What to do in the Kwazulu Natal Coast

Surfing

Well what can I say other than that the coast of KZN is a surfer's paradise! There are ride able waves everywhere, including hollow beach breaks, points (mainly right-handers) and a few classic reef breaks. The water temperature is warm all year round. On hot days in summer and winter you will be quite comfortable surfing in baggies. The most consistent surf is to be found in the winter months, from May through to August, mainly due to the cold fronts that sweep up the coast from the Cape, bringing solid six to eight-foot swells. In these conditions all the point breaks along the coast will be firing. You will find good clean surf most mornings during winter as a gentle land breeze blows straight off-shore. In summer the swell tends to be a bit smaller with fun surf available at the many beach breaks. In summer the best time to surf at this time of the year is during light south-westerlies or early in the morning before the north-eastern starts to blow.

Some Hot spots for surfing

• Alkanstrand in Richards Bay
• Surfer's Point in Ballito
• Cave Rock on the south side of Durban
• St mike's on the south coast

Whale watching

Believe it or not but there is a season, it is from the end of May right until about the second week in December. Most of the whale watching in KZN is done from a boat especially from the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park(now known as iSimangaliso Wetland Park - if you ask me totally unpronounceable). Now don't think you can just jump in a boat and go whale watching, you need to be on a boat licensed by the Department of Marine and Coastal Management and are not allowed by law to approach within 300m of a whale. Permit holders are all members of the South African Boat Based Whale Watching Association and as such are required to adhere to a strict code of conduct. The whales to look out for are the Humpbacked Whales and occasionally Southern Right Whales.

The Humpback Whale is approximately 15m in length and weighs approximately 30 tons. They are usually black on top and white underneath. It also has long, narrow flippers. They perform spectacular breaches - leaping out of the water. They eat tiny aquatic creatures - which they trap in their sieve-like baleen.

The Southern Right Whale is also usually approximately 15m, but is heavier 50 - 60 tons. This whale does not have a dorsal fin and is often covered in wart- like growths.

Shark diving

KZN boast the two most popular diving spots, Aliwal shoal and Sodwana Bay and both of them attract a very large population of sharks.

Aliwal Shoal is known for its ragged tooth shark sightings but it is possible to see other sharks as well in the summer months. The reefs in these diving spots also attract a wide array of other marine life.

Hang gliding

If you can find the right thermals to gain height and stay in the air it is absolutely amazing. KZN has got over a 100 recognized gliding spots that is mostly in the Drakensberg. Popular sites like Bulwer, Arthur's Seat and The Hoek offer stunning views and long flights.

Deep sea fishing

Where there is an ocean there is fishing. Catches may include yellow fin tuna, barracuda, king fish and the much sought after marlin. There are many operators to choose from which will usually provide you with bait and equipment.