Wild Coast Adventure

[jverster]

Just a word of warning - I'm open to correction but I think it is illegal to be within 1 km of the coast if not on an official road. Alfie Cox got arrested for this near Hole in the Wall some time back.

Yes LanceSA you're quite right about a few things here.
Mr Cox did in fact pick up some trouble and was arrested at gun point:
https://www.wildcoast.co.za/node/137?page=17
also he got a R10k fine and paid on the spot to stay out of the cells,
https://www.bmwmotorcycleclubcape.co.za/alfie-cox-fined-r10-000-00-transkei
Alfie didn't appreciate the officer sticking an R1 in his back while lying in the ground in front of his Aussie and Kiwi guests.
You're warning is certainly good advise.


Laban: I agree that one has to live on the edge a bit. I certainly do not promote going the illegal route. We definitely did not plan to go on the beaches but somehow we ended up there. **** happens.

Take care.

 

[dawie louw]

Cool report. I think for future adventurers it would rather be best to stay of the beaches. If we don't respect our environmental laws we'll just end up spoiling it for everyone

 

[chicco]

Very nice trip and report, would love to do the beach ride...is that law still inforced?  atch:

 

[jverster]

Hi Chicco.

Yes I believe the law is enforced with great vigor and I agree with that.  I'm all for saving the environment. There are plenty offcial 4x4 routes in the Kei that hug the coast line and this is the basis we used for our planning. The last thing you should do is to set off just riding on the beach. You'll end up in jail. I promise.

Take care.

 

[chicco]

did you track the route? please share if you have....

 

[jverster]

HI Chicco. It was posted earlier but here it is again.

 

[G K]

Fantastic report and pictures. Thanks for sharing 

 

[jverster]

Thanks G K. Fantastic is a big word. Appreciated !

 

[goingnowherequickly]

Great Report!!
what a jol you guys must have had!!
Looking forward to the next one
Thanks

 

[Tankwa]

Brilliant RR and pictures  :thumleft:
Thanks for sharing JP

 

[GreenAnt]

Nice report James!
Glad I didn't do that one, much more hectic than Calawi!

 

[JACOVV]

nice report & reading.

thanks for posting

 

[Jacoboos]

Blerrie awsome. Daar is nie pille te kry vir wat julle moes vermag nie. Wat ek wel vermoed, is dat dit tussen julle bene van yster is!

 

[GK]

Great report.

I can confirm that you need a permit to be within 1km of the coastline unless you are riding on a main road. Note a "main road" not a 4x4 track, path, cattle track, well used track etc. The beach goes without saying is 100% out of bounds.

It is also not easy to get permits for this type of tour/ride. It is however reasonably easy to get a permit if for instance you are a fisherman and you know more or less exactly what places you want to fish.

I take Tours to the Wild Coast both in 4x4's and motor cycles and although the permit department in East London have always been very helpful they will not issue a blanket permit say from the Kei River to Port st Johns as an example. You have to be 100% specific in where exactly you want to ride/visit/fish/camp. You even need a permit to stay/visit the cottages along the coast. If you are staying in someone else's cottage you need a letter from the owner giving you permission to be there and the dates!!!!!!!!

Be careful guys the authorities blitz the area even using aircraft......if you are caught you are deep in the "poo"!!!!!!!!!!! The fines are very heavy..............

Unfortunately fantastic trips such as this one (which I would have loved to have been part of) only make it more difficult for the others to enjoy this stunning area.

Our government only knows one way to enforce this law and that is to BAN us from the area, just like the "beach" ban. I fear that it will not be long before us "bikers" & "quad bikers" are banned completely from the area.

I treat each Tour as my last one fearful that one day soon I read that we have been banned due to people/groups pushing the envelope and riding illegally in this wonderful area.

Or...................the possibility of, like Namibia, giving certain individuals "concessions" to only bring in limited number of "guided" Tours.

Be careful Guys don't spoil it for the rest of us and Pray don't get caught.

 

[jverster]

[size=10pt][size=10pt]Warning: Permits required for Wild Coast[/size][/size]
https://www.wildcoast.co.za/warning-permits-required-wild-coast

 

[KALLY]

Guy's I see a few of you have asked for the coordinats of this ride, PLEASE don't follows this route. Riding on the beach, tracks, and paths in the Transkei is a real big no no.
I can assure you the authorities don't take ****, as Alfie Cox found out, However if you are breaking no rules they are helpfull.
In the past there were many complaints of bikes and quad's riding very fast through small villages and kraals endangering the lives of the community and livestock,and generally misbehaving.This has allready caused some of the campsites not to accept bikers.
The Wild Coast is a Magic place to ride. Surley among the best in S.A. It's large and the beauty is not just along the coast, there are lots of great rides inland as well.
As G K Say's biking on the Wild Coast is not going to last if we keep on breaking the law.
Please dont become one of the many who say they are all for respecting the environment or what ever cause, however to them that respect only seems to apply to other pepole. When it suites them respecting "the cause" seems to go out the window.
If you want to ride on the beaches or break the law, and endup sitting in some hellhole of a Jail somewere in the Transkei, or bikes are banned for good. Spoiling it for all in the future, Think of J P Verster's wise words "**** Happens"

 

[Gee eS]

Thanks for a great report. :thumleft:

 

[Dustdevil]

Hardcore stuff guys
Some good photography and tough riding, really cool RR, esp loved the images of making tracks on the beach. There are very few things as satisfying as getting away with breaking the rules.
F%$ck the green ***** with all their soppy "protect the environment" BS. This f-up world is so full of injustice created by a drive for economic prosperity and consumerism that a law preventing vehicles on all beaches almost seems like a sick joke.

 

[JPDakar]

Awesome report!  Planning to do the Transkei in April.

Some questions for the guys that know the area:

1. Is it still ok to cross the Kei river with the ferry and go to Trennery's?
2. Do you need a permit if you go stay in a cottage in Cebe?

What gets to me about this is that I have done the Transkei 3 times by 4x4 and once did a similar trip to this report... : Back in 98... Was there 2 years ago and didn't see any signs telling you you are not permitted to travel this track or that road etc.
So if you don't go to their website, read a report on a forum and just get in your car/bike and go to the Transkei you can end up in big kak if you are uninformed??

Surely if they want to enforce these strict laws they must make it visible you are not permitted???

 

[Walkaway]

Hey Captain J you are right.
There are no posted signs warning you where not to drive or ride.
Lots of folk got huge R2,500.00 fines over December.
Most of these people were ignorant of the laws.