Heading South towards Durban

You can enjoy the peace and quiet of the Dolphin Coast, but when you need to, a short journey south of  less than 30 minutes on a good freeway, takes you into the city that never sleeps, and offers you many interesting places to visit.

Natal Sharks Board

The Sharks Board is situated in Umhlanga, 20 minute south of Ballito. Watch an audio visual and shark dissection and see the internal machinery of one of the oceans most awesome predators. Visit the display hall and browse the Curio Shop.

Open Monday - Friday 8am to 4pm, and the first Sunday of every month.  Closed on public holidays.

Contact 031 5611001.

Ushaka Marine World

Recently opened - Includes Seaworld and a Wet and Wild park.Open 7 days a week from 9am.

Contact (031) 3288000.

Funworld

Durban's only amusement park, situated on Marine Parade.  It is  filled with exciting rides, bumper cars, children's carousal and kiddies rides.

For more information contact (031) 376336.

Waterworld

You will experience exhilaration and excitement as you are thrust down a wide variety of gentle, pulsating and looping water propelled rides which you can enjoy as many times as you like.

Contact (031) 5794600..

Umgeni River Bird Park

Visit one of the world's  finest bird parks with a spectacular collection of over 3000 exotic and indigenous birds.

Contact (031) 5794600.

Victoria Street Market

Open 7 days a week.  Offers variety of Indian herbs and spices, ebony and ivory ornaments, wooden carvings, brass or copper ornaments,  African curios and traditional art.

Contact (031) 3064021.

la River and Heading North

A drive north takes you to the beautiful game reserves in Zululand.

Harold Johnson Nature Reserve is situated on the banks of the Tugela River.   It is about to introduce a traditional Zulu village, offering holiday makers a chance to see first hand how a Zulu village lives and works.  The reserve offers trails, a small variety of game and a large variety of bird life.   Day-trippers are welcome and the reserve also has a camp site for overnight visitors.

Fort Pearson and the Ultimatum Tree , both of which are national monuments, lie within the reserve. The fort was built in 1878 on a bluff overlooking the Pont-crossing on the Tugela river.

Shakaland

Shakaland is approximately an hours drive north of Ballito.  Here you can take a step a back in time and enter a world of Shaka, King of the Zulus.  The Nandi Experience is a three hour day-time adventure named in honour of Shaka's mother, Nandi, and is not to be missed.

• Thrill to the spectacle of assagai-wielding impis welcoming you to their traditional home

• Listen to the tales of ancient lore and legend

• Discover the secrets of sangomas

• Watch traditional customs such as tribal dancing and the beer ceremony

• Enjoy a full traditional zulu lunch

Contact 035 460 0912.

Hluhluwe and Umfolozi Game Reserves are only two-and-a-half hours away.  These are Natal Parks Board parks offer visitors overnight accommodation in well-equipped, self-catering bungalows.  Nearby is Mkuzi Game Park and, with over 200 different species of birds, is a bird watcher's paradise.

Bonani Tours Salt Rock
(032) 5258655

My African Adventure Zinkwazi
(032) 4853753

Sunbird Tours Ballito
082 256006

Odyssey Travel Ballito
(032) 9463186