Amapondo Backpackers is nestled in a jungle forest overlooking Port St Johns second beach, famed for dolphin and whale watching as well as a good surfing beach. Accommodation includes a campsite with sea views, two honeymoon tents on decks, three dormitories and seven double rooms.

The restaurants offer breakfast, Xhosa lunches, toasted sandwiches, milkshakes and dinners. Fresh seafood (crayfish, mussels, etc) is always an option, with the sea on our doorstep.

* For more details please log on the website.

]]> 29.52160072326660156,-31.64410018920898438 Bulolo Holiday Camp was built by the Transkei Development Corporation and privatised in 1995, which is when the Ngcingwanes took over.

It can accommodate a maximum of up to a hundred and fifty people, offering self-catering accommodation and caravan and camping facilities.

]]> 29.51679992675781250,-31.64819908142089844 Club Vuyani is an entertainment establishment located on one of the most unspoilt beaches in Port St Johns, the second beach with the best fishing spots and swimming areas. Club Vuyani consists of a sports bar, kiddies corner, tuckshop and a restaurant. The establishment offers and serves local dishes and also an a-la-carte menu. The establishment has the only disco in Port St Johns.

The sports bar has a pool table, darts board and DSTV channels. The kiddie’s corner is a curio section, which sells children’s toys and beach, wear. The tuckshop caters for all toiletries and last minute shopping. This is a real family place for people to hangout when visiting Port St Johns. Especially on Sundays we always try to create a family atmosphere where braaistands are available for barbeque (weather allowing), and friendly service is guaranteed.

]]> 29.61930084228515625,-31.64769935607910156 At Cremorne Estate we offer a variety of different accommodation options and services. Choose between our cosy log cabin hotel rooms, doing your own thing in our luxury self catering cottages, or for the outdoor type – choose between our riverside fisherman’s cottages or pitch your tent on one of our fully serviced camping or caravan sites

Cremorne Estate was build by captain Sidney Turner in the late 1800's and is linked to important maritime events of days gone by. It is situated on the banks of the awesome Umzimvubu River in Port St Johns on the Wild Coast and is easy to find. Hosts Steve and Chris will give you a warm welcome.

]]> 29.53240013122558594,-31.59819984436035156 Set in the heart of the Pondo region. On top of a mountain with the indigenous bushes, trees and magnificent views, Faranani Guesthouse comprises of five en-suite bedrooms.

All bedrooms are equipped with the following:

Telephone;
Alarm clock radios;
Coffee/Tea facilities;
Ceiling fans;
Hair driers; and
Separate entrance for your convenience.

They also offer:

Laundry services;
Baby Sitting services; and
Safe Parking and services;

]]> 29.54050064086914062,-31.62490081787109375 Gecko Moon Guest Lodge and Restaurant is set in a sub-tropical garden and is situated on the First Beach, facing the Great Umzimvubu River Mouth and the Indian Ocean.

This establishment offers the following:

Restaurant – Voted top eating spot in Port St Johns during the 2003/4-holiday season. Specializing in seafood, pizza and grill;

Bed and Breakfast – Double and twin bedrooms, each with own bathroom, own veranda and separate entrance;

Self-catering – Stunning elevated house with large entertainment deck overlooking the beach, which sleeps five people in comfort;

Craft Studio – A small range of locally made crafts is stocked in the craft studio. The stock changes constantly, but always includes basketry, jewellery, beadwork and pottery.

]]> 29.54680061340332031,-31.62639999389648438 Intaba River Lodge offers a family type of holiday in a warm, secure and hospitable environment, with dinner bed and breakfast accommodation. It is situated right under the cliff of Mount Thesiger. There is a swimming pool and a huge yard along the Umzimvubu River where one can stroll along.

]]> 29.52759933471679688,-31.59819984436035156 Oliver Tambo Craft and Market Centre is situated in the main town at the Port St Johns Centre and offers a unique combination of traditional craft and western style hand made articles by local crafters. There are whole range of items such as beadwork, shell art works, basketry and many cultural items as souvenirs. The centre is one of the initiatives by OR Ntinga Agency, which was established by the OR Tambo District Municipality to alleviate poverty in the province.

A visit to the centre is a worthwhile effort, as one would find many things to buy.

]]> 29.54479980468750000,-31.62120056152343750 Pondo People, a beaded clothing boutique and craft gallery, is an establishment located on the second property along the Ferry Point Road just after the Pondoland Bridge in Port St Johns. The name Pondo People was chosen to depict the fact that the products are made and produced by the Pondo Tribe, who are the main inhabitants of this area.

Pondo People was started twenty years ago as a response to decline in mining at the time. The retrenchments meant that very little money was coming into the Transkei and it was felt that a business employing women would be the best contribution to the community since women are the ones that feed and look after extended families. Another objective was to retain the tradition of beadwork in the Transkei, which was in danger of being lost.

