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.
Trip Role
Ideal stay
Best for
Our take
The characterful warm-water pool of the KZN North Coast — Thompson's Bay is Ballito's sheltered swim, with the rocky-bay feel the Cape pools are known for.
The characterful warm-water pool of the KZN North Coast — Thompson's Bay is Ballito's sheltered swim, with the rocky-bay feel the Cape pools are known for.
- Trip Role
- Quick Stop
- Ideal Stay
- A swim
- Best For
- Families, warm-water swimmers, Ballito travellers.
- Skip If
- Travellers far off the North Coast.
- Go If
- You're on the KZN North Coast and want a characterful, warm, sheltered swim.
- Worth Extra Drive
- 0 min
Why it's worth your time
A tidal pool at Thompson's Bay, Ballito — one of the KZN North Coast's characterful warm-water pools, set in a small rocky bay with a stone wall and warm Indian Ocean water. Thompson's Bay is the local Ballito swim: warm, sheltered, and with the small rocky-bay character that the Cape pools have but the KZN pools are rarely noted for. For the North Coast traveller it's the easy swim stop; for families it's the sheltered alternative to the open Ballito beach.
What we love
The small rocky-bay character; the warm water; the stone wall; the Ballito convenience.
What to know
Free. Warm water year-round. The bay has a small car park above; short walk down. Pair with the Ballito beach and Sao Miguel pool.