Our aim is to promote tourism and interest in our area. We are an independent organization, not affiliated to the Port St Johns Municipality or Port St Johns Development Agency, although we work in conjunction with them to raise awareness of our beautiful Wild Coast. Port St Johns – also known as the Jewel of the Wild Coast and Paradise in Pondoland, is situated at the mouth of the Umzimvubu River
, about half way between Durban and East London. As the only coastal town in the former state of Transkei, Port St Johns has seen ups and downs, and has some fascinating history. The area was first visited by the Portuguese in the 1500’s. Most articles on Port St Johns highlight the relaxed lifestyle, writing of the little village as if it were caught in a ma*****na induced time warp, that never made it out of the ‘60’s hippie era. This is not true - the town does have its fair share of colourful characters, but mostly they are talented artists who make a living by plying their respective trades. The beaches are white and deserted, and have the unusual phenomenon that you are more likely to see cows there than people. Washed by the warm Indian Ocean, bathing in lagoons can be done nearly all year round, when the water is clean. It is not advised to swim at any beach or river mouth. The beaches are surrounded by high cliffs, which in turn are clad in sub tropical forests, which are home to over 250 bird species, including the rare Cape Parrot. Vervet monkeys and Samango monkeys are the most commonly seen mammals in these forests, but bush buck and puti (blue duiker) live here too. The business center of Port St Johns itself doesn’t hold many attractions, it is well serviced by supermarkets and other stores, and most goods are available, but it does tend to be crowded, with hawkers taking up every available space. But it is safe to walk around, and an hour spent browsing, could see you come home with some fun, inexpensive items. The Pondo people have lived in this area for centuries, and their culture and traditions can be seen everyday. Port St Johns does not have any artificial ‘cultural villages’, only the real thing, and visitors are welcome to visit kraals and villages in the area, and share some ‘mqomboti’, the traditional, homemade beer. Sangomas, traditional healers, which are misnamed in Western culture as ‘witch doctors’ are often seen taking part in ceremonies on the beaches or in villages. Eating out in Port St Johns is varied – restaurants range from the extremely Bohemian to regular a la carte. A number of popular pubs welcome both the locals and tourists. Wild Coast crayfish and oysters are sold by local fishermen, as are other fish. Accommodation in Port St Johns is also varied – from village based to Back Packers, to 4 star lodges. The most picturesque are situated on the Umzimvubu River banks. They offer assorted amenities, and are very comfortable. Port St Johns is the center of the annual Sardine Run. This is the fore runner to KZN’s Sardine Fever, where the fish wash up on the beaches there. Here, off Port St Johns, the tiny fish do not come near the beaches, but swim in their millions, up the coast, creating the marine equivalent of the Masaai Mara migration. Thousands of dolphins, porpoise, shark and sea birds follow these shoals of fish and feed off them. The sardine run coincides with the annual migration of whales en route to their breeding grounds off Madagascar, making Wild Coast the venue for Earth’s most spectacular marine event, which is enjoyed by both divers and sightseers. If you prefer out of the way places with character when on holiday, Port St Johns could be just what you’re looking for. No shopping malls, no movie houses, no traffic. But you will find great weather, spectacular scenery, friendly people and wonderful memories.
