If your Wild Coast plans mostly involve the beach, leave a little room for a trip inland. Near Lusikisiki, Magwa Tea Estate offers a lovely reason to spend a few hours away from the sea.
Caleb Ishaya / Pexels / Illustrative purposes only
Here, tea fields stretch across the hills, with patches of forest between them. Within the plantation, Magwa Falls tumbles into a narrow gorge. You could plan an outing around either, but it is worth making time for both.
And if you enjoy a cup of tea, there is something quite special about getting to know the place where it begins.
Getting to know Magwa
Tea has been part of this landscape for decades. According to an Eastern Cape agriculture department presentation, experimental plots were planted in Lusikisiki in 1960. Production at Magwa started with 50 hectares of seedlings in 1965, and a factory followed in 1969.
Today, Magwa and Majola, a separate estate near Port St Johns, fall under Magwa Enterprise Tea. Both have their own processing factories, and the company focuses on black tea.
There is a human story behind those fields, too. The estate has provided work and supported local livelihoods, although keeping it going has come with challenges. In its 2025/26 policy speech, the provincial agriculture department reported high operating costs at Magwa and Majola, along with efforts to attract investment and improve infrastructure.
Knowing a little of that history gives you more to think about as you take in the views. For the people who work here, these hills are part of everyday life.
A closer look at your morning cup
Most of us put the kettle on without giving much thought to how tea reaches our kitchens. A visit to Magwa is a chance to ask a few questions.
The estate’s published plantation-tour programme describes walking through the fields, watching tea picking and touring the factory to learn about processing. It also includes brewed tea and a visit to the factory shop, which sounds like a good opportunity to take some home.
Before you build your day around it, get in touch with the estate. The tour description dates to 2019, so you will need to confirm which activities are currently running and whether the factory will be operating during your visit.
The local municipality also lists a tea restaurant at Magwa. Ask about its opening hours if you would like to stay for lunch.
Make room for the falls
While you are here, leave time for Magwa Falls. Eastern Cape tourism puts the drop at approximately 144 metres, with the water plunging into a narrow canyon within the plantation.
It’s a good reason to give yourself an unhurried day in the area. Check access with the estate or your accommodation and ask about arranging a local guide who knows the route.
Bring shoes with a good grip and keep well back from the gorge edge. A Department of Tourism account describes the approach from the parking area as rocky and slippery, so check current conditions before setting out.
A little planning before you go
Confirm access, tours, bookings and any charges, and ask for advice on directions and road conditions for your vehicle.
If you would like to stay nearby, the municipality lists accommodation in Lusikisiki and Mbotyi. You can then give the estate some time without trying to fit everything into a rushed stop.
That is part of Magwa’s appeal. It gives you a reason to spend longer in this corner of the Wild Coast, learning about the tea and the people whose work goes into it. Make time for the falls, support a local guide or business where you can, and perhaps bring a little tea home. Your next cup may come with a story.
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