Exotic wild shoreline at the eastern end of Garden Route, South Africa

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Hey there digital nomads and intrepid travelers, today I want to show you a magical and hidden stretch of the southern African coast that you may not have experienced before. Even locals hardly ever access this particular piece of paradise on these distant deep south shores. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to add this piece of the coastline to my tour this year, and I want to share the magic with you so that you can put this site on your travel agenda.

A magical natural geological feature - Arch Rock - with curious circle window up top above the arch

I have mentioned this region before as it’s one of my personal favorites among all my numerous explorations along this vast south coast of Africa. This particular region is called the Garden Route, for the very reason that it is like a beautiful garden filled with indigenous flora, as well as numerous wildlife habitats for marine and coastal species.

Under the Arch, with tide washing in

This part of the coast begins where Keurbooms beach ends, just east of the town of Plettenebrg Bay. If you continue further eastward along the coastline form here, you begin to enter a wilder and less-traveled section of the region. It becomes slightly rockier and the flora gets denser and quite lush, as far as the indigenous Fynbos floral kingdom goes.

Idyllic little swimming channel, with rare endangered Black Oystercatcher birds at the water's edge

As you head east, you will encounter the iconic Arch Rock, also known as Cathedral Rock because it looks like a giant cathedral window, or a giant arch through which one can walk, like a tall doorway.

Close-up zoom in on the black Oystercatcher birds

The ocean washes up through this arch at high tide and the space feels really magical. The natural erosion of the rock has created a truly beautiful place to explore. This is the right kind of landscape for those who love to meditate or tap in to the recharging energy of nature.

Past Arch Rock toward further lesser known beaches, facing east

If you continue past Arch Rock and walk along the shoreline further east, the little bays and pools look even more magical. Hardly anyone manages to access this stretch. Only those truly avid explorers make the effort to explore this stretch so you will be one of the rare few souls to discover it. I have mentioned this stretch before in earlier posts in previous years, as I manage to access this region a few times a year on my travels.

Beautiful indigenous flowers growing out of the rocks at the shoreline

The place is remote and I hardly ever see another person as I wonder along the coastline, where the dense bush hugs the shore. This section of the coast looks just like any tropical island paradise, with its dense vegetation and no sign of civilization whatsoever.

One of the numerous little beaches on the hike eastward

In fact it looks so idyllic here that movie makers have used this location to shoot some epic film series on occasion. One adventure series that you may have heard of is called Black Sails. This series is about the adventures of some stranded sailors from a few centuries ago who wash up on some remote island shores.

The actual hiking path - on the very edge of the continent

I just love this region since it could be any exotic location in the world, so I feel as if I’ve found paradise, a timeless space full of dense bush right up to the water’s edge. One could easily live here as a happy camper, if you were keen on living in the bush for a while as a forager or explorer.

Exquisite little rock pool for bathing

If you keep walking east along these shores, you will end up at some river mouth, which you will need to cross. Once you cross the Salt River, you will end up in what is called Nature’s Valley.

Classic landscape from this region of the south coast of Africa

I have yet to actually hike along that far stretch, although I have driven directly to Nature’s Valley by road. It’s another epic beach to explore, so I’ll post an article on it when I visit it again in coming days. This coastline is so vast and empty that one could explore it for days and weeks throughout the year. As you can see in the photos today, the place is truly beautiful, like a hidden remote coastal paradise attractive to any explorer and intrepid adventurer.

(photos my own)

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