With over 2000 kilometres of coastline, it's not surprising that South Africa has some of the best coastal hiking in the world. Here are just five of the top walks in SA where you can get up close and personal with the big blue.

The Wild Coast, Eastern Cape
Stunning scenery, opportunities to swim and snorkel in amazing gullies and rock pools and beautifully situated overnight huts. This is the way to enjoy the Transkei.

The most accessible section is the five-day hike from Port St. Johns to Coffee Bay. The trail is tough with steep climbs over headlands and long beach sections, and you should consult the tide tables for the numerous river crossings. Huts are well maintained or, if you prefer, you can lodge in the local communities or even the odd backpackers. If you plan to arrive before closing time the accessibility of local stores means that you don't even have to carry your own food.

Guides are available through Port St John's Tourism or Amadiba Adventures. The Coffee Shack in Coffee Bay is another useful source of info and a great place to enjoy a beer and comfortable night at the end.

Cape of Good Hope Trail, Western Cape
The only way to truly immerse yourself in the splendours of this fynbos paradise. Set off from the very tip of the Mother Continent (let's not even mention Agulhas!) and negotiate the slopes, plateaus and bluffs jutting away between the Indian and Atlantic oceans.

The spectacular coastline at Cape Point
This two-day, 34-kilometre trail, with an overnight hut on Da Gama peak, offers four starts per week (Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday), setting off from the Cape Peninsula Nature Park gate along a circular route over moderately difficult terrain. Watch your gear around the huts, as the chacma baboon troop inhabiting the area is known to perform the occasional snatch-and-run heist. The hiking trail and various day walk options are administered by SA National Parks under the auspices of the Cape Peninsula Nature Park.

Kosi Bay, KwaZulu-Natal
Go bush in what must rate as South Africa's most delicate coastal ecosystem. The Kosi estuarine system, still fished in the traditional way by the local Tonga people, is traversed by this walk which winds through pristine stretches of rare sand forest and past ancient fishing kraals.

Read more...

This article is published courtesy of the 2003 Out There Adventure Guide
Base yourself at Kosi Bay Lodge or at IgwalaGwala, a local community development project, and explore the four lakes from here. The four-day hike starts from the office at Nhlange and is relatively easy-going despite stretches of soft sand. It is best attempted during the cooler parts of the year. One tip: keep an eye out for Zambezi sharks in the estuary mouths. Hiking permits may be arranged through KZN Wildlife Reservations.

Alexandria, Eastern Cape
Beach and bush walking at its best along a two-day circular trail set on the magnificent Sunshine Coast. Start inland at Langebos and head south on an easy, marked walk through coastal dune forest, following the rugged Eastern Cape shoreline through the Woody Cape Nature Reserve before returning inland.

It's a relatively easy walk of 36km with accommodation in a basic overnight hut, but winter weather conditions may be unpleasant. Numbers along the route (which has recently been incorporated into the Addo Elephant National Park) are limited to 12 walkers per day and it is therefore important to book through the National Parks authorities on (042) 233 0556.

Otter Trail, Western Cape
OK, so it's almost impossible to get on, and EVERYBODY has heard of this stunning five-day hike along the Tsitsikamma coast, but it's still one of South Africa's most magnificent trails, so if you get the chance, leap at it.

Don't make the mistake of thinking that because it's a popular trail it must be easy. It isn't. By the first night you will be cutting your toothbrush in half and discarding half of your food to save weight. Again, as with most coastal trails, carry tide timetables as some of the river crossings can be treacherous, and be prepared for bad weather. Book well in advance through SA National Parks.