Kidd’s Beach – easy living by the sea

As you travel along the R72, out past the East London Airport towards Port Alfred, not only are you treated to some of the most spectacular views the Eastern Cape has to offer, but you are spoiled with some of the loveliest little seaside villages that you simply have to visit, including the picturesque Kidd’s Beach.

Named after Charles Kidd who was the mayor of King Williams Town in the 1800’s, Kidd’s Beach is an absolute delight and is a must when travelling this route. Situated approximately 25km outside of East London, life is simple in Kidd’s Beach and we wouldn’t want it any other way. The beach is untouched, the waves are awesome if you’re into surfing and there are also tidal pools for the young ones. Whales are spotted regularly during the May – August period and scores of dolphins come into the bay, especially during the sardine run in June and July. And if you’re anything like me, you will agree that spotting sea life is one of the most beautiful things in life and reminds you what a wonderful world we live in!

The village lies on the Mcantsi River, which ends in a lagoon on the beach, a popular spot for anglers and families alike. The stunning stretches of sand, flanked by high dunes, provide the perfect setting for every beach activity imaginable and of course the Indian Ocean is popular for water activities include snorkelling, swimming, boogie boarding, fishing… the list is endless!

There is little to interfere with the beauty of Kidd’s Beach and it is a firm favourite for holiday makers from around the country and overseas. The lack of commercialisation is a huge attraction, adding to the simplicity of life there. It is the perfect destination when you need to get away from it all and get in touch with nature and also serves as a great stopover when journeying along the Garden Route.

Accommodation is plentiful in Kidd’s Beach, whether you are looking for a bed and breakfast, guest house or prefer to go the self-catering route. Places do fill up quite quickly in advance, should you be planning the December holidays there, so make sure you don’t leave your booking until the last minute.

During the above-mentioned holidays, the Kidd’s Beach Christian Fellowship Church really goes all out and organises a fabulous Holiday Programme for both local and visiting kids. Children are kept busy every day with various activities from cricket on the village green to sandcastle competitions on the beach. Christmas in Kidd’s Beach really is a wonderful time of the year and is even accompanied by a special visit from Santa on a motorbike or on the back of a bakkie… you can’t get better than that!

The population of Kidd’s Beach has grown significantly in the past few years, especially with the addition of the new housing development, and you will notice plenty of young families in the area, drawn by the tranquillity and peacefulness of the place. It does, however, have a fair bit going on, and has certainly found its place on the map more so in the last year or two than ever before.

Every Saturday morning, locals and visitors congregate and set off on the weekly Parkrun, a huge hit with young and old alike. A 5km run/walk, it is part of the Parkrun phenomenon brought to the Eastern Cape by Bob Norris in recent years and is the perfect opportunity to get up close and personal with the surrounding nature. It is also the ideal excuse to get together with friends and finish the run off with coffee and breakfast at The Beach House.

Situated on the beachfront, The Beach House restaurant and bar is a wonderful spot with a second to none view of the ocean, whether seated inside or out. Serving food throughout the day with an extensive menu, it is a hugely popular restaurant that is almost always busy, even out of season.

As you enter Kidd’s Beach at the very top of the village, you will find The Barn, a pub which serves bar food and which regularly holds fantastic and great value for money steak nights. Come the holidays, The Barn is a hangout for the younger crowd and party goers and is always plenty of fun.

As previously mentioned, Kidd’s Beach lacks the commercial aspect that other coastal villages may possess, but not in a bad way at all. It provides all the basic necessities that one would need whether resident or holidaymaker but is still situated close enough to East London for the larger stores that you might need to visit.

In the centre of the village however, there is the appropriately named Middle Shop (I have never ever known it to have any other name than this but I stand corrected if anybody knows any different!), providing the basics plus paraphernalia associated with any type of beach/water activity you can think of (plus wood and coal for your braai, oh and ice for your sundowners!) An ice cream machine for those hot days and a very reasonably priced takeout menu offering burgers, sandwiches and pizzas etc, ensure that the Middle Shop is always a hive of activity.

Located next to the Middle Shop is the Post Office, an absolute necessity for residents and of course when you’re visiting and need to send some postcards off to brag about your beautiful holiday destination! And across the road from there is the village library –  small but well-stocked, it too is also always busy on its open days and is a great place to bump into the neighbours and have a catch up (as long as you do it quietly, of course… sshhh!).

As peaceful and tranquil as it is, Kidd’s Beach also plays host to some wonderful events including the Waterberry Music Festival. A must for music lovers, the festival sees performances from nationally acclaimed artists such as Laurie Levine and Dave Goldblum and is a wonderful day out for the whole family with music, dancing (not compulsory of course but the performances really do get you in the mood), food and drink. We have just recently seen the village host the second festival so far and they look set to go from strength to strength with more attention from the public every time.

If you time your visit to Kidd’s Beach right, you can enjoy the absolutely beautiful Avalon Market, held on the first Sunday of every month at Breezy Ridge, halfway down the Main Road and on your left (signposted by a pretty bicycle). Here you can browse the numerous stalls to your hearts content, sit in the lovely tea garden, all while enjoying the stunning surroundings. Talented stallholders display their ware and I guarantee there is nothing that you won’t find here, such is the diversity of produce. A trip to the market makes for a lovely day out and if the weather is fine, there’s no place I’d rather be, that’s for sure.

Other activities to enjoy in the village include regular Pop-Up events from Benji and Estie Gane, aka Ginger&Co. Benji and Estie regularly hold pop-up kitchen/restaurant events at their own home or visit your home and provide the catering, should you have a function. Their food is absolutely delicious, made from the freshest ingredients and offer everything from sweet treats to full suppers, at extremely reasonable prices. They also offer a take-away frozen menu, should you decide to give yourself a well-deserved night off from cooking. How wonderful! And if that wasn’t enough, they have also recently started doing Wine Tasting events at various locations around the area, something that is going to grow without a shadow of a doubt.

With a mild climate all year round, Kidd’s Beach provides hot summer days for tanning and beach time, summer evenings for romantic beach walks and braais, clear winter days for walking, hiking or biking and cool, sometimes stormy, winter nights for getting cosy around a fire. For the sports enthusiasts away from the beach, there are tennis courts and there is also a bowling club and for nature lovers, why not take a kayak and paddle up the Mcantsi River, revel in the tranquillity and enjoy the indigenous fauna and flora. Opportunities for bird-watching are plentiful here too so don’t forget to pack your binoculars!

The picturesque and delightful Kidd’s Beach is awaiting your visit… what are you waiting for?