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 KwaZulu-Natal (, also referred to as KZN and known as "the garden province") is a province of South Africa that was created in 1994 when the Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu ("Place of the Zulu" in Zulu) and Natal Province were merged. It is locate ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

. It stretches from Thukela Mouth in the north to

Ballito Ballito is an affluent town located in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Ballito is about north of Durban. It forms part of the KwaDukuza Local Municipality, and iLembe District Municipality. Dolphins are common on this stretch of the North Coast sh ...

in the south. The coast is governed by the iLembe District Municipality. Its main towns are

Salt Rock Salt rock or Salt Rock may refer to: *Rock salt Halite (), commonly known as rock salt, is a type of salt, the mineral (natural) form of sodium chloride ( Na Cl). Halite forms isometric crystals. The mineral is typically colorless or white, ...

and

KwaDukuza KwaDukuza is a municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. In 2006, the municipal name was changed to KwaDukuza (which incorporates small towns such as Stanger, Balito, Shaka's Kraal, but the Zulu people in the area called it "Dukuza" well befor ...

. As of 2011 the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast has a population of 231,187 (

KwaDukuza Local Municipality KwaDukuza Local Municipality is one of four municipalities under iLembe District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Main places The 2001 census divided the municipality into the following main places: Politics The municipal coun ...

which excludes Thukela Mouth).

Geography

It is bordered by the

Indian Ocean The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering or ~19.8% of the water on Earth's surface. It is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west and Australia to the east. To the south it is bounded by th ...

on the east, Zululand in the north, the

KwaZulu-Natal Midlands The KwaZulu-Natal midlands is an inland area of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa that starts from Pietermaritzburg and ends before the Drakensberg mountain range. Area There are several small towns located in the midlands, including: Pietermaritzbu ...

in the west and eThekwini to the south. Umhlanga, noordstrand, b

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.

Administration

The region is governed by the

and

Mandeni Local Municipality Mandeni Local Municipality (formerly eNdondakusuka Local Municipality) is an administrative area in the iLembe District of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. Manufacturing, elementary work and plant and machine work are the highest non-farming categ ...

which are part of the larger iLembe District Municipality. The KwaDukuza Local Municipality has its seat in KwaDukuza whilst Mandeni Local Municipality has its seat in Mandeni which is not part of the North Coast. * KwaDukuza Local Municipality governs

, Sheffield Beach, Umhlali, Shakaskraal, Tinley Manor Beach,

, Blythedale Beach, Zinkwazi Beach * Mandeni Local Municipality governs Thukela/Tugela Mouth

Economy

The towns of Ballito and KwaDukuza are the primary commercial hub 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. 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. KwaDukuza has also seen growth with the recent development of the KwaDukuza Mall which opened in 2018. 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 An interior ministry (sometimes called a ministry of internal affairs or ministry of home affairs) is a government department that is responsible for internal affairs. Lists of current ministries of internal affairs Named "ministry" * Ministry ...

and the

South African Social Security Agency South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) is a national agency of the South African government created in April 2005 to administer South Africa's social security system, including by distributing social grants, on behalf of the Department of ...

(SASSA) have regional offices in KwaDukuza.

Facilities

Public Hospitals

* General Justice Gizenga Mpanza Regional Hospital, KwaDukuza

Private Hospitals

* Netcare Alberlito Hospital, Ballito *KwaDukuza Private Hospital, KwaDukuza

Golfing

This is a list of golf courses on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast: * Prince's Grant Golf Course, Prince's Grant Golf Estate * Simbithi Country Club, Ballito * Umhlali Country Club, Ballito * Zimbali Country Club, Ballito

Tourism

The North Coast has always been popular with anglers because the fishing is so good. This may be due to the many sheltered

lagoon A lagoon is a shallow body of water separated from a larger body of water by a narrow landform, such as reefs, barrier islands, barrier peninsulas, or isthmuses. Lagoons are commonly divided into ''coastal lagoons'' (or ''barrier lagoons'') a ...

s 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. Tourist attractions along the North Coast include: * Ballito & North Coast Microflight Flights * Ballito Ski Park * Clubventure * Crocodile Creek * Flag Animal Farm * Granny's Pool *

Harold Johnson Nature Reserve The Harold Johnson Nature Reserve is a small nature reserve () on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast. The reserve is administered by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and is on the southern bank of the Tugela River and from the river's mouth. Wildlife species ...

* Hole-in-the-wall * Holla Trails * King Shaka Memorial * Luthuli Museum * Monkeyland KZN * Ndlondlo Reptile Par.k * North Coast Venoumous Snake Park * Salt Rock Tidal Pool * Sugar Rush Park * Thompson Bay Rock Pool

Towns

Blythedale Beach