The top 15 water sports to try on the KZN South Coast this Summer
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Attention
11 November 2021
The top 15 water sports to try on the KZN South Coast this Summer
With the temperatures rising and holidays approaching, it’s time to splash in the refreshing waters of the KZN South Coast for the ultimate summer vibes! With Blue Flag beaches, lagoons, rivers and dams to enjoy, the KZN South Coast is the perfect destination for adventure seekers looking to try new water sports in an idyllic holiday location.
“Many holidaymakers are looking to try something new and exciting in the beautiful outdoors, with our all-year-round good weather and subtropical climate, water sports are extremely popular,” said Phelisa Mangcu, CEO of Ugu South Coast Tourism (USCT). “The KZN South Coast offers visitors a variety of exciting water sports for everyone from beginners to the more experienced. Our dedicated tourism operators are also on hand to hire out the required equipment, or provide lessons over the holiday period.”
1. Surfing
When it comes to surfing, the KZN South Coast can’t be beat! Considered one of Africa’s prime surfing destinations, visitors can attempt to ‘hang 10’ at any of the 58 beaches, with resident surfers ready to assist in making the dream a reality. The area is home to numerous champion surfers and some memorable point breaks.
Contacts: Umzumbe Surf Camp at 073 536 8728 or umzumbesurfcamp@gmail.com / Surf Action (Margate) at 039 317 3604 or waveact@mweb.co.za /Heather Clark Surf Adventures (Former World Champ) on 082 437 7839 or surfadventures33@gmail.com / Southbroom Surf School (Royden) on 083 737 0823 / Blue Marlin in Scottburgh on 071 613 1953.
2. Bodyboarding
Numerous beach breaks provide the perfect opportunity to learn to bodyboard. Bodyboarding is one of the best ways to learn to read the ocean conditions and ride waves.
Contact: Surf Action (Margate) at 039 317 3604 or waveact@mweb.co.za / Blow Out Bodyboarding on 072 073 1533 / Surf Shack Coaching on 083 694 7885.
3. Scuba diving
Aliwal Shoal off Umkomaas and Protea Banks off Shelly Beach are both Marine Protected Areas and two of the world’s top diving sites. Get underwater and check out a variety of sharks, rays and kaleidoscope of fish.
Contacts: Aliwal Dive Centre 039 973 2233 or www.aliwalshoal.co.za / Aliwal Shoal Scuba 082 800 4668 or aliwalshoalscuba@gmail.com / Umkomaas Lodge Dive Charters 039 973 2542 / African Dive Adventures 082 456 7885 or www.afridive.com / Aqua Planet Dive Centre & Charter 039 315 7524 or www.aquaplanet.co.za / Shark Cage Diving KZN 039 978 1045 / Offshore Adventures South Coast 079 491 1574 or 082 566 4946.
4. Snorkelling
Simply bring a mask, snorkel and flippers and your holiday is made! The KZN South Coast is home to around 20 tidal pools – the highest number in the province – as well as beautiful rock pools and warm ocean water. A must-visit is Trafalgar Beach, a Blue Flag Beach and part of a Marine Protected Area with underwater fossil beds dating back 90 million years.
Contact: Freediving South Africa (Kent Taylor) on 071 613 1953 or kent@freedivingsouthafrica.com.
5. Kayaking
Calm lagoons and gorgeous beaches set the scene for an ideal day out kayaking. Some of the best KZN South Coast beaches to try this water sport are Scottburgh, Umtentweni, Lucien, Southbroom, Marina, San Lameer or Glenmore. There’s also the incredible Umzimkhulu River accessible from the Port Shepstone Marina with guided tours also available.
Contact: Umzimkulu River Marina on 079 326 9671 or umzimkulu@gmail.com/ Kayak Trips Port Shepstone on 082 376 3776 or mark.lawlor69@gmail.com
6. Deep sea fishing
Anglers are drawn to this part of the world for some of the most exciting deep sea fishing expeditions. The temperate climate and sunny skies make this a prime fishing spot. In summer, expect to reel in shad, bronze bream, pompano, brusher, stumpnose, stone bream, blacktail, cave bass, sharks and flatfish. In winter, expect to catch shad, garrick, kob, bronze bream, stumpnose, blacktail and sharks. The KZN South Coast has numerous deep sea fishing charters operating at several launch sites – visitors just need to check the rules when fishing around the Marine Protected Areas at Aliwal Shoal and Protea Banks.
