Kosi Bay to Cape Vidal
220 km of wilderness, and we ride a piece of it
Stretching from the pristine waters of Kosi Bay in the north to Cape Vidal in the south, this is one of the most remarkable stretches of coastline in South Africa. Here, golden beaches meet towering coastal dunes, ancient forests, freshwater lakes and untouched wilderness, creating a landscape that feels far removed from everyday life.
Much of this coastline forms part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa's first UNESCO World Heritage Site. iSimangaliso is unlike almost anywhere else in the world, bringing together an extraordinary combination of marine, wetland, forest, grassland and coastal ecosystems within one protected area. Its 220 km coastline is home to incredible biodiversity, from dolphins, whales and turtles in the Indian Ocean to hippos, elephants, rhino and hundreds of bird species further inland.
At the northern end, Kosi Bay is a world of crystal-clear waterways, interconnected lakes, mangroves and raffia palms, with a rich cultural heritage that has been shaped by the Thonga people for generations. It is often described as the “Aquarium of Africa” because of the remarkable marine life found in its clear waters.
As you travel south towards Sodwana Bay and eventually Cape Vidal, the landscape constantly changes. Quiet beaches give way to coastal forests, dunes and rocky shores, while the warm Indian Ocean remains beside you. At Cape Vidal, the ocean and African wilderness come together in a rare coastal safari experience, with opportunities to encounter marine life in the water and wildlife on land.
This is what makes the journey so special. It isn't simply about reaching the destination: it is about experiencing a coastline that remains wild, natural and largely untouched. Follow the Tide was created to experience this landscape in a way that allows you to slow down, explore it on two wheels and become part of the environment rather than simply passing through it.
This is more than a bike ride. It is an opportunity to experience one of South Africa's most extraordinary coastlines, follow the rhythm of the tides and discover a side of iSimangaliso that few people ever get to experience.
From Durban and back
Durban to the wetland park, and back again
Every trip is a round-trip by road from Durban to Kosi Bay and back. The riding itself happens entirely inside the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa's first World Heritage Site. Enjoy the Tide covers the first two legs; Chase the Tide takes on all three.
Surf base
Mseni Lodge
The full Kosi Bay–Cape Vidal coastline is approximately 135 km. Enjoy the Tide rides 100 km of it across its three days (45 km by barge and beach to Mabibi, then a 30 km there-and-back at Mabibi, then 25 km on to Sodwana Bay). Chase the Tide rides the same first 45 km and 25 km legs to Sodwana Bay, then a 65 km push along open beach to Cape Vidal, the toughest day on either route. Whichever trip you ride, the same vehicle transfer takes you back to Durban afterwards.
Why the calendar looks like this
We don't pick dates. The moon does.
Spring tides, the extra-low tides around new and full moon, happen roughly every 14.8 days and expose about five consecutive days of hard, rideable sand. Every Follow the Tide bike departure starts inside one of those windows, and only one group rides each window: either Enjoy the Tide or Chase the Tide, never both at once. Surf weeks don't need low tide to run, so we slot them into the gaps between bike departures instead. They run in every month except February, which we leave off because the swell and wind are least reliable then.