Ballito
Ballito is a coastal town of 19,000 people (2011) on the North Coast (KwaZulu-Natal) of South Africa. Dolphins are common on this stretch of the North Coast shoreline, hence the nickname Dolphin Coast.
Understand
[edit]It is a holiday destination with hotels and self-catering accommodation, swimming (Willard) and surfing beaches (Boulder).
Get in
[edit]By car
[edit]From Durban, take the N2 north and follow the signs.
Get around
[edit]As there is no public transport available you need a car to get around. But as most of the hotels are close to the beach you can walk there. Ballito is a quiet safe area (compared to other areas in South Africa); even a walk at night is possible without a warrant of concern.
See
[edit]- Dolphins and Whales swimming along the coastline.
Do
[edit]
- Beach bathing and surfing (Ballito Main Beach and Salt Rock Main Beach).
- Crocodile farm
- Microlight flights and tours
- A promenade about 2.5 km (1.6 mi) long along the beach front is great for walking and jogging.
- The Gunston 500 surfing contest, renamed Ballito Pro and sponsored by Billabong, is held annually in July.
Buy
[edit]Eat
[edit]Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]- Sundance (Bed and Breakfast), 18 Dolphin Crescent, Shakas Rock (Up the hill from Salt Rock Main beach, 20 mins north of Umhlanga), ☏ +27 32 525-5342, fax: +27 32 525-5342, sundancebnb@vodamail.co.za. From R350pp.
- 1 Boathouse, 33 Compensation Beach Road, ☏ +27 32 946-0300, reservations@boathouse.co.za. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast overlooking Salmon Bay before setting out for an activity-filled day at one of the nearby golf courses or just soaking up the sun next to the pool. Luxury en-suite rooms, a-la-carte restaurant, fully licensed bar and direct beach access. From R595pps.
- Hampshire Hotel Ballito, 4048 Moffatt Drive, ☏ +27 32 586-6000. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM content=. R900-1000 per room.
- Secret Spot, Shaka's Rock Main Rd, ☏ +27 32 525 5479, rozz@secretspot.co.za. A surf resort that includes lessons, and has an onsite bar and private beach. Varies R120-480.
Connect
[edit]Go next
[edit]
- 1 Sibidu Cave. A rock shelter with some of the earliest known examples of man-made spears, arrows, needles, bedding and even glue, from around 60,000-70,000 years before present time. One of three components of the
UNESCO World Heritage Site "The Emergence of Modern Human Behaviour: The Pleistocene Occupation Sites of South Africa". 
- Travel south to Durban
- Go further south along the Hisbiscus Coast through Port Shepstone, visit the Oribi gorge and blue flag beaches.
- Go up the North Coast and visit St Lucia, the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park and the iSimangaliso Wetland Park or drive further on to Eswatini (Swaziland).