Ballito travel guide

The N2 north of Umhlanga Rocks passes by the construction site of the new King Shaka Airport and an access road is being built from the N2, before reaching Ballito. This small-scale, largely low-rise resort of Ballito is far more attractive than Umhlanga, with easy access to the long beach and attractive accommodation nestled in lush vegetation stretching up the hillside. At the entrance of town, just off the coast road, is the Dolphin Coast Publicity Association T032-946 1997, http://www.thedolphincoast.co.za, Mon-Fri 0830-1700, Sat 0900-1300, a useful stop-off with information on the Dolphin Coast area. Most visitors to Ballito are South African holidaymakers, who settle in for a bucket-and-spade holiday every summer. If you’re passing through, it’s a pleasant enough spot for a day or two by the beach, but stick to the southern, less developed end.

North of Ballito, Salt Rock is named after a rock where the Zulus used to collect salt and is similar to Ballito, while nearby Shaka’s Rock, also developing fast, is named after the cliff from which Shaka is said to have thrown his enemies to their foamy deaths. There is good snorkelling at Tiffany’s Reef and Sheffield Reef, but neither resort holds much appeal other than for those after a sand and sea holiday.