Kwelera, just north of East London and only 20 minutes drive, has always been sought after as a holiday destination and early farmers made the trip to the coast, from the interior by wagon to what is now the Kwelera Nature Reserve.

The Kwelera Reserve is fundamentally a coastal forest with heavily wooded sand dunes that run parallel to the Indian Ocean. These dunes can rise as high as 250m and are home to small buck, monkeys and a rich bird life. The reserve lies on the Kwelera tidal river and the Kwelera Mouth and sparsely populated village is yet another unspoilt and scenic part of the coast well worth a visit for its unsurpassable beauty and wildlife. There is a fascinating blend of marine life and terrestrial fauna and flora in the area. Just up from Kwelera, Glengariff provides safe swimming, in the mouth of the Bulugha River, and Gonubie is only a 5km walk.