Wild Coast
Coffee Bay
A small village at the end of a winding road down to the sea, and the base for the Hole in the Wall hike.
Coffee Bay lies about 80km from Mthatha along a tarred but slow and winding road through the hills. The village sits in a green amphitheatre above a river mouth and a wide beach.
It is a backpacker and small-lodge destination rather than a resort town, and most of what people come for is outdoors: walking the cliffs, swimming, and the short trip south to Hole in the Wall.
Why people come to Coffee Bay
- Hole in the Wall, roughly 9km along the coast
- Cliff and beach walks straight from the village
- Small lodges and backpackers rather than large hotels
- Slow, winding drive in — allow time from Mthatha
Things to do in Coffee Bay
Natural landmark
Hole in the Wall
Coffee Bay
The cliff island with a wave-cut arch through it, about 9km south of Coffee Bay, reachable on a gravel road or on foot along the coast.
View detailsBeach
Coffee Bay Beach
Coffee Bay
The wide river-mouth beach the village is built around, backed by green hills and used for swimming, walking and surfing depending on the swell.
View detailsCoastal hike
Mapuzi Cliffs & Caves
Coffee Bay
A coastal walk north of Coffee Bay along cliffs, caves and rock pools, usually done with a local guide because the route crosses grazing land and river mouths.
View detailsWhere to eat in Coffee Bay
Restaurant & chalets
White Clay
Coffee Bay
A restaurant and self-catering spot on the rocks at Bomvu Beach just outside Coffee Bay, best known locally for seafood with the sea directly below the deck.
View detailsHotel restaurant
Ocean View Hotel Restaurant
Coffee Bay
The most reliable sit-down meal in the village, open to non-residents and worth booking in the December and Easter peaks.
View detailsWhere to stay in Coffee Bay
Backpackers
Coffee Shack Backpackers
Coffee Bay
A long-established backpackers on the river at Coffee Bay, known for running guided Wild Coast hikes and surf lessons with local guides.
View detailsHotel
Ocean View Hotel
Coffee Bay
The hotel directly above Coffee Bay's main beach, the village's most established full-service accommodation and its main sit-down dining room.
View details