Contacts: Hibberdene Ski Boat Club on 039 699 2235 / Shelly Beach Ski Boat Club 039 315 1476 / Marlin Ski Boat Club (Port Edward) 039 311 2811.
7. Rock-and-surf fishing
There are numerous great places to cast a line from the shore, including Umkomaas River mouth, Scottburgh point, Rocky Bay, Umdoni Point, The Sandspit Beach in Port Shepstone, Margate and Uvongo Piers – among others! Again, checking the rules when fishing near Marine Protected Areas is important, and permits are required at all times.
8. Spearfishing
For those wanting to combine a bit of diving and fishing, there are plenty of opportunities along the KZN South Coast to partake in shore entry dives.
9. Stand up paddleboarding
Get to the KZN South Coast to learn the fastest-growing water sport around the world. Also known as paddle boarding or SUP’ing, this is a great sport for fun and fitness, with the KZN South Coast waters the perfect place to learn the trade.
Contact: Go SUP Surf Africa on 062 604 1962.
10. Kitesurfing
For the adrenaline-seeking water enthusiasts, kitesurfing is one to try! This sport harnesses the power of the wind through a parachute-type kite to propel the rider across the water, ramping the waves and flying to great heights.
Contact: Go Kitesurf Africa on 062 604 1962.
11. Wakeboarding
The combination of waterskiing, snowboarding and surfing techniques has resulted in the epic water sport of wakeboarding. The rider is towed by a rope behind a boat, and as the confidence increases, the skills will increase to involve mid-air tricks!
12. White water rafting
Another fantastic water sport to try on the KZN South Coast is white water rafting on the area’s beautiful Umzimkhulu River. Led by experienced guides, visitors will navigate rapids and enjoy a scenic adventure that gives insight into another side of this magnificent region.
Contacts: Wild 5 Adventures (Oribi Gorge) on 082 566 7424 or info@wild5adventures.co.za / Oribi Outdoors on 082 844 0995 or adam@oribioutdoors.com.
13. Pedalo
A family favourite and always a fun outing, Ramsgate Lagoon is a popular hotspot for this easy-going water sports’ activity. Simply head to Ramsgate Main Beach to hire a pedalo and lifejackets for the whole family to enjoy.
14. Boat Rides
There are many tourism operators on the KZN South Coast that give families the chance to enjoy fun boat rides. These are ‘see the sea’ short trips with the chance of seeing frolicking dolphins and migrating whales. There’s also the incredible Umzimkulu sunset boat cruise offered by Umzimkulu Adrenaline.
Contact: Umzimkulu Adrenaline on 079 326 9671 or umzimkulu@gmail.com
15. Water Park
The Wild Waves Water Park This epic family-friendly water park offers an assortment of aquatic rides, slides, tubes, pedal boats, plunge pools and the Lazy River suited to all ages and interests – from the thrill-seekers to those in the mood for relaxation. There’s also a designated children’s area for increased safety. There’s also the Riverside Cocktail and Aqua Sports on the pristine riverbank of the Mtamvuna which combines adventure and relaxation with an offering of water sports and river activities including kayaking, speed boats, paddle boats, tube rides, water skiing, wakeboarding and a lazy boat cruise. All water activities are child-friendly and supervised by professional aquatic guides. Further north, the Jolly Roger in Hibberdene has super tubes for the whole family to enjoy and Scottburgh Main Beach also has a popular super tube slide.
Contacts: Wild Waves Water Park on 039 305 4800 or thabani.simamane@suninternational.com / The Riverside at Wild Coast Sun on 836 629 096 or info@the-riverside.co.za / The Jolly Roger Fun Pub & Grub on 039 699 3307.
