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Voykit pocket guide · South Africa
Port St Johns
Go for 2–3 nights for the beaches and the Umzimvubu gorge, not nightlife: no flights into town, sparse transport, gravel roads.
Port St Johns sits where the Umzimvubu River cuts through the coastal hills of the Wild Coast, roughly 90 km south of Mthatha on the R61. It is a small town with two main beaches, a lagoon, forest walks and a handful of lodges. No airline flies into Port St Johns itself; the nearest scheduled airport is Mthatha, about 90 km away, and there is no train. You arrive by car, minibus taxi or a pre-booked shuttle. Two or three nights covers the beaches, Silaka Nature Reserve and a drive to Magwa Falls. Longer stays suit hikers and anglers.
- Country
- South Africa
- Best months
- Apr–Sep (dry, mild)
- Avoid
- Dec–Jan (peak crowds, rain, higher rates)
- Stay
- 2–3 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- ZAR
- Money
- Currency is the South African rand (ZAR, R), about 17–18 per US$ in 2026 (check). Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted almost everywhere in cities and at lodges; carry small cash for tips.
- Daily spend
- Budget R500–900 excl. bed · Mid R900–1,600 excl. bed · High R1,600+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Vodacom and MTN have the best coverage; Cell C and Telkom are cheaper. Buy at the airport shop with your passport (RICA registration is required).
- Emergency
- From a mobile 112
- Plugs
- Types M, C, N · 230 V · 50 Hz · The big round-pin type M is rarely used elsewhere; buy a local adapter at the airport or any supermarket.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 10–15%; check if a service charge is added for large groups.; Fuel attendant: R5–20, more if they wash windows and check tyres.; Car guard: R5–20 when you leave.; Safari ranger and tracker: About R150–300 per guest per day for the ranger, R100–200 for the tracker — check lodge guidance.; Hotel porter: R10–20 per bag.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in most cities and towns; in some municipalities with failing infrastructure, ask your host.
- Toilets
- Clean Western toilets at fuel stations (Engen, Shell, Ultra City), malls and park camps.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | R25–45 |
| Main course at a local restaurant | R90–180 |
| Beer, 340 ml | R25–40 |
| Minibus taxi, Port St Johns to Mthatha | R60–120 |
| Petrol, per litre | R22–25 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | R150–350 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- UTT · Mthatha Airport
- About 90 km (56 mi) away by road on the R61; limited scheduled service, so check before booking.About 56 mi (90 km) away by road on the R61; limited scheduled service, so check before booking.
- DUR · King Shaka International (Durban)
- Long drive of roughly 5–6 h; most travellers fly here and hire a car or take a shuttle.
Typical fares
- Minibus taxi Port St Johns → Mthatha
- R60–120, about 1.5–2 h, daytime only (check)
- Car hire, one day, small car
- from about R600 (check)
- Petrol, per litre
- R22–25 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Local public transport is sparse: minibus taxis run between Port St Johns and Mthatha during daylight only, and there is little else. Walk in town and between First and Second Beach; for Silaka, Magwa Falls, Agate Terrace and the rural lodges you need a car, or arrange a local driver through your lodge. Roads to the outlying beaches are gravel and rough after rain.
See and do
Known for
- Umzimvubu River mouth and the Gap
- Second Beach and Silaka Nature Reserve
- Wild Coast hiking and fishing
- Magwa Falls
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Silaka Nature Reserve | Drive or walk from Second Beach, then hike the coastal trail | Half day |
| Magwa Falls | Drive inland on the R61 and turn off towards the falls; gravel sections | 3–4 h return |
| Coffee Bay | Drive north on gravel and secondary roads | check |
| Mthatha | R61 by car, or a daytime minibus taxi | check |
Sleep
- First Beach / town centre
- Walkable to shops, the river mouth and the main road; simplest base without a car.
- Second Beach
- Quieter, close to Silaka Nature Reserve; a short drive or 20–30 min walk from town.
- Agate Terrace / Poenskop Road
- Gravel-road cottages and guesthouses above Long Beach; you need your own vehicle.
- Out of town (Ntafufu, The Kraal)
- Rural lodges about 20–25 km (12–16 mi) away; peaceful, but every trip into town is a drive.Rural lodges about 12–16 mi (20–25 km) away; peaceful, but every trip into town is a drive.
- Mbotyi
- River lodge further north along the coast; distance from town check, and the road is gravel.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Molomolo |
| Thank you | Enkosienkosi |
| How much is it? | Yimalini?yimalini |
| Where is the beach? | Liphi ulwandle?liphi ulwandle |
| I need help | Ndifuna uncedondifuna uncedo |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Say hello and ask how someone is before any request; avoid: Launching straight into a question
- Handshakes: Three-part African handshake with friends; a normal handshake with strangers; avoid: Refusing an offered hand
- Elders: Use Mr/Mrs or 'Mama', 'Baba' respectfully in townships and rural areas; avoid: First names with older people you have just met
- Braai invitations: Bring meat or drinks, and arrive on 'African time'; avoid: Taking over the fire
- Photos: Ask first, especially in townships and villages; avoid: Photographing children without a parent's permission
- Politics and race: Ask questions and listen; avoid: Lecturing on history or crime
Scams and watch-outs
- Swim only where lifeguards are on duty; the surf and river mouth have strong currents.
- Do not walk isolated beaches or roads after dark, and carry only what you need.
- Gravel roads to Agate Terrace and the rural lodges are rough; a high-clearance car helps after rain.
- Card machines and ATMs are limited: bring enough cash for fuel, taxis and small purchases.
- Mobile signal is patchy outside town; download maps and confirm bookings before you arrive.
Port St Johns is a small, low-key town but not a place to wander alone at night or leave valuables in a parked car. Swim with lifeguards, keep to daylight driving on rural roads and ask your lodge which areas to avoid after dark.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Port St Johns yet. Suggested stay: 2–3 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Umzimvubu River mouth and the Gap
- Second Beach and Silaka Nature Reserve
- Wild Coast hiking and fishing
- Magwa Falls
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- South African National Parks and provincial tourism information: www.southafrica.net/
- Wikivoyage: Port St Johns, revision 5091861 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5091861
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Port St Johns
Nceda undise kule dilesi
Please take me to this address
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- From a mobile112
No embassies in Port St Johns; consulates and embassies are in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban or Pretoria. Check your country's mission before travelling.
Cash is king outside town; draw rand in Mthatha or East London before you arrive.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/port-st-johns). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.