We spent two nights on the beach near Chintsa, a picturesque coastal village in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province and a gateway to the famous Wild Coast. About 38–40 km northeast of East London (KuGompo City), Chintsa sits at the mouth of the Chintsa River, where it meets the Indian Ocean.
The Chintsa River estuary divides Chintsa into two distinct areas. Chintsa East, on the northern side of the river mouth, is the more developed, resort-oriented part, with several popular seaside accommodation options. Chintsa West, on the southern side, is smaller, quieter and more residential, and is home to the well-known Buccaneers Beach Lodge, a popular backpackers’ destination where we parked our expedition truck for the first night.
The area is characterised by huge, pristine dunes, tranquil river lagoons and dense indigenous coastal forests, creating an exceptionally beautiful landscape rich in birdlife and native vegetation. It has a wonderfully wild feeling despite being relatively close to East London.
The main attraction, however, is the coastline itself. Chintsa Beach is often regarded as one of the Eastern Cape’s hidden gems, stretching for roughly 15–17 km of broad, unspoiled white sand backed by forest-covered dunes. It is perfect for long walks, beachcombing and shell collecting. At the same time, the exposed coastline also offers good conditions for surfing, particularly around Chintsa East, as well as kite-surfing and stand-up paddleboarding.
For our second night, we moved a little further south to Yellow Sands Beach, a scenic coastal and river-mouth area near Kwelera. Here, the landscape changes slightly, with wide sandy beaches, rocky outcrops and tidal areas around the river and estuary system. It was another beautiful place to spend the night right beside the ocean, surrounded by the raw coastal scenery that makes this part of the Eastern Cape so special.
Parking location – Chintsa: 32.8369944S 28.1130913E (🚻,🚿,🏊,💦,🔌,🍽️,🅿️112 ZAR/pax)
Parking location – Kwelera: 32.9051855S 28.0763789E (🚻,🚿,🏊,💦,🔌,🍽️,🅿️210 ZAR/pax)