Beachcomber Bliss
“The Eastern Cape coastline is noted for shipwrecks,” explained Bryan Church, “so keep a lookout as you walk. You might stumble on all sorts of treasure.”
We were gathered at the Kei Mouth Environmental Centre, the trailhead for the four-day Strandloper Hiking Trail, which follows in the footsteps of the ancient Strandlopers, the Khoi and San beachcombers who once made a living along South Africa’s shores.
As we studied the huge map on the wall, Bryan delivered a thorough briefing, pointing out the overnight spots, major river crossings, useful refreshment stops, and sites of some famous wrecks on the 57-kilometre route that starts at the village of Kei Mouth north of East London and ends in Gonubie.Old-fashioned display cabinets beneath the map showed some of the treasures – the birds, marine creatures, beads and shards of pottery – that we might find along the way. All rather quaint. It reminded me of a school outing.
Bryan and
