Coffee Bay is the archetypal Wild Coast village, reached down a narrow, bumpy road that follows a river to the sea. The river divides the town in two, cutting through the beach book-ended by towering cliffs: a dramatic setting. It’s the most comfortable place to stay for visiting the Hole in the Wall just up the coast, and there are a variety of other 4×4 trips and quad bike excursions available to explore. The hotel is simple and comfortable: the emphasis is on friendly service and hospitality rather than luxury, and there is a convivial bar to help reinforce this. It feels cut off from the world and so the staff greet you as a member of the family – there are no airs and graces. It’s this simplicity which endears it to many who visit.