The Strandloper Trail is a point-to-point coastal route of approximately 57 km, running from Kei Mouth / Cape Morgan to Gonubie along the Eastern Cape coastline. The route follows the established four-day Strandloper Hiking Trail, marked by white-on-green boot-print markers, and moves through coastal forest, open grass, beaches, rocky ledges, shingle, dunes, estuaries and small coastal settlements.
The route starts at the Strandloper Ecotourism Centre at Cape Morgan, near Kei Mouth, and heads towards Morgan Bay. Early checkpoints include the Cape Morgan Lighthouse, the Bench on the Krantzes, and "The Artefact" in the Morgan Bay forest. Athletes are encourage to photograph these checkpoints and submit the photos as part of the route record. The trail then continues over rough grass, boulders, sandy beach and the Morgan Bay cliff section towards Double Mouth.
From Double Mouth, the trail rounds the headland to the Quko estuary, then continues past Treasure / Bead Beach, Black Rock, shell beach sections and into Haga Haga. From Haga Haga, the route becomes more committing, with a long section of rocky ledges, shingle beaches and open beach backed by dunes before reaching Beacon Valley.
The final section from Beacon Valley to Gonubie follows mostly rocky coastline and narrow intertidal beaches, passing the coastal settlements of Glen Muir, Queensberry Bay, Glen Eden and Glengariff, then continuing past the Bulugha River and the Kwelegha River mouth. After the final river crossing at Gonubie, the route ends at the Gonubie Hotel.
Before you leave on your adventure
- Prepare a note for the next Strandlopers. The note should be written on paper about the size of an A5 or smaller.
- There are no rules on the content. If you can think of a thought-provoking question or topic of discussion to leave the next group, include it.
- If you are comfortable doing so, add your email address at the bottom so the next group can connect with you if they wish.
When you locate the Artefact
- Complete the logbook (pencil and pen are in the artefact).
- Remove the note left for you, and replace it with your note.
- Take a sticker as a keepsake.
- Replace the contents, seal the artefact and hide it back where you found it.
- Finding the Artefact itself: To the left of the trail, a Silver-leafed Milkplum stands in quiet defiance. Having overcome its ancient adversary, a granite boulder, it rises magnificently toward the light, carrying the Strandloper plaque among its branches. At its base rests the artefact itself, a carefully embellished yet humble vessel, entrusted with the stories of those who pass this way, the custodian of messages exchanged between Strandlopers across the years.
Permits and concerns
Permits are compulsory and are available from the trail administrators at info@strandlopertrails.org.za. As of publication in May 2026, the permit fee is R97.
Key river crossings for tide planning are the Quko, Kwenxura, Kwelegha and Gonubie Rivers. For non-stop attempts, these should all be treated as potential swim crossings, depending on tide state, river mouth condition and rainfall. The Gonubie River is the final crossing before the finish.
Dry bags are recommended to keep kit, nutrition and electronics dry during river crossings. Confident swimming across open-water river mouths is required, and caution must be exercised at all times.
