Tsitsikamma national park Garden Route, Indian ocean landscape, near Plettenberg bay, South Africa, Eastern Cape. Photo via Adobe Stock
Secret beach guide: Hidden gems in the Eastern Cape
If you’re looking for secluded beaches in and around the Eastern Cape, look no further than this list of serene sandy shorelines
Tsitsikamma national park Garden Route, Indian ocean landscape, near Plettenberg bay, South Africa, Eastern Cape. Photo via Adobe Stock
The Eastern Cape is a province known for its rich natural beauty. If you’re in town and seeking seclusion at some off-the-beaten-track beaches, then this guide is for you.
These are our top picks for spots along the shoreline that will have you feeling as though you have found yourself in a deserted land, with nothing but the sound of waves crashing gently onto the sandy shore which separates you from the lush greenery just off the coast.
Woody Cape Beach
Woody Cape is operated by SANParks and forms part of the high acclaimed Addo Elephant National Park. You’ll find yourself at the mercy of the tides, watching as dunes drop into the Indian Ocean.
Here, visitors can walk the Alexandria Hiking Trail, which spans across 36km. This hike is walked over a couple of days, and the first day covers about 10km along the beach.
Riet River mouth
Just outside of the sleepy seaside town of Port Alfred is the Oceana Beach and Wildlife Reserve. It is situated along the road towards East London.
Visitors to the park can opt to be transported to through the reserve and dropped off at the beach, with a radio to signal when they’re ready to head back to the lodge. This stretch of coastline is almost 8km in total, and is a public area, so it can also be self-accessed.
Chintsa East
Chintsa East is a village outside of East London. It is here where you will find a stretch of beach that is over 20km long, and one that holds it pristine well.
Visitors here can enjoy the beach on foot, or the more adventurous ones can experience it by horseback. This beach is positioned next to dense dunes and forests which are teeming with wildlife.
Morgan Bay
Morgan Bay is said to be a beach – a seafront- of grandeur. One part is flat lying, while the other has cliffs and smashing waves. Expect to see fisherman here, and make it your mission to arrive in the early morning, just as they do.
Qhorha Mouth
There is a ferry that transports people across the Qhorha River to a beach. This shoreline stretches more than 20km and is frequented more by animals than it is by humans.
Each year, there is the Wild Coast Wildrun, which sees participants make their away across the entire length of the beach. There are many private spots to be found at this beach, with dolphins to be seen in the waves.
Noetzie Beach
Strictly speaking, this one is in the Western Province, though it may be on your route to the Eastern Cape as it sits just outside of the Eastern Cape province. Head to Knysna to this remote cove while on the Garden Route.
Lap in the waters of this pristine beach which remains unspoilt to this day. The ocean joins a dark lagoon and is surrounded by indigenous flora and fauna. A couple of classically designed beach houses are dotted along the shoreline, making this beach feel like from an old world.
With long stretches of untouched shoreline, the Eastern Cape is the perfect place to find a secluded spot in the sand. This makes the province unique in its offering, with an abundance of raw nature to be surrounded by and enjoyed. Which beach is calling your name?
