Looking for endless, wide sandy beaches? Then Chintsa is the place for you. Our tour through South Africa took us to this wonderful place after Johannesburg, the Drakensberg Mountains, and Coffee Bay. This holiday resort lies on both sides of the estuary of the Chintsa River and, with just under 1,800 inhabitants, is a small and tranquil place. Here you’ll find relaxation, secluded beaches, surfing opportunities, lush subtropical vegetation, and wild banana trees. The slope is gently sloping, making it suitable for children (under supervision). The water is quite warm, unlike Cape Town, because here you have the warm Indian Ocean on your doorstep instead of the cold Atlantic.

Anyone who needs a “vacation from their vacation” or is simply passing through should at least make a short stop here in Chintsa. Whether kayaking, surfing, volleyball, endless walks, or windsurfing – this small town has a lot to offer. And even if there’s nothing going on, you can simply lie down among the sand dunes and enjoy the warm rays of sunshine on your skin, combined with a thrilling novel.

Buccaneers Backpackers Hostel

After Coffee Bay, we continued on to Chintsa. We only found one hostel in the area, and that was the Buccaneers Backpackers. It’s located on a small hill with incredible views of the sea. The beach is only a 5-minute walk away. Here you’ll find shared rooms, private rooms, camping, safari tents, small cabins, and private apartments.

A kitchen, a bar with billiards, a pool, a beach volleyball court, and much more await you here. The hostel also offers a few activities, such as surfing, village tours, kitesurfing, and cycling. It’s also only 6 km from the Inkwenkwezi Wildlife Reserve and the East London Coast Nature Reserve.

We were here during the off-season, so it wasn’t particularly busy. During peak season, however, it’s supposed to be really nice and, above all, full in the hostel. It’s a bit busier then. There were maybe 10 of us staying at this huge complex, which gave it a very deserted feel. But yes, it was off-season!

We booked an 8-person room and paid just under €10 per person. When we arrived, there were only two other girls in the room. The next day, we even had the whole room to ourselves—not bad, is it? The dorm room also had a small terrace with a view of the sea. We really liked it there, even if it was almost too quiet for us. We spent the first evening in the bar with a game of billiards and a fresh Savanna Cider.

Surfing in Chintsa

The next day, we slept in and fortified ourselves with a delicious breakfast on the restaurant terrace. The weather was once again completely on our side, so we didn’t hesitate for long and got ourselves a wetsuit and a surfboard from the accommodation. From the terrace, the waves at least seemed quite acceptable and not as wild as at Coffee Bay.

We strolled through the small forest area, walked over a small, homemade wooden bridge, and made our way through the light sand dunes to the shore. Here, the waves suddenly seemed much higher and wilder. But – close your eyes and get through it! The water was cold, but it was all manageable in the wetsuit. After I (Bolle) desperately tried to get the board under control, Marco watched the sea from the shore. I was repeatedly pushed to the shore; the current was simply too strong. A few attempts later, I left the water and made myself comfortable on the beach.

Not a soul, just us!

Marco tried his luck, but he also failed. He did catch a wave or two, but it took an enormous amount of energy just to get out. One wave after another, you had to fight against the strong current. But it wasn’t that bad; the day at the beach was still beautiful. We watched the many crabs hatch from their holes in the sand and tried to take a photo or two of them. Not so easy with these timid creatures.

Chintsa South Africa – All Information

• Location: Chintsa (46km from East London, 330km from Port Elizabeth)
• Accommodation: Buccaneers Backpackers
• Cost: Dorms from 160 Rand per person, camping from 100 Rand, private rooms from 410 Rand
• More information: in Coast to Coast Book (available free at every hostel in South Africa)
• Activities: Surfing, beach, kayaking, chilling & enjoying (continue to Hogsback)
• Highlight: the beautiful beach with the small dunes
• Other accommodations:

Book a cool tour through South Africa here or take excursions in the surrounding area. You’ll find a variety of offers at Get Your Guide.