Winter marine wildlife and aquatic adventures on the KZN South Coast

The only province in SA where the ocean is warm enough to swim all year round, KZN is a winter wonderland where marine life gathers to put on a show to delight visitors every year between May and December.

From the legendary annual sardine run to watching whales and dolphins frolicking in the surf, the KZN South Coast is a magical ocean safari experience.

Whale watching and dolphin spotting

From May, dolphins can be spotted from the various beaches along the coast and humpback and southern right whales migrate from the Antarctic to their breeding grounds off the coast of Mozambique, and later in the year, can be seen on their return journey between September and December.

Learn to scuba and dive with sharks

Dive with Ragged Tooth Sharks, Tiger Sharks and Manta Rays, Dolphins and Whale Sharks at Aliwal Dive Centre, Umkomaas. They offer daily baited shark dives, shark cage diving and snorkeling, reef and wreck dives, boat excursions and Padi Scuba Dive Courses.

Aliwal Shoal and Protea Banks are two of the area’s most popular dive sites, with Aliwal Shoal rated as one of the top dive sites in the world by Jacques Costeau.

Located five kilometers out to sea from Umkomaas, Aliwal Shoal has diverse marine life, including large predators, and is famous for its abundance of Grey nurse sharks (known locally as ragged tooth sharks or “raggies”) who congregate there to mate between July and November.

Inhabited by a large variety of coral, the reef is home to a multitude of tropical and subtropical fish species, and two nearby wrecks are popular recreational dive sites.

Protea Banks is situated about 7.5km out to sea from Shelly Beach. Essentially a fossilised sandbank, the reef is known for the huge concentration and variety of shark species. The most common are Hammerhead, Zambezi, Ragged Tooth, Tiger and Dusky Sharks.

Contact Details

• Telephone. +27 (0) 39 973 2233
• Mobile. +27 (0) 82 893 2852 / +27 (0) 66 478 9604
• Email. dive@aliwalshoal.co.za
• Operating Times. 7:00am to 5:00pm

 

Learn to surf (or SUP)

Whether you are a professional surfer or a beginner, there are lots of excellent surf spots on the KZN South Coast.

Pumula Surf School and Surf Camp offer a wide range of surf classes for all levels as well as Stand Up Paddle Board lessons.

Surf lessons are designed for your specific surfing requirements. Qualified surf instructors will work closely with you to create your lesson plan. Their boardroom has a range of board sizes to cater for all abilities, with soft-top boards for beginners and fiberglass boards for intermediate and advanced surfers.

Perfect for corporate events, birthday parties and team-building events, all equipment is provided. They also do board rentals for experienced surfers.

Surf lessons consist of:

• Professional Instruction
• Qualified Surf Instructors
• Advice and guidance to suit you
• Beginner or Advanced surfboard
• Wetsuit (If you require one).
• Learning about the ocean and surfing

Contact Hayley for more information 078 444 7130

https://www.pumulasurfcamp.co.za/surf-lessons-sup-board-rental-surfari/

Where to stay

Whether you’re looking for adrenaline aquatic thrills and want to learn to catch a wave, dive with sharks, or just spend a relaxing weekend at the beach, looking for a glimpse of whales and dolphins or other marine wildlife, Umthunzi Hotel and Conference in Umtentweni is just 120km from Durban and ideally located to experience the best the South Coast has to offer this winter.

Umthunzi has gained a reputation among locals as well as leisure and corporate guests for exceptional service from enthusiastic staff, fabulous food and facilities, and luxury and comfort at affordable rates. Be lulled to sleep by the sounds of the Indian Ocean and enjoy your complimentary breakfast at the hotel’s legendary 30ᴼ SOUTH restaurant. The beach is a short stroll away and water temperatures are warm enough to swim for most months of the year.

Special Offer: A weekend at Umthunzi for R995 per couple per night – including complimentary breakfast

Terms and conditions

• Subject to availability | Bookings Essential | Min 2-Night Stay | Book directly with hotel
• Not in conjunction with any other special | Excludes travel to the hotel
• Off-Peak Weekends ONLY | Valid until 15 Dec 2023
• Quoted in South African Rands (ZAR) and inclusive of VAT.

Sasha is a freelance journalist and has a passion for writing, reading, good food and wine. She’s obsessed with the IDEA of healthy eating (as well as chocolate – dark of course) and is always experimenting with alternative health therapies and trying to get the family to eat less sugar. Her best reward at the end of a busy week: a good book or time to sit on the beach and stare at the sea: whichever option is available.