Some of the garments made by the Pondo People are modern designs inspired by the traditional dresses of the area. Creativity is encouraged so that the women develop their own individual styles and they are assisted in the area of technique and quality control.

The products found at Pondo People include beaded waistcoats, skirts, trousers, shirts, beaded bags, berets and cushion covers. Also available are clay pots and traditional woven objects still used in normal households.

]]> 29.53059959411621094,-31.59539985656738281 Port St Johns Community Art Centre is an initiative by the community to get their art-works together in order to market themselves. This approach also helps in terms of co-ordination as the products are displayed in a central place to make it convenient for customers to view and make purchases.

The artworks available range from beadworks, crafts, curios and Xhosa Traditional garments produced by talented people in the communities.

]]> 29.38319969177246094,-31.62770080566406250 Port St Johns Shell Art consists of a group of women from the Gomola Village, who have found a creative way of using normal shells picked up along the beach to make attractive artworks for sale. There are many designs and shapes produced to make unique souvenirs and gifts. These and many more products can be found at the OR Tambo Craft Market at the centre of the town in Port St Johns.

]]> 29.36170005798339844,-31.70499992370605469 This small but beautiful coastal reserve lies in a forested valley south of Port St Johns, and stretches from Second Beach to Sugarloaf Rock. Trails lead to evergreen forest and provide the opportunity to view elusive birds such as Knysna loerie, Cinnamon Dove and Grey Cuckoo Shrike. The Gxwaleni River flows through the forest and you should look out for the Half-collared Kingfisher and long tailed Wagtail at fast flowing stretches.

Giant forest trees are clad in mosses, lichens and epiphytic orchids, while lilies bloom on the forest floor. Blue Duiker and Bushbuck are indigenous to the forest but are secretive and seldom seen. Facing the sea are grassy hills where the stately Aloe Ferox blooms in winter. The Natal Red Rock Rabbit lives among boulders and introduced Blue Wildbeest and Burchell’s Zebra graze the palatable grasses.

At the reserve, there is a rest camp that consists of fifteen thatched bungalows, each with two bedrooms, fully equipped kitchen, bathroom and braaiplace. The fifteen bungalows accommodate six people and each has a view of either the forest or the ocean. You should bring your own provisions, although the shop nearby at Port St Johns will have almost everything you need.

]]> 29.50769996643066406,-31.65349960327148438 Silwanentlhupheko is an Nguni word meaning, “we are fighting poverty”.

Silwanenthlupheko Furnitures is a group of people living in various villages in the Port St Johns region who decided to do something for themselves since they live in poverty. Because their villages are situated in a tropical forest they opted to utilise the forest wood to make furniture that they can sell to visitors and people in the area.

This initiative attracted the attention of the OR Tambo District Municipality and the OR Ntinga Agency, which is the development arm of the District Municipality, and was put in place to help develop skills training, quality control and other mechanisms to help alleviate poverty in the Eastern Cape Province. This intervention has helped so much that Silwanenthlupheko now produce furniture that they hope to export in future.

]]> 29.52639961242675781,-31.55179977416992188 “Get to know Port St Johns, hire Thandi” says the friendly tour guide, Thandi Smiley, who is one of the first tour guides in Port St Johns.

Thandi can be found near the entrance to Bulolo camp at Second Beach and his tours start at 10:00am M'Pondo time, which basically means, ‘African time’.

Thandi will take you to all or any of the following areas for a tour:

The Gap and Blow Hole;
Eziko and Pondo People crafts;
Umgazi bungalows;
Transkei National museum;
Isinuka Sulphur spring;
Isilaka Nature Reserve;
Sugarloaf Beach; and
Agate Terrace and Long beach.

Thandi is also swimming and diving instructor with his own rod for fishing expeditions and can also give a crash course in Xhosa for beginners.

Thandi’s advice and tips to visitors and tourists are:

This is The Wild Coast – enjoy it, don’t destroy it;
Keep Transkei beautiful – don’t litter; and
Take care of your valuables (don’t leave them unattended on the beach).

So do not hesitate to ask for Thandi’s Tour Guide experience at the Bulolo Camp site when visiting Port St Johns.

]]> 29.54388046264648438,-31.62037086486816406 Lily Lodge started as a restaurant in January 1996 and later the owner became interested in expanding to a lodge because of demand. Set in the dune forest at Second Beach, it is an idyllic venue for enjoying the Transkei Wild Coast. From the restaurant you may see schools of dolphins surfing and gliding away the late afternoon. Fruits of the ocean are served, complemented by wines from the Cape.

The chalets nestle amongst the trees where you can listen to exotic birdcalls and watch monkeys at play. In the evening, relax with a cocktail in Ben’s Bar, named in honour of Ben Dekker, the legendary strandloper of Port St Johns.

