The beaches along the South Coast are some of the finest in the country with beach friendly weather all year round even during winter. Almost all the beaches offer safe swimming environment with shark nets, which are serviced regularly by the Natal Sharks Board personal. Lifeguards are on duty at swimming beaches. Our beaches offer something for everyone. Golden sands and tidal pools make our beaches the perfect place for swimming and sunbathing.
Blue Flag
The KwaZulu-Natal South Coast continues to fly the Blue Flag at some
of our major beaches. The Blue Flag is a prestigious international certification
awarded to beaches that maintain high levels of service, facilities and environmental
education. Awarding the status assures visitors that the beach you are going
to is safe, clean and environmentally friendly
Hibberdene, Margate, Ramsgate and Marina beach all
have Blue Flag status.
Surfing
The KwaZulu-Natal South Coast is blessed with plenty consistent swell and numerous point and reef breaks, which create the perfect conditions for quality surfing waves. The most consistent swells can be found during the winter months from May – August, mainly due to the cold fronts that move up the coast from the Cape, brining solid six to eight foot surf. You will find good clean surf most mornings during the winter as a gentle land breeze blows straight offshore. In the summer the swell tends to be a bit smaller with fun surf available at the many beach breaks and the best time to go surfing is during light south westerlies and early mornings before the northeast picks up. There are a number of world-class breaks along the South Coast, which are well known among the local surfers as well as the international surfing contingent.
St Michaels on Sea
Right hand point break that breaks off the tidal pool. Known for its big powerful right handers that grind off the point and run all the way to the beach.
Lucien beach
Left hand point break. Good summer break, protected from the northeast wind. Good shore break.
Southbroom
A good quality sand bottomed point break that wraps around a grassy hill lined
with rocks. Like most south coast point breaks, it requires a light south
westerly and three – six foot swell
Trafalgar. Fun beach break, with a big wave right hander that breaks off a reef
further out off the tidal pool.
T.O.Strand
Right hand point break. Breaks off a small grass headland. Super hollow on the low tide. Good big, powerful wave.
Dolphin and Whale watching
Bottlenose dolphins are common residents of KwaZulu-Natal South Coast
with pods of up to 30 – 50 dolphins patrolling up and down the coast just beyond
the breakers.
Humpback whales and the occasional Southern Right whale are seen between May
and November as they migrate along the coast en route to their feeding and breeding
grounds off Mozambique. The whales travel on occasion just beyond the breakers
on their return trip along the South Coast.
Boat based tour operators launch from Shelly Beach offer dolphin and
whale watching from close quarters.
Good vantage points along the KZN South Coast are Orange Rocks,
Margate, Ramsgate Conservancy’s Whale View Site and Southbroom
[particularly good due to the elevation] and a number of vantage points
around Glenmore Beach, Leisure Bay as well as Splash Rock in Port
Edward.
Diving/Shark Diving
Aliwal Shoal
Aliwal Shoal has to be the most popular dive destination on the KZN South Coast. Divers flock to Aliwal from around the world to view the rich concentration of sea life at this fossilized sand dune site about 5km offshore from Umkomaas just south of Durban. For the experienced diver, there are also two wrecks worth exploring, the “Produce” and “Nebo”.
Protea Banks
Further down south, Protea Banks is another reef that is a must. Situated
about 7km offshore from Shelly Beach and lying in deeper water at a depth
between 25mtrs – 40mtrs is about 6km long, 800mtrs wide and generally has a
strong current running.
In the summer months divers get the opportunity to dive with Bull [Zambesi]
sharks, while hammerheads are often spotted overhead.
In the winter months, divers have the pleasure of diving with Ragged – Tooth
sharks. Protea Banks also boasts a vast number of game fish, including
Barracuda, Yellowtail, Kingfish and Potato bass.
Due to the nature of the dive Protea Banks is reserved for advanced divers
only.
Shark Activity:
Hammerheads: Nov – May
Raggies: Jun – Oct
Zambezies: Oct – May
Tigers: April
Black Tips: Oct – May
Deep Sea Fishing
Individual or whole boat charters. Game or Bottom fishing. Keep your catch
and all bait and tackle supplied, bring along a camera to snap that fish that
you tagged and released
Different seasons bring in different game fish, amongst them the Yellow Fin
Tuna, barracuda, King Fish, Dorado, Sail Fish and that elusive Marlin. Off the
reef the experienced skippers will put you onto a variety of Bottom fish
Launch site is at Shelly beach.
The Sardine run
“The Greatest Shoal on Earth”
Each year during the winter months a unique marine phenomenon occurs off the
KwaZulu-Natal South Coast known as the “The Greatest Shoal on Earth”.
The annual migration of millions of sardines begins 1000km to the south in the
waters off the eastern Agulhas Banks.
