Nahoon Point Nature Reserve- Travel Tips

What to See, How to Plan & Tours

Nahoon Point Nature Reserve stretches across approximately 300 hectares of rugged coastline on the eastern edge of East London in the Eastern Cape province. Bounded by the Nahoon and Blind Rivers, the reserve preserves a geologically remarkable aeolianite sandstone formation, shaped over millennia where coastal dunes hardened into cliffs and coves. Here, the oldest known anatomically modern human footprints—believed to be around 124,000 years old and discovered in 1964 in what was long referred to as Bat's Cave—offer a rare glimpse into early Homo sapiens activity on this stretch of coast. These fossilized prints, along with ancient shell middens and stone tools, underscore the area's significance in understanding Middle Stone Age occupation and coastal human behaviour. Visitors can explore more than two kilometres of pristine shoreline featuring white sand beaches, wave‑cut platforms, rocky coves, and dune forest fringes that support diverse flora and fauna. A network of wooden boardwalks ensures minimal impact on fragile dune vegetation while leading to elevated viewpoints and a whale‑watching platform used during the annual migration from May through November. The reserve is home to dolphins and frequent sightings of humpback whales, plus seabirds along these shores, making it a site prized for both natural heritage and scientific interest.