The Wildebeest - all about South Africa - towns, places of interest, animals and plants

The Wildebeest's guide to South Africa

KZN North Coast

Above - Tugela Mouth

The KZN North Coast may not have as many resorts as the KZN South Coast but there is no shortage of great places for a seaside vacation. Here are a few to choose from, listed from south to north.

Ballito

The main attraction for visitors to Ballito is the beaches. There are a number to choose from including Salt Rock, Shaka's Rock, Umdloti and Umhlanga Rocks. The town is also within easy reach of Durban.

Tinley Manor

Located 60 km north of Durban Tinley Manor is a great place for a holiday or weekend away. It is somewhat quieter than other seaside towns. The beach and spear-fishing are the main attractions.

Blythedale Beach

The village of Blythesdale Beach is a popular tourist destination and it offers a lot of different accommodation options. Relax on the beach while you look for whales and dolphins, go swimming, try your hand at fishing or one of the other water-sports available. Don't forget to bring your golf clubs.

Tugela Mouth

After bumping along a dirt road for a few kilometres you arrive at the tiny village known as Tugela Mouth. You are definitely not going to find any luxury accommodation or dining here. Instead it offers good views over the mouth of the Tugela River and a good variety of bird life in the coastal forest.

Mtunzini

Mtunzini should probably not be on this list but it is hard to ignore it. This area is fantastic for birding and other outdoor pursuits. The town borders the Umlalazi Nature Reserve and lagoon and, yes, there is a great beach nearby.

Richards Bay

Richard's Bay is an industrial city and, at first glance, not an ideal holiday location. There are, however, great opportunities for kite-surfing, bird-watching and fishing. It is also not too far away from KZN's premier game reserves.