Alexandria, Sunshine Coast

Alexandria lies en route to Bushman’s River Mouth and Kenton-on-Sea just 50 kilometres from Port Alfred, roughly halfway between Durban and Cape Town. It is described as a friendly farming community that sustains itself from chicory, dairy and pineapple plantations.

Between the little town of Alexandria and the sea lies an area of subtropical coastal forests reminiscent of those found along the coastline of KwaZulu-Natal – extensive and dense - that is preserved as a state forest known as the Alexandria State Forest, or Langebos to locals. It borders the Alexandria Dune field, considered one of the largest moving dune fields in the world - some of the dunes reach heights similar to those found in the Namib Desert.

This incredible feat of nature is, in turn, included in and protected by the Woody Cape Nature Reserve, a 25 000 hectare reserve that stretches from the Sundays River mouth all the way to Bushman’s River mouth - regarded as an excellent area for birding enthusiasts. The Woody Cape Nature Reserve then forms part of the Addo Elephant Park; hence Alexandria is often described as the gateway to Addo.

This part of the world is desolated and secluded. But because of this wildlife, dolphins and whales are regularly sited, and one is almost ensured of a complete break with life as you know it. The Alexandria Hiking Trail takes in 36 kilometres of forests, dunes and seashore across two days in a wilderness that satisfies one’s thirst for communing with nature. Otherwise, Route 72 has an easy loop route through Woody Cape Nature Reserve to the villages of Cannon Rocks and Boknes.