Ballito
A north-coast KZN resort town — sugar-cane coast, dolphin-watching beaches, and Durban's holiday escape.
Trip Role
Ideal stay
Best for
Our take
Durban's holiday-coast escape — dolphins, beaches, and a family resort base.
Durban's holiday-coast escape — dolphins, beaches, and a family resort base.
- Trip Role
- Overnight
- Ideal Stay
- 2-3 nights
- Best For
- Families and a north-coast beach base
- Go If
- You want a family beach base near Durban.
Why go
Ballito is the North Coast's resort town — a string of beaches, the dolphin coast, and a full-service holiday base about 40 minutes from Durban. Popular with South African holidaymakers, less so with international visitors.
What we love
The dolphin-viewing from Willard Beach and the tidal pools.
What to know
40 minutes from Durban (King Shaka airport is even closer); a car helps.
What's here
Also in Ballito
Ballito
The KZN North Coast holiday-surf town — warm beach break, tidal pools, and the holiday-coast surf stop 40 minutes from Durban.
Sao Miguel Tidal Pool
A coastal tidal pool on the KZN North Coast — warm Indian Ocean rock-pool swimming at Ballito.
Thompsons Bay Tidal Pool
The Thompson's Bay tidal pool at Ballito — a warm Indian Ocean swim and the KZN North Coast's characterful pool.
Best things nearby
More town in KwaZulu-Natal
Howick
A Midlands town at Howick Falls — the practical fork between the Midlands Meander and the Midlands Drakensberg.
Nottingham Road
A Midlands Meander village — fly-fishing, farm stalls, and the KZN Midlands' quiet base.
Port Shepstone
South Coast town at the Mzimkhulu River mouth, the hub for the Hibberdene-to-Port Edward beach strip.
St Lucia
The gateway town to iSimangaliso Wetland Park — hippos in the streets at night and the estuary at dawn.
Underberg
The gateway town to the southern Drakensberg — Sani Pass, the highest pub in Africa, and the start of the high mountains.