Pondo Voyager & Falls Trails

The northern gateway to the Wild Coast begins just two hours’ drive from Durban, at the Wild Coast Sun (Port Edward) — the launch point for two unforgettable 5-night adventures: the Pondo-Falls and the Pondo-Voyager Trail.

The Pondo-Falls Trail was developed as a fully catered option ideal for families or groups who need to trail within school holidays, as it avoids the seasonal restrictions of the PBC tented camps. The trail offers an eclectic mix of overnight lodgings from a friendly village homestay on the first night, a community-owned eco-lodge set above the gorgeous Mtentu estuary, and finally, Grosvenor Lodge, nestled within a shady milkwood forest overlooking one of the most beautiful private bays on this coastline.

A full extra day is spent at Mtentu, allowing time to explore this magical area. Paddle a canoe up the glassy estuary or embark on an adventurous hike-kloof to Swallowtail Falls — an awe-inspiring waterfall enclosed by towering rock walls. For those seeking a gentler pace, there are tranquil walks to secret swimming pools, secluded beaches, and tidal inlets —where you can feel at zen with nature.

If secret waterfalls and hidden pools call your soul, the Pondo-Falls Trail deserves a place at the very top of your bucket list.

For those seeking to venture further, the 5-night Pondo-Voyager Trail extends beyond Grosvenor to finish at Mbotyi Lodge. The final two hike days — from Msikaba to Luphuthana and onward to Mbotyi — follow one of Pondoland’s most dramatic coastal stretches, where thundering waves crash against the rocky shelves of Luphuthana, streams plunge 80 metres over the cliffs at Waterfall Bluff, and the iconic Cathedral Rock rises proudly from the sea.

Whether you choose the Pondo-Falls or Voyager Trail, both promise a richly varied Wild Coast adventure — all within the easy reach of Durban’s gateway to the Wild Coast.