Time and time again, the Eastern Cape has been praised for being the most magnificent province in South Africa – with its pristine beaches, rocky outcrops and red-sandy beaches – there is nothing quite like it. Besides boasting some of the best scuba-diving sites in the world, another star attraction is the Hole in the Wall.
To the amaXhosa, it is called by a different name – “izi Khaleni” – “place of thunder”. This refers to sound of the waves slamming against the stone structure when seas are stormy – the sound is so loud it actually sounds like thunder.
The rocky archway is a magnificent structure found along the Wild Coast of South Africa, near Coffee Bay. It is said to have been created millions of years ago when waves kept crashing against the stone, slowly eroding a hole into the rock face.
Did you know?
- The Hole in the wall dates as far back as 260 million years ago?
- It is believed that the cliff was once part of the land but the waves wore away at the sandstone, creating the divide we see now.
- The local Xhosa people also share a belief that the arch carved in the stone is a gateway to the world where their ancestors live.
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