The Wild Coast really was made for slackpacking. Your feet literally spring alive on those rolling green hills. You have beaches, cliffs, rivers, humpy-back grasslands, forests and little villages scattered along a coastline that still feels wonderfully rural. Weather is usually mild.

The famous Wild Coast walking routes take you through landscapes that are difficult to get to with a car. You cross beaches at low tide, climb over headlands, pass rondavels and kraals, and follow paths that have been used by local people for generations. There are rivers to cross, sometimes with boats or local guides helping you, and there are sections where tidal knowledge is important.

There are famous sights like Hole in the Wall, but the real joy of the Wild Coast are the empty beaches, a traffic jam of handsome Nguni cows blocking the path , a dramatic cliff to traverse, showering under a waterfall, children waving as you pass, discovering a warm coke or a tin of condense milk in a dusty little shop…

On a slackpacking trail, all your logistics are taken care of. Your main luggage can be transported ahead while you walk with a light daypack. It changes the whole experience. You can spend the day looking at the ocean instead of trying to adjust your shoulder straps.

The Wild Coast is also a place where you need to walk responsibly. Conditions, tides, and river crossings matter. Local knowledge and customs matter even more, which is what makes this region so special.