Mbotyi is a small settlement and coastal resort situated in a wilderness area at the mouth of the Mbotyi River in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.
Mbotyi is located approximately 29 km south-east of Lusikisiki and 347 km south-west of Durban.
Mbotyi falls within the Ingquza Hill Local Municipality and the OR Tambo District Municipality.
The area’s name, Mbotyi, is the Xhosa word for ‘place of beans’ and, unsurprisingly, the climate and fertile soils are perfect for growing beans. It is also conducive for growing tea, and the Magwa Tea Estates sprawl around Mbotyi, one of the largest tea estates in South Africa, employing a huge number of the residents.
Mbotyi is possibly one of the best hidden secrets in the Eastern Cape’s Pondoland. The coast south of Port Edward is wild, and life here has not caught up with the western world’s clamour for development and the acquisition of things. Time has stood still at Mbotyi; little has changed in the last 50 – 100 years. The local people are warm, interesting, and accommodating, willing to share their piece of paradise with visitors.
The birdlife in Mbotyi is said to be incredible (keep an eye out for the Cape parrot), whilst the sheer beauty of the valleys, hills, deep gorges, lush vegetation, and waterfalls make this part of South Africa a space in which to completely get away from it all.
Whales and Dolphins are frequently spotted from Mbotyi, especially during the annual Sardine Run in June, July, and August. Mbotyi is also renowned for Lepidoptery, which is a branch of entomology concerning the scientific study of moths and the three superfamilies of butterflies.
Mbotyi is surrounded by dense indigenous forests, waterfalls gushing into steep gorges or down cliffs straight into the sea.
For the adventurer wanting to explore the many unique and wild treasures this coast has to offer, Mbotyi offers the privileged opportunity to visit the legendary Double Falls and Cathedral Rock.
For mountain bike enthusiasts, there are a couple of routes – one up the hills to Magwa Falls, where the views are something else, or a lovely loop up the same hill out of Mbotyi, past Angel Falls and south, through a rural village and on across a lagoon and back again.
The Mbotyi River Lodge is 26 km from Lusikisiki, easily accessible by car, and has an excellent airstrip available at the nearby Magwa.
Inspanned oxen pulling heavy loads are a common sight on the beach. Cattle and goats drink from the lagoon while bathers enjoy themselves in the nearby surf.
