The South Coast KZN has a stunning coastline stretching from Port Edward on the far South all the way up to just beneath Durban. Has holiday
destinations go in South Africa it really has a lot to offer. From the long sandy beaches at popular seaside resorts like Margate, Ramsgate and Shelly Beach to the thrills and adrenalin rush of the Oribi Gorge with its Big Swing, abseiling and white water rafting.
The Oribi Gorge is located about a 2 hour drive from Durban and situated in the Lake Eland Game Reserve. Access to the Big Swing over the gorge is gained through the Oribi Gorge Hotel Conference and Adventure Resort. The swing is operated by ‘Wild 5 Extreme Adventures’ who also offer abseiling, white-water rafting, a foofie slide and off-road cycling trails around the gorge itself. Jumps on the swing are done solo and over the 100 metre gorge. The youngest person to have braved the Big Swing was apparently 5 years old so there is no excuse for not having a go. Pre-booking is not necessary as the Wild 5 team operate on a first-come first-served basis. A go on the Big Swing will cost you R450 (January 2013) while abseiling cost R350 (January 2013).
The South Coast is peppered with great places to stay and makes an ideal choice for a stopover when travelling up from Cape Town. The sub-tropical climate is ideal for an outdoor-based holiday perfect for deep sea-fishing, mountain biking, hiking trails, shark-cage diving, scuba diving or just lazing about on the beaches. The climate of the South Coast is generally good all year round but the best temperatures are to be found during the months of September to April when the average temperature is between 23 and 33 C. Naturally the humidity is greater here that you will find in places like Cape Town and can lead to some balmy evenings.
Margate and Ramsgate are the most popular towns along the South Coast and are well served with local shops and restaurants. During the peak holiday season of December and early January finding accommodation in Margate can be a real challenge with many guest houses and self-catering venues booked up months in advance. Another busy time for these towns is during the Spring Break when students from Durban and surrounding areas descend upon Margate to enjoy all the Spring Break activities laid on by the town. Slightly less popular but equally as enjoyable are spots like Hibberdene, Pennington and Scottburgh all located right next to the Indian Ocean.
Margate also hosts the annual Africa Bike Week usually around held at the end of April which attracts over 20,000 Harley Davidson bike riders from all over the world and over 150,000 visitors. There is even a Harley Village created over 2km of the beachfront with vendors selling the very latest in bikes, accessories and food of course! The bike week culminates in a huge 34km ride out involving thousands of the bikers and quite a sight.
Port Edward is another seaside resort on the KZN South Coast and situated just 160km south of Durban. As well as offering a relaxing and rejuvenating weekend break destination for Durban folk it is also very close to the Wild Coast Sun Casino Resort. In terms of value for money there are excellent holiday homes in Port Edward that offer a great family holiday venue without breaking the bank. The beaches here are quieter than at Margate and Ramsgate but ideal for young families as the children will enjoy building sandcastles and exploring the rock pools as well as playing in the waves
