The land that time forgot – hidden discoveries along the deserted south coast of Africa

If you want to discover a part of the planet that feels as if you are the only one to find it, then the far south of Africa has just the place for you. I know every place is as remote from every other on our giant planet, but some of my discoveries while hiking along the remote shoreline of southern Africa appear quite beautiful and yet also completely deserted.

Add to that the fact that they appear as if they’ve not been seen by another human soul for years. I’m not far from the nearby tourist town of Plettenberg Bay which is full of tourists lapping up the sunny white sandy beaches right now, yet this particular stretch of the coastline is totally isolated and inaccessible unless you know the region well.

As a result I am able to evade the throng of families pouring onto the pristine beaches and swimming or surfing for their summer holiday, and explore another section of the seaside tourist region which is perhaps the most beautiful in all of southern Africa. There is not a single trace of another person on this part of the shoreline, and no sight of another human whatsoever.

It feels as if I have the entire place to myself and all the time in the world to explore it. You will love these remote little hidden alcoves, caves and indigenous shoreline forests, with their secret gardens and sheltering groves. Thus you can get the best of both worlds when visiting this region of Africa’s southern shoreline.

On one day you can go surfing and on another you can go hiking or exploring along the hidden trails just around the corner. But if you don’t actually know the place, you will overlook this hidden side of the gem that is the Garden Route region of this coastline. Fortunately I have had some time to make a proper investigation of the region and today I bring you some images of the lesser known hidden facets of this gem on the Cape south coast.

While hiking along the paths up on top of the cliffs, I eventually come to some little path that makes its way down the steep slopes to the sea level and the rocky beaches. Sometimes there is no path and I make my own. That’s because hardly anyone comes here. It is a protected nature reserve type of area but you might not find any reference to this part of it on any map or brochure. So I’m giving you a sneak preview and personal private tour for your pleasure.

I also discovered another powerful little stream, just after some decent rain recently. It comes storming down the hill to the cliff edge and then just pours over like a torrent down to the shoreline below. This makes a second river discovery for the records. It consists of more of the run-off that occurs after the rain and it collects in the little gorges to get funneled down to it’s final destination into the Indian Ocean just below.

With all this free flowing water and the innumerable little caves I have found so far, it looks like a really hospitable place to camp out. You don’t even need a tent as the weather is mild and the caves provide perfect shelter if you were to stay overnight. There is plenty of fire wood for cooking too.

The constant sound of the crashing waves nearby add to the overall ambience, like a sound track to the whole journey. This sound, along with the sound of the running stream trickling over the rocks, make up a symphony of nature, punctuated by occasional birds singing their sunlight sonata. The unending sound of the ocean will lull you to sleep at night or take you on an inner journey if you were meditating here in one of the caves.

These sights and sounds are able to purify the mind and consciousness if you simply spend time immersed in them. It makes for a perfect place to have a retreat from the hectic city life or strange affairs of civilization today. By limiting access to mass media through living on these shores for a few days or weeks, you might forget about what’s going on in the wider world, or even forget what time it is historically on the planet.

This timeless eternal present moment can be yours if you wish, so feel inspired to make a pilgrimage to the land that time forgot, to the shores not seen by another human, where you may not even see another human soul, and yet be surrounded by a lush abundance of life and good health at any time of the year. Wherever you are, I hope that you can also tap in to this kind of paradise, for our planet is full of such hidden gems – if you know where to look.

(photos my own)

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