Chintsa

Chintsa sits where the Wild Coast begins, close enough to East London to be reachable on a normal road but far enough that the beach empties out. The Chintsa River comes down through dunes into a lagoon behind the sand, so there is calm water for children and open surf beyond it, with a beach running several kilometres east towards Cefane. Backpacker lodges here have been a fixture of the overland route for decades and gave the village a reputation as a stop where people intend to stay two nights and leave a week later. Horse riding along the beach, surf lessons and dune walks are the usual activities. It is greener and gentler than the Wild Coast proper further north - rolling hills, aloes in winter, and no need for a 4x4 to arrive.

What you actually see

• The lagoon and surf - calm river water behind the dunes, open sea in front.
• The long beach - several kilometres of sand running east with few people on it.
• The backpacker culture - a long-standing stop on the overland route.
• The easy access - Wild Coast scenery without the usual rough spur road.

When to go

October to April. Two days, or longer - that is the local pattern.

Honest expectations

The sea has rips and there are no lifeguards outside peak season. Village facilities are limited; East London has the shops. Holiday periods fill the lodges. The river mouth opens and closes, changing the lagoon.

Nearby

Morgan Bay is up the coast; East London is west.