North Coast (KwaZulu-Natal)

The KwaZulu-Natal North Coast (better known as the Dolphin Coast, the KZN North Coast or just the North Coast) is a region on the northern coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It stretches from Zinkwazi Beach in the north to Zimbali near Ballito in the south. The coast is governed by the iLembe District Municipality and KwaDukuza Local Municipality.

KZN North Coast is located in South Africa
KZN North Coast
KZN North Coast
Location of the KZN North Coast
Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal North Coast

Its main towns are Ballito, Salt Rock and KwaDukuza. As of 2011 the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast has a population of 231,187 (KwaDukuza Local Municipality).[1]

Geography

The North Coast lies on the east coast of South Africa where it borders along the Indian Ocean and is located between the Zululand region in the north, the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands in the west and the uMhlanga Coast/FunShine Coast (part of the Greater Durban metro) to the south.

uMhlanga, just north of Durban

The coastline between Westbrook and uMhlanga is sometimes regarded part of the North Coast however according to Tourism KZN (government agency for tourism in KwaZulu-Natal), the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast starts officially from Thukela Mouth in the north to Ballito in the south.[2][3][4]

Administration

The region is governed by the KwaDukuza Local Municipality (KDM) which is seated in the town of KwaDukuza (formerly Stanger) and is part of the larger iLembe District Municipality. KDM governs the coastal settlements of Ballito, Shaka's Rock, Salt Rock, Sheffield Beach, Tinley Manor Beach, Blythedale Beach and Zinkwazi Beach and the inland settlements of Umhlali, Shakaskraal, Groutville and KwaDukuza

Economy

The towns of Ballito and KwaDukuza are the primary commercial hubs in the North Coast. The North Coast (including uMhlanga) has seen a massive development boom over the recent years especially Ballito which has been growing exponentially with new developments such as new shopping centres, other retail outlets, private schools, a private hospital and new gated residential estate.[5][6][7] The small resort village of Salt Rock just north of Shaka's Rock has also seen growth with recent developments such as the Tiffany's and Salt Rock City shopping centres and the Curro Mount Richmore private school.[8][9] KwaDukuza has also seen growth with the recent development of the KwaDukuza Mall which opened in 2018.[10]

KwaDukuza is the administrative centre of the North Coast and includes the head offices of the KwaDukuza Local Municipality and iLembe District Municipality. There is also a Magistrate's court and the Department of Home Affairs and the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) have regional offices in KwaDukuza.[11][12]

Facilities

Public Hospitals
  • General Justice Gizenga Mpanza Regional Hospital, KwaDukuza[13]

Private Hospitals
  • Netcare Alberlito Hospital, Ballito[14]
  • KwaDukuza Private Hospital, KwaDukuza[15]

Golfing
Zimbali Country Club

This is a list of golf courses on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast:

  • Prince's Grant Golf Course, Prince's Grant Golf Estate[16]
  • Simbithi Country Club, Ballito[17]
  • Umhlali Country Club, Ballito[18]
  • Zimbali Country Club, Ballito[19]

Tourism
Ballito Beach

The North Coast has always been popular with anglers because the fishing is so good. This may be due to the many sheltered lagoons which open into the Indian Ocean and which serve as nurseries for small fish and other sea creatures. The area is also known for its good surf and the internationally recognized Mr Price Pro-surfing contest, which draws competitors from all over the world, is held in Ballito annually.

Outside the domestic holiday season and long-weekends, many of these places are quiet, however, during the seasonal holiday influx, the many holiday homes, excellent restaurants and nightclubs fill up and so do the beaches and many other attractions along the coast.[20]

Tourist attractions along the North Coast include:[21][22][23]

  • Ballito & North Coast Microflight Flights
  • Ballito Ski Park
  • Clubventure
  • Crocodile Creek
  • Flag Animal Farm
  • Granny's Pool
  • Harold Johnson Nature Reserve
  • Hole-in-the-wall[24]
  • Holla Trails
  • King Shaka Memorial
  • Luthuli Museum
  • Monkeyland KZN[25]
  • Ndlondlo Reptile Par.k
  • North Coast Venoumous Snake Park[26]
  • Salt Rock Tidal Pool
  • Sugar Rush Park
  • Thompson Bay Rock Pool

Towns

Transport

Road

The North Coast is connected by the N2, R74, R102 and M4.

