What We Offer
A 4-day all-inclusive Wild Coast hiking adventure that takes care of everything so you can focus on the journey.
What's Included
- 3 daily meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- 3 nights accommodation
- All permit fees
- Professional local guide
- Return transfer to Wild Coast Sun
- Branded cap
- All linen provided
- Selected drinks (coffee, tea, beverages)
- Ferry crossing fee
Not Included
- Luggage transfer (optional, R200 per person) — see below
- Porter (optional, on request) — see below
- Massage at the Pamper Shack (optional, after the trail) — see below
- Personal items and additional beverages
- Transportation to Wild Coast Sun
- Parking at Wild Coast Sun (~R20 for 3 days)
- Guide gratuities (optional)
Optional Extras
These are the things that sit outside the package price, and they are the ones worth knowing about in advance. You never carry a full pack on the Mtentu Ramble, so if you are bringing more than a daypack we can move it for you or arrange a porter. And when you finish, there is a massage waiting a few minutes from the end of the trail. All of it needs to be arranged before or during the hike rather than sprung on us on the day.
Luggage Transfer
R200 per person, cash only
Hand your bag over at the Wild Coast Sun on the morning of Day 1 and it is driven round for you, so you walk with just a daypack. Most guests take this and say it is the best two hundred rand they spend.
Your bag does not go to the first night's homestay
It goes directly to the Hiking Shack, where you sleep on nights two and three, and you collect it when you walk in at the end of Day 2. Pack your daypack for two days of walking and one night in the village: a change of clothes, medication and toiletries. This is the single thing guests most often get wrong.
Porter, On Request
R250 per day · R500 for the trail · cash only
If you would rather carry nothing at all, we can arrange a porter from the local community. You only need one for the first two days, so the usual total is R500. Day 3 loops into Mkhambathi and returns to the same beds, so nothing needs moving.
- One week's notice required. Porters are arranged locally and cannot be organised last minute.
- Up to 15 kg, and it must be a backpack rather than a suitcase.
- One porter per hiker. Porters cannot combine bags, so a couple wanting both carried needs two.
Mention either service when you enquire and we will add it to your booking. Both are cash only, handed to Kelly or to the driver collecting the luggage at the Wild Coast Sun on the morning of the hike. Draw the money in Port Edward before you come, as there are no ATMs beyond it.
Massage at the Pamper Shack
Treatment list and prices on request · cash only
Three days of river crossings, dune climbs and descents into Mkhambathi will find muscles you had forgotten about. A few minutes from the Hiking Shack, on the bank of the Mtentu River, Kelly runs the Pamper Shack and brings in local massage therapists to do the treatments for you. If the ladies are not available, or you have asked at short notice, her elder sister Gretel, a qualified massage therapist, steps in. There are four treatments to choose from: full body, half leg and foot, head and shoulder, and back and leg. It is easily the best decision most hikers make on Night 3.
Ask us for the full treatment list and prices before your hike and we will send it over by email or WhatsApp, so you can decide in advance rather than on a tired evening. All bookings go through Kelly, who likes a couple of hours' notice and ideally a day, so she can get a therapist out to you. Bring nothing but yourself; straight off the trail is entirely normal. Payment is cash, in smaller notes.
Read more about the Pamper Shack →Your Day-by-Day Journey
A summary of each day below. For the longer version, written by someone who has walked it more times than he can count, read what to expect on your 4-day Mtentu Ramble.
Day 1: The Journey Begins
14-17 kmMeet your guide at Wild Coast Sun at 09:30 AM. Depending on the tide, your guide will either take you across the iconic 153-meter Mzamba suspension bridge, or along the shoreline past the 80-million-year-old Mzamba fossil beds. Hike along the coast and wade through the Mpahlane River. End the day at a local homestead where you'll experience authentic Transkei hospitality.
Overnight: Local Homestead
Day 2: Desert & Rivers
10-13 kmTrek through the famous Red Desert, the world's smallest desert with potential Stone Age artifacts. Cross the Mnyameni and Sikombe Rivers before arriving at the Hiking Shack, your home for the next two nights.
Overnight: Hiking Shack
Day 3: Nature Reserve Exploration
15-17 kmTake the ferry across the Mtentu River and enter the pristine Mkambati Nature Reserve. Swim beneath the Strandloper and Mkambati Falls, the two waterfalls included on the hike, explore hidden shipwrecks, and end the day around a warm boma fire under the stars.
Overnight: Hiking Shack
Day 4: Return Journey
Transfer dayEnjoy a relaxed morning before your return transfer to Wild Coast Sun where your vehicle awaits. Arrive back with memories to last a lifetime.
Accommodation Details
Night 1: Local Homestead
- • Authentic Transkei experience
- • Toilet and bucket shower facilities
- • Electricity for charging your devices
- • Bedding provided
- • Home-cooked meals by local hosts
Nights 2-3: Hiking Shack Dormitory
- • Flushing toilet and gas-powered shower
- • Electricity for charging all your devices
- • Washbasin facilities
- • Communal dining area
- • All catering provided
- • Packed lunch for the Day 3 walk to the waterfalls
Before You Book
Fitness Level
Moderate fitness required. 10-17 km daily on sand and trails with river crossings. No prior hiking experience needed.
Group Size
Small groups for a personal experience. Solo travellers welcome, you'll join other adventurers on your chosen date.
Meeting Point
Wild Coast Sun parking facility. Meet your guide at 09:30 AM on Day 1. Safe parking available (~R20 for 3 days).
What to Bring
Hat, sunscreen, hiking shoes, rain jacket, headlamp, and 3 nights of clothing. Full packing list
Dietary Needs
Vegetarian, vegan and most common allergies are no problem. Let us know when you book. Unfortunately we do not prepare halaal food, but we do have vegetarian options available instead.
Booking & Cancellation
50% deposit to secure your spot. Balance due 30 days before your hike. Full terms
Ready to Experience the Wild Coast?
Check our available dates and secure your spot on the Mtentu Ramble.