To discover these and more exciting activities on the KZN South Coast, download the free ‘Explore KZN South Coast’ app from Google Play and Apple stores, or visit www.visitkznsouthcoast.co.za. Alternatively, check out ‘South Coast Tourism’ on Facebook or YouTube, @infosouthcoast on Twitter or Instagram, or ‘Info Ugu South Coast Tourism’ on LinkedIn. Follow the hashtags #KZNsouthcoast #summervibes #gosouth #summerishere #familyadventure #kidfriendly #adventuretravel #extendyourstay.
/ENDS
All images are complimentary for media use, provided the correct credit is included and the images are published in conjunction with the content supplied.
High resolution images are available upon request.
Umzumbe Surf camp offers surf lessons to surfers of all levels of ability.
(Image: Supplied by USCT).
Bodyboarding – rider Martin Otto. (Photographer: Wayne Beekman)
Protea Banks boasts some of the best shark diving in the world. (Image: Supplied by USCT)
Aliwal Shoal, known as one of the world’s top ten dive sites,
is on most scuba divers’ bucket lists. (Image: Supplied by USCT)
Kayaking – Umzimkulu Kayak Trips & Rentals. (Image: Supplied by USCT)
Deep sea fishing. (Image: Supplied by USCT)
Rock-and-surf fishing. (Image: Supplied by USCT)
Stand Up Padlleboarder Mia Vorster offers lessons in the Scottburgh area
either in the ocean or nearby rivers. (Image credit: Michael Klos)
Tarelle Frost. (Photographer: Martin Otto)
Stand up paddleboarding. (Image credit: Riverside)
Scottburgh local Mia Vorster offers Kitesurfing lessons. (Image: Supplied by Michael Klos)
Wakeboarding. (Image credit: Riverside)
White water rafting. (Image: Supplied by USCT)
Pedalo outings offer fun for all members of the family to
enjoy at the Wild Coast Sun. (Image credit: Riverside)
Riverside boat trips are available at the Wild Coast Sun. (Image credit: Riverside)
Umzimkulu Adrenalin offers magnificent sunset tours of the river. (Image: Supplied by USCT)
Wild Coast Sun Water Park offers fun for the whole family to enjoy. (Image: Supplied by USCT)
About Ugu South Coast Tourism
Ugu South Coast Tourism (USCT) is the official destination management organisation of the Ugu District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. The Ugu District comprises four local municipalities that include Umdoni, Umzumbe, Umuziwabantu and Ray Nkonyeni. USCT’s mandate is to grow tourism within the KZN South Coast. This involves implementing marketing and development initiatives that are aimed at showcasing the diverse offerings and experiences of the South Coast as tourist destination. A board of directors oversees USCT, headed by CEO, Phelisa Mangcu.
About KZN South Coast
Known as the ‘Paradise of the Zulu Kingdom’, the KZN South Coast stretches 120 kilometres from Scottburgh to Port Edward and inland to Harding. Here, the spirit of adventure can be discovered among the many cultural experiences, as well as the 35 nature trails and 58 beaches, ideal for activities like river rafting, abseiling, suspension bridges, paintball, surfing, SUP, canoeing, beach horse rides, shark cage diving and free diving. Nicknamed ‘The Golf Coast’, there are 11 golf courses on the KZN South Coast ranging in difficulty, with endless hiking, mountain biking and 4×4 trails for more rugged excursions. Promoting sustainability, the KZN South Coast has a growing agri-tourism sector that offers world-class produce and hosts tours and excursions. The region boasts a number of permanently managed Blue Flag beaches, and is home to some of the world’s top diving sites, Aliwal Shoal and Protea Banks. The originality continues with the annual Sardine Run, coined the #GreatestShoalonEarth, which is the largest biomass migration on earth and a marvel to witness. The region’s many nature reserves are inhabited by indigenous bird and wildlife, and it holds the title for ‘smallest desert on earth’, The Red Desert in Port Edward. The KZN South Coast is a fast-emerging MICE destination which also plays host to a number of high-profile events including the The Bike Fest, Uvukile Gospel Festival, Ugu Jazz, Ugu Film Festival and the South Coast Fever MTB & Trail Run Series.
Issued on behalf of:
Ugu South Coast Tourism (USCT)
Disseminated by:
Olivia Jones Communications
For more information please contact:
Olivia Jones Communications
Cell: 083 653 1720
Email: media@oliviajones.co.za
