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Port Saint Johns

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Explore the Wild Coast at Port St. Johns, from hiking to First Beach, and experience the legendary annual Sardine Run.

Best Of Port Saint Johns

About Port Saint Johns

Port Saint Johns, The Wild Coast Gateway

The defining feature of Port Saint Johns is its position on the Wild Coast, where the Umzimvubu River carves a dramatic passage to the Indian Ocean through the sandstone cliffs known as The Gates. This meeting of river and sea creates First Beach, a broad, sandy bay that serves as the town’s focal point for visitors and locals alike, with the red-and-white striped Cape Hermes Lighthouse standing sentinel on the headland.

The town’s name itself comes from a historical mix-up, thought to originate from a Portuguese ship, the São João, which was wrecked near Port Edward. Later sailors mistakenly applied the name to this river mouth, and it has remained Port Saint Johns ever since.

Activities here are firmly tied to the landscape. You can hike the coastal trails that connect the town’s three beaches, or arrange boat-based dolphin viewing on the Umzimvubu River. The forests and grasslands around town are prime for bird watching and horse riding, while the ocean draws visitors for surfing at First Beach and deep-sea fishing further offshore. For a different perspective, operators like Singletrack Adventures offer quad biking routes, and the cliffs at The Gates present opportunities for abseiling.

With a warm, temperate climate and summer highs reaching the mid-thirties degrees Celsius, the area is a year-round destination for travellers seeking an active coastal stop. The town particularly appeals to hikers, fishermen, and those on a Wild Coast road trip. For a specific natural spectacle, plan for June or July to potentially witness the Sardine Run, while early December brings the cultural vibrancy of the Isingqisethu Cultural Festival.

Port Saint Johns is well-positioned for exploring this part of the Eastern Cape, with other coastal points like Coffee Bay and Morgan Bay within reach for a day’s excursion. The town provides a practical base with a variety of accommodation, from guest houses to backpacker lodges, and local dining often features the day’s fresh catch. From here, your next move could be further exploration of the Wild Coast or a visit to the nearby centres of Lusikisiki or Mthatha.

Places To Visit

Aberdeen Addo Adelaide Alexandria Alicedale Aliwal North Barkly East Bathurst Baviaanskloof Beacon Bay Bedford Bhisho Boknes Strand Burgersdorp Bushman’s River Mouth Buyskloof Cala Cannon Rocks Cape Saint Francis Cathcart Centane Chintsa Coffee Bay Cofimvaba Cookhouse De Vlakte Despatch Dordrecht Dutywa East London Elliot eMaxesibeni Flagstaff Fort Beaufort Fort Brown Gcuwa Gonubie Gqeberha Graaff-Reinet Grahamstown Gxarha Haga Haga Hamburg Hankey Hluleka Hofmeyr Hogsback Humansdorp James Calata Jansenville Jeffreys Bay Kareedouw Kariega Kei Mouth Kei Road Keiskammahoek Kenton-on-Sea Khowa Kidd`s Beach Kirkwood Klipplaat Komani Kougadam Kromriver KwaBhaca KwaMaqoma KwaNojoli Kwelerha Lady Grey Loerie Lusikisiki Maclear Makhanda Malalane Maletswai Matatiele Maxambeni Mbizana Mdantsane Mdumbi Middelburg Molteno Mount Frere Mthatha Ncanarha Ndabakazi Ngcobo Ngqeleni Nieu-Bethesda Nomlengane Nqanqarhu Nqweba Ntabankulu Nxuba Oyster Bay Patensie Paterson Pearston Port Alfred Port Elizabeth Port Saint Johns Qamata Qolora Mouth Qonce Queenstown Qumrha Qunu Rhodes Riebeek East Saint Francis Bay Salem Selborne Seymore Sidbury Sterkspruit Sterkstroom Steynsburg Steytlerville Storms River Stormsrivier Stutterheim Sunland Tarkastad Thornhill Tsitsikamma Tsomo Ugie Uitenhage Umtata Venterstad Willowmore Xesi