugged, soul-stirring relic of the old Wild Coast that rewards the unpretentious traveler.
A rugged, soul-stirring relic of the old Wild Coast that rewards the unpretentious traveler.
- Trip Role
- Worth a Detour
- Ideal Stay
- a morning
- Time Needed
- half day
- Best For
- adventurous travelers and nature enthusiasts
- Go If
- You want an authentic, budget-friendly Wild Coast experience and enjoy communal backpacker culture.
Why it's worth your time
Port St Johns sits where the Umzimvubu River carves through the Gates of St John to meet the Indian Ocean. It is a raw, unpolished coastal outpost defined by steep sandstone cliffs and dense subtropical forest. The atmosphere is decidedly faded and eccentric, lacking the manicured polish of typical resort towns.
What we love
The dramatic sight of the Umzimvubu River meeting the sea between the towering Mount Thesiger and Mount Sullivan.
What to know
First Beach is dangerous for swimming due to shark activity and strong currents; stick to Second Beach for safer bathing. Always check local conditions, as lifeguards are not present at all access points.
More beach in Eastern Cape
Boknes
A quiet Sunshine Coast beach at a river mouth near Kenton — uncrowded and warm, with a shipwreck on the shore.
Bushmans River Mouth
The estuary beach at Bushmans/Kenton — boating, swimming, and a river you can paddle up for kilometres.
Cannon Rocks
A long, empty Sunshine Coast beach near Addo's coast — dunes, a shipwreck, and almost no one.
Cintsa
A lagoon-and-sea beach half an hour from East London — the gentle gateway to the Wild Coast.
Coffee Bay Beach
A remote Wild Coast beach with cliffs, cattle on the sand, and the Hole in the Wall a walk away — the region's backpacker heart.
Gonubie Beach
East London's local beach — a long arc of warm sand with a boardwalk and a river-mouth swimming pool.