Ballito

The beach walk at 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

It is a holiday destination with hotels and self-catering accommodation, swimming (Willard) and surfing beaches (Boulder).

Get in

By car

From Durban, take the N2 north and follow the signs.

Get around

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

• Dolphins and Whales swimming along the coastline. 

Do

Surfing at the beach

• 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.

Sleep

• 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. 

Go next

Excavation at the Sibidu Cave

• 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". (updated Jul 2024)

• 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).