Port St Johns
Municipality
Municipality: Port St Johns Local Municipality
District Municipality: O R Tambo District Municipality
Attractions
Also see the neighbouring towns
Port St Johns is a seaside village on the Indian Ocean and the south bank of the Umzimvubu (meaning hippo) River. The Umzimvubu River cut a deep gorge in the surrounding mountains, resulting in two peaks (The Gates of St Johns), one called Mount Thesiger (342m on the southern bank) and the other Mount Sullivan (304m on the northern bank). Devil's Bite (352m) is a short distance inland on the northern bank and is actually higher, while the highest peak (unnamed, and in the interior) is 371m high.
Port St Johns is on the R61, off the N2 at Mthatha, passing Libode, and running northward to Lusikisiki and Port Edward.
Port St Johns is in an area known as Pondoland. This northern part of the Eastern Cape along the Indian Ocean is known as the Wild Coast as it is dangerous to passing ships. Many wrecks are found along the coast.
The village has three beaches, called from north to south First Beach, Second beach, Third beach. Second Beach is about 5Km east of the village centre. The village is popular among hippies.
Port St Johns Lighthouse
Port St Johns Lighthouse (55m) is at First Beach and was erected in 1904.
Silaka Nature Reserve
Silaka Nature Reserve is 6Km from Port st Johns.
Things to do
Fishing, canoeing, dolphin and whale watching from boats.
Quad biking, horse trails (Amadiba Trail).
Hiking: Silaka Nature Reserve
Golf
History
The Mthwa clan, under leadership of Fono, lived in the area when Ndamase, a warrior son of King Faku of the Mpondo, entered the area in 1845 to settle here. Legend says he made a small raft from sticks and crossed the river. Sticks in the isiXhosa language is iinyanda, hence the descendents of Ndamase are known as the Nyandeni people.
In 1846 the schooner Rosebud succeeded in crossing the sandbar at the river mouth and started a trend to sail up river and trade with the local Pondo people. The bay was then known as Rosebud Bay.
Ndamase died in 1876 and the leadership of his son, Nqwiliso, was under threat. In order to keep the peace, Nqwiliso ceded the south-western bank of the Umzimvubu River to the British in return for the recognition of his leadership and autonomy on the north-eastern bank. In 1878 the British made an agreement with Chief Nqwiliso of the Pondo people to build a proper harbor. The British were represented by officers Thesiger and Sullivan, whose names were given to the two mountains on each side of the river.
In 1930 a wandering hippo, called Huberta, took up residence in the river for 6 months. This was, ironically, the first hippo to be seen in the river in the time of the written history of southern Africa - despite the name Umzimvubu, meaning Hippo.
Port St Johns became a municipality in 1935.