The sardines are typically found in waters between 14’ – 20’. During the winter
months the existence of the cooler water eastwards along the Eastern Coast towards
Port St johns expands the suitable habitat for sardines.
North of Port St Johns the shoals encounter a narrow band of cold water between
the coast and warm south flowing Agulhas Current. As the sardines become more
concentrated into the narrow inshore band of cold water, the shoals are quickly
found by marauding predators including Dusky, Black Tip,
Copper and Spinner sharks and predatory fish such as Shad, Garrick and Geelbek.
Marine mammals like Cape Fur Seals and Dolphins and sea birds like the Cape
Gannets, Terns, cormorants dive from above to get their fill.
Seine – Netting
When shoals of sardines are spotted close inshore, the fisherman cast their
nets from the shore with the aid of a small motorised boat, which encircles
the shoal and returns to the beach. The fish are then dragged ashore and quickly
crated and sold either for human consumption or for bait.
Netting events often draw large crowds of locals and tourists who are eager
to watch the action. Many of the onlookers eagerly await their chance to bag
a few sardines of their own. Occasionally sardines come so close inshore that
one can wander a few metres into the water and scoop the sardines out in plastic
bags, baskets or any other container that can be used as an impromptu fishing
net.
Some people are happy to watch the action from the shore and try to make the
most of the vantage points along the coastline as well as various seine – netting
hotspots.
Seine –Netting Hotspots ae:
Pumula, Umtentweni, Umzimkulu River mouth at Port Shepstone,
St Michaels–on–Sea, Margate and Southbroom.
Nature Reserves
Oribi Gorge
One of KwaZulu-Natal’s most spectacular natural settings, the scenic
Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve lies some 21kms from Port Shepstone.
The scenery along the gorge formed by the Umzimkulu River is a photographers
and nature lovers paradise. Wildlife to be seen in the reserve includes mammal
species such as Bushbuck, Common Duiker, Reedbuck, Oribi and Blue and Grey Duiker.
The bird list numbers 250 and with its diverse habitats, bird watching in Oribi
Gorge is a rewarding experience.
Umtamvuna Nature Reserve
The southern most Nature Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal is a botanical paradise
consisting of a stretch of riverine forest and steep rocky cliffs. Bordering
the Umtamvuna River the 3247-hectare reserve boasts a fine display of flowers
in springtime. There are numerous walks highlighting the fantastic scenery of
different parts of the reserve.
Both the Cape Vulture and Fish Eagle breed in the reserve and many other bird
species have been recorded. Bushbuck, Baboon, Serval, Samango monkeys, Blue
and Grey Duiker and Reedbuck occur in the reserve.
Extreme Adventure
Wild 5 Extreme Adventures located in Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve offer a range of adrenalin inducing activities that will be sure to get your blood pumping.
Wild Swing
The world’s highest gorge swing 160m, 120km per hour in 2.3 seconds. An experience that will leave you exhilarated.
Wild Slide
Suspends 160m above the gorge floor, slide along the cable that spans across the gorge.
Wild Abseil
One of the world’s highest commercial abseils: 110m along side Lear’s Waterfall
Wild Rafting
Grade 2–4 ; half day / 1 day / 2 day trip on the Umzimkulu River during the rainy season.
Go–Carting
Wild off road go – carting: Dirt track.
Horse Riding
Guided horse trails, experienced and novice riders welcome.
Hiking Trails
The Baboon Trail [2km], The Overhanging Trail [5km], trail to the Oribi Heads [9km]
Lake Eland Game Reserve
Lake Eland a 5 000 hectare private reserve is situated on the west side of Oribi Gorge and is home to much African wildlife, including Giraffe, Zebra, Kudu and of course Eland. Game viewing [self drive or guided], camping, 4x4 trails, horse riding caves, and walk across the breath taking suspension bridge.
Golf
The KwaZulu-Natal South Coast is also commonly known as the “Golf Coast”
The Golf Coast is one of the best-kept secrets of South Africa’s golfing circuit,
with superb courses set in a sub–tropical paradise against the backdrop of the
beautiful Indian Ocean. Set up a base for your Golf Coast holiday virtually
anywhere on this coast and all the courses are within an hour’s drive by car.
Blessed with nine superb 18-hole golf courses. Five of the top 50 golf courses
in South Africa are situated on the South Coast. The Southbroom
Golf Course is one of the finest golf courses in KwaZulu-Natal and offers
spectacular sea and surf views from the 4th and 5th tees.
River Bend Crocodile Farm
Situated in Southbroom, one of the South Coast’s most popular
attractions and have over 200 Nile Crocodiles.
Awe inspiring Crocodile feeding every Sunday @ 3pm, Crocodile Education Centre
and Snake House and the Crocodile Café, Hatching season is from 25th Dec – 10
Jan. These prehistoric animals can be viewed in their aquatic habitat as they
bask in the warm sub–tropical sun.
