Explore South Coast
A big wave breaking against the rocks on the KwaZulu-Natal coast

Explore the South Coast

Your local guide to the KZN South Coast, from Umkomaas and Scottburgh to Margate, Ramsgate and Port Edward: where to stay and eat, who to call, and what to do.

Photo: Riaan Myburgh, CC0

Stay Eat & drink Trades Building Dive & fish Deliveries Spa Shops

Things to do on the South Coast

Warm Indian Ocean water, Blue Flag beaches, world-class diving and deep gorges inland. Over 100 km of coast from Umkomaas to Port Edward.

A surfer in the air above a wave on the KwaZulu-Natal coast
Diving

Aliwal Shoal

An ancient fossilised sand dune off Umkomaas, and one of the world’s best dive sites. Ragged-tooth sharks gather here in winter, with turtles, rays and wrecks year round.

Nature

Oribi Gorge

A 24 km sandstone gorge inland from Port Shepstone, with forest hiking trails, waterfalls, swing and zipline adventures and big views from the cliff edge.

Beaches

Blue Flag beaches

Margate, Uvongo, Ramsgate, Marina Beach and Scottburgh are popular for safe swimming, with lifeguards, tidal pools and beachfront cafés.

Wildlife

The Sardine Run

Each winter, shoals of sardines move up the coast, followed by dolphins, sharks, gannets and whales. One of the great marine events on earth.

Day trips

Port Edward & the Wild Coast border

Quiet beaches at the southern end of KZN, with the Umtamvuna Nature Reserve gorge and forests right on the Eastern Cape border.

South Coast wildlife & conservation

Crowned eagles over the coastal forests and gorges, turacos in the green belts, dolphins and humpback whales offshore, and reef fish, turtles and sharks on the reefs.

  • Humpback whales pass by from June to November
  • Ragged-tooth sharks gather on Aliwal Shoal in winter
  • Oribi Gorge and Umtamvuna protect rare forest birds and plants
Crowned Eagle Purple-crested Turaco Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin Flap-necked Chameleon

Local businesses

Real businesses from Umkomaas, Scottburgh, Port Shepstone, Margate, Ramsgate, Port Edward and the towns in between. Each one applied to be listed.

List your business

Guesthouses, restaurants, dive schools, builders, handymen, spas: if you work anywhere on the KZN South Coast, people here should be able to find you.

Free for founding businesses

Join now while we launch and your listing costs nothing.

  • Your own listing and business page
  • Call and WhatsApp buttons
  • Link to your website or Facebook page
  • We aim for 250+ views a month, and send you a monthly views report
  • A professionally designed page that looks great on phones
  1. Apply using the form
  2. We check it's a real, local business
  3. Go live, usually within 2 working days

Apply to be listed

Got a photo or logo? WhatsApp it to 082 751 1185 after you apply.

We only use your details to set up and manage your listing.

Supported by

Kids Love Reading Mystery stories with colouring pages and puzzles for ages 7 to 10. Free colouring pages to download. See the books

Explore more towns

Explore UmhlangaThe lighthouse, the promenade and the Umhlanga Lagoon, with Gateway and the Ridge up the hill.Visit exploreumhlanga.co.za Explore UmdlotiA small seaside village between Umhlanga and Ballito, with a famous tidal pool and the Mdloti river mouth.Visit exploreumdloti.co.za Explore BallitoBallito, Salt Rock and Shaka’s Rock on the Dolphin Coast: tidal pools, the promenade and surf.Visit exploreballito.co.za Explore Tugela MouthThe Thukela river mouth, Mandeni and the quiet north end of the coast: river, wild beaches, fishing and history.Visit exploretugelamouth.co.za Explore St LuciaHippos and crocs in the estuary, the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and beaches where turtles nest.Visit explorestlucia.co.za Explore WildernessLakes, lagoons and forest on the Garden Route, with long empty beaches and paragliding.Visit explorewilderness.co.za

Contact us

A question about a listing, a correction, or a tip about the area? Get in touch.

contact@exploretugelamouth.co.za WhatsApp 082 751 1185

Explore South Coast is an independent local directory, part of the Explore network with Explore Umhlanga, Explore Umdloti, Explore Ballito, Explore Tugela Mouth, Explore St Lucia and Explore Wilderness. Listings are supplied by the businesses themselves.