The lodge is owned and run by Mbuyie O’Mahony, a Pondo lady married to an Irish doctor. It’s a local venture, fully licensed, staffed and operated by people from Pondoland.

]]> 29.52179908752441406,-31.64730072021484375 Situated where the Umzimvubu Rivers flows into the Indian Ocean, The Outspan Inn is the perfect base from which to explore this land of wonders. The Outspan Inn offers the choice of en-suite bed and breakfast accommodation, or fully equipped self-catering units. All rooms open onto the spacious child friendly subtropical gardens.

The securely fenced pool is the perfect place to relax after a day of exploration whilst enjoying a meal prepared in the a-la-carte restaurant situated on the premises.

]]> 29.54619979858398438,-31.62330055236816406 The Pont is nestled between the mighty Umzimvubu River and Mount Thesiger, a convenient 4km from the centre of Port St Johns and the sea. The Pont was originally a government property until the new owners took over. It is situated right on the side of the Pondoland Bridge, on the highway from Umtata.

The Pont has self-catering accommodation chalets with caravan and camping space available, offering:

Accommodations types:

Four rustic self-catering riverside chalets;
Three en-suite self-contained family rooms;
A fully equipped communal kitchen;
A riverside braai (barbeque) boma; and
Camping and caravan sites.

Activities:

Slipway and jetty with estuary, surf and rock fishing;
Walking trails.

All of these, plus peace and serenity in the majestic surroundings with good security. Jenny or Brian will be there to welcome you.

]]> 29.52680015563964844,-31.59519958496093750 Ubuhle besintu is a Pondo word, which falls under the Nguni language, meaning “the beauty of culture or tradition”.

Ubuhle Besintu is a project that strives to keep the beauty and appeal of the Pondo tribe. Tomokazi, the project leader, is herself a designer, and she designs unique Pondo garments decorated with beadwork. This is very important because such garments help to preserve the Pondo culture while at the same time reminding whoever is wearing the clothes about the culture of the Pondo Tribe.

]]> 29.54479980468750000,-31.62120056152343750 Looking back at Umngazi:

According to legend, when Faku, famed king of the Pondo, executed his enemies at Mlengana (Execution) Rock overlooking the Umngazi River valley, their blood igazi literally ran down the streams into the river.

In the last century troops from the British garrison in Grahamstown established a fresh water supply point at Umngazi, which still supplies the hotel today. During the final Frontier war in 1841 British soldiers camped on the present hotel site. Later they also occupied Port St Johns, raising the Union Jack in 1871.

In 1842, Dick King watered his horses at Umngazi during his historic 1000km ride between Durban and Grahamstown.

In 1929 the Leach family established a trading post on the site. Two years later they erected three guest bungalows, which formed the nucleus of the present hotel.

The present owners, who descend directly from 1820 settler stock, their families having lived and worked on the Wild Coast for the past 135 years, substantially redeveloped Umngazi River Bungalows in 1994.

There is a tennis court, swimming pool and children’s playroom (videos/full time nannies). Cosy conference facilities, mountain biking and water-skiing are some of the activities that can be undertaken at Umngazi River Bungalows. There are also guided walks to mangrove swamps and through beautiful indigenous forests with some 240-bird species. There is also an on-site shop well stocked with toiletries, fishing tackle and holiday-wear. Secluded honeymoon bungalows are also available.

]]> 29.45459938049316406,-31.67250061035156250 This is a bed and breakfast establishment with an a-la-carte restaurant.

Wettham Hill is one of the best and well-run establishments found in Port St Johns. It was started in late 2003 as a guesthouse to cater for the ever-growing number of visitors to Port St Johns and is situated in a tropical forest environment with spectacular views.

]]> 29.54050064086914062,-31.62490081787109375 The Wild Coast Guards is a project started in Port St Johns to cater for the safety of visitors and all those who come to have fun at the beaches during warm summer days. The lifeguards are all youth volunteers from the communities around Port St Johns and are trained by professional lifeguards to perform rescue missions.

They perform functions such as:

Professional lifesaving;
Coast guarding;
Beach security and inspection;
Beach and aquatic facility consultation; and
Water education programmes.

]]> 29.51930046081542969,-31.64769935607910156 A bed and breakfast in Lusikisiki that has the following on offer:

Free wireless internet;
A swimming pool;
Braai (barbeque) area;
Beautiful garden;
A Koi/fish pond; and
Television with DSTV.

Sips B&B started in 2000 as a house with four bedrooms. The business has since grown to 32 bedrooms with a conference centre. They offer accommodation along the beautiful wild coast and plan to open an art exhibition centre for the local artists.

]]> 29.34443283081054688,-31.21596527099609375