Beautiful Beaches
Beautiful beaches
in KZN
Known as the ‘Paradise of the Zulu Kingdom’, the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal has an incredible variety of pristine natural wonders, but the 120km shoreline and the many aquatic adventures are definitely leading attractions. With 58 beaches made up of endless stretches of golden sand, constantly lapped by the warm Indian Ocean, and a myriad of gorgeous tidal pools for swimming and rock pools for exploration… this is the ideal seaside holiday. The main beaches are all manned by lifeguards, with shark nets during peak holiday season. The KZN South Coast is also home to Africa’s most permanently-managed Blue Flag beaches, with seven dotted along its shores.
Browse through our endless supply of coastline and beautiful beaches!
Scottburgh Beach
A renowned KZN South Coast holiday spot, Scottburgh Beach boasts a range of tidal pools that make for worry-free splashing and swimming. Young ones can spend an entire day building castles on the sandy beaches and investigating the incredible rock pools, while anglers will find themselves casting lines for hours from the rocks. The warm ocean waters are perfect for snorkelling, paddling, kitesurfing or surfing, and the nearby Marine Protected Area – Aliwal Shoal – is home to some of the world’s most diverse sea life, including many protected shark species.
Pennington Beach
This stunning South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal beach allows holidaymakers the chance to indulge in a truly nature-based getaway. The warm coastal waters are perfect for swimming, surfing, snorkelling and fishing, with the picnic and braai area available for those wanting a seaside bite to eat. Located within the Pennington conservancy, this stunning coastline also has a safe swimming tidal pool which is ideal for younger children. The Impithi Beach Kiosk is a wonderful spot to enjoy a meal, while looking out for migrating whales and frolicking dolphins.
Umtentweni Beach
Known locally as ‘Tweni Beach’, this is just 2km from the business hub of Port Sheptsone and offers beachgoers a much more isolated ocean experience. The tidal pool – or ‘grannies pool’ – is a safe swimming location for children, and once enough time has been spent snorkelling, sandcastle-building and sunbathing, there are nearby restaurants to enjoy a drink and bite to eat.
Port Shepstone Beach
As a top KwaZulu-Natal destination, Port Shepstone has a variety of interesting sites and activities on offer, with the Port Shepstone Beach often at the top of every visitor’s list. This expansive beach comes with a massive tidal pool that allows for safe swimming, as well as snorkelling, surfing and scuba diving. There are also several excellent rock and surf angling spots for those looking to land a great catch.
Shelly Beach
This well-visited swimming beach is ideal for the usual aquatic recreational activities – snorkelling, surfing and paddling – but it’s also established as a launching site for local and international scuba divers. The Marine Protected Area, Protea Banks, can be found just 7.5km off Shelly Beach, where divers can find well-inhabited reef home to big game fish and sharks. From the Shelly Ski Boat Club, visitors can charter boats for diving, fishing or whale watching.
St Michaels Beach
This is one of the country’s best-known surfing spots with warm waters and good swells that attract surfers year-round. There are always local instructors ready and willing to bring new surfers into the fold with fun surfing lessons. For those into water sports, paddling and windsurfing are on the cards, as well as boating and skiing.
Uvongo Beach
With its white, sandy beaches, warm waters and tidal pool, Uvonvo Beach is a top-quality family destination. Swimming, snorkelling, and paddling are all enjoyed here, with surfers from all over attracted to this great beach. Pedal boats and kayaks are available for hire around the scenic lagoon, with the natural waterfall providing the perfect backdrop. Anglers are drawn to the Uvongo Beach pier where they’re likely to catch any number of game fish.
Margate Beach
This well-established South Coast holiday retreat has two tidal pools – Walpole Bay Tidal Pool and Margate Tidal Pool – which encourages safe swimming for all ages and abilities. Outside of swimming, the beach is also great for surfing, bodyboarding and stand-up paddling, with some great snorkelling sites to view underwater inhabitants. The white sandy beaches are ideal for sunbathing, sandcastle-building and participating in any number of beachside games. There are also many delicious restaurants adjacent to the beach.
Southbroom Beach
One of the most unspoilt beaches on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal can be found in the idyllic Soutbroom, which has incredible water for snorkelling and swimming, with the nearby Imezane Lagoon the perfect place to canoe. The beach forms part of the popular Ramsgate Marine Ramble, a 6km walk which starts at Southbroom and weaves through to Margate, with hikers enjoying glimpses of whales and dolphins.
Mpenjati Beach
For something truly different, the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal has a 250m stretch of nudist beach that falls under the Mpenjati Nature Reserve at Trafalgar. This is the first official nudist beach in the country, and visitors are expected to follow the various regulations that accompany using this stretch of beach, including no pictures (unless agreed), no suggestive behaviour, and no offensive language - as outlined by the International Naturist Federation.
Palm Beach
Named for the indigenous Ilala Palm – seen woven into many of the local crafts - this beach has its own natural tidal pool and estuary, offering truly unique swimming and windsurfing opportunities. Fishermen are drawn to the area because of the many incredible fishing spots, with the nearby Mpenjati Nature Reserve a key hiking area for bird- and wildlife viewing. This surrounds the Mpenjati River Lagoon that extends 500 metres into the sea, protecting the unique local fossils.
Glenmore Beach
This idyllic seaside retreat is surrounded by the Mkhandandlovu (‘head of the elephant’) River in the north, the Itongasi (‘I don’t know’) River in the south. It’s a popular swimming and surfing bay, surrounded by beautiful coastal vegetation that provides the perfect setting for a day at the beach – swimming, sunbathing and rockpool hunting. This is a great site for watching the annual whale migration in the winter months, particularly when the Sardine Run is in full swing. The coastal and fresh waters of this area make this an angler’s dream, with boats launched from the Itongasi River for a day of deep sea fishing.
Leisure Bay
This South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal beach has lush, coastal vegetation, and incredibly warm waters, with children kept mesmerised searching for sea creatures in the many rock pools. Swimming, snorkelling, paddling and diving are just some of the seaside activities that can be enjoyed at Leisure Bay, and for those seeking a unique experience, the cooler winter months bring with them the captivating Sardine Run and its associated feeding frenzy.
Port Edward Beach
Between San Lameer and Southbroom is another Blue Flag beach, Marina Beach. This ideal family-friendly coastal destination has a fantastic tidal pool which provides children and novice swimmers with a safe swimming environment. Located alongside the Mpenjati Nature Reserve, Marina Beach is a beautifully rustic space for sunbathing, snorkelling or hunting among the rock pools.