After some time, we reached the African east coast again, this time in Ballito, a vibrant coastal town on KwaZulu-Natal’s famous Dolphin Coast, about 40 kilometres north of Durban. Ballito combines a relaxed seaside atmosphere with modern amenities, upscale residential estates and shopping centres such as Ballito Junction.
The area is known as the Dolphin Coast because bottlenose dolphins are frequently seen close to shore, sometimes playing in the waves. The coastline is also popular for swimming, surfing, fishing and long walks, with the approximately 2.5-kilometre Ballito Promenade following the beachfront. During the winter months, you can also spot southern right and humpback whales migrating along the coast.
We explored the coastline on foot, taking a 6.5-kilometre walk from Salt Rock Beach, past Chaka’s Rock Tidal Pool and along the beaches towards Thompson’s Bay. Chaka’s Rock is known for its tidal pool, while nearby Thompson’s Bay features the famous Hole-in-the-Wall rock formation, where the sea has carved an opening through the rock and created a series of small sheltered coves.
We finished our walk at Willard Beach, Ballito’s main swimming beach and a popular spot for surfing. Shark safety measures protect the beach, and it has lifeguards and first-aid facilities, making it one of the main recreational beaches along this stretch of coastline.
After weeks of travelling through the interior and visiting battlefields, museums and mountains, it felt great to be back beside the Indian Ocean again — with warm weather, crashing waves and the unmistakable feeling that we had finally reached the coast.
Parking location – Ballito: 29.5047619S 31.2362434E (🚻,🚿,🏊,💦,🔌,🍽️,🅿️500 ZAR)