The N2 runs parallel to the coast from south to north along with the M4 and R102.

The "North Coast Toll Road" situated on the N2 passes through the region and begins at the King Shaka International Airport near Durban in the south-west and ends in Mtunzini in the Zululand region in the north-east. The Mvoti Toll Plaza near KwaDukuza is the only mainstream toll plaza within the North Coast.

An alternative route to the toll road (N2) for travellers heading north-east towards Empangeni or south-west towards uMhlanga and Durban is the R102 and the M4 from Ballito.

Air
King Shaka International Airport is the nearest airport to the North Coast

The North Coast is served by the King Shaka International Airport, north of Durban which has flights to domestic destinations such as Johannesburg, Cape Town, Gqeberha, East London, Bloemfontein, Mbombela and George and international destinations such as Doha, Dubai, Istanbul, Lusaka and Harare.

Media

The newspapers in the KZN North Coast are the North Coast Courier[27] Stanger Weekly[28] and The Bugle.[29] In terms of radio, East Coast Radio and Ukhozi FM are the main radio stations mainly serving the whole province of KwaZulu-Natal.

References
  1. "Census 2011: Local Municipality: KwaDukuza". census2011.adrianfrith.com. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  2. "Destinations | North Coast". www.zulu.org.za. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  3. "North Coast KwaZulu-Natal Tourism Information". KZN.co.za. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  4. "DOLPHIN COAST, KwaZulu Natal". www.sa-venues.com. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  5. "Ballito Area Profile". www.century21.co.za. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  6. "Ballito Area Profile". www.hamiltons.co.za. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  7. "Ballito Area Profile". www.chaseveritt.co.za. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  8. "Salt Rock in KwaZulu Natal Area Overview". northcoast.seeff.com. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  9. "Curro Castle Mount Richmore Salt Rock | Ballito". www.curro.co.za. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  10. "Vivian Reddy's KwaDukuza Mall officially opened". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  11. "Department of Home Affairs - Kwa Dukuza Medium Office". www.dha.gov.za. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  12. "KZN Service Offices". www.sassa.gov.za. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  13. "General Justice Gizenga Mpanza Regional Hospital". www.kznhealth.gov.za. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  14. "Netcare Alberlito Hospital". www.netcarehospitals.co.za. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  15. "KwaDukuza Private Hospital – Healthcare". Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  16. "Princes Grant Coastal Golf Estate – Exclusive Golf, Accommodation & Residential Estate". Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  17. Simbithi. "Simbithi Country Club". simbithi.com. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  18. "Umhlali Country Club and Golf Estate, Golfing, Tennis, Bowls, Squash". Umhlali Country Club. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  19. "Zimbali Country Club |". www.zimbalicc.co.za. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  20. "North Coast Information". www.zulu.org.za. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  21. "North Coast KwaZulu-Natal Tourism Information". KZN.co.za. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  22. "Twenty awesome things to do on the Dolphin Coast". North Coast Courier. 2019-03-07. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  23. "Places of Interest in Dolphin Coast". www.sa-venues.com. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  24. "Ballito & Salt Rock Beaches: Thompson's Bay". www.tidaltao.com. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  25. "About MonkeylandKZN | Monkeyland Primate Sanctuary, Plettenberg Bay, South Africa". www.monkeyland.co.za. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  26. "North coast venomous snake park (Ballito, South Africa): Address, Phone Number". Tripadvisor. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  27. "About North Coast Courier". North Coast Courier. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  28. https://www.media24.com/newspapers/stanger-weekly/. Retrieved 2021-04-27. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  29. "Whatshot Posts| The Bugle-Weekly Community Magazine, Tabloid". The Bugle. Retrieved 27 April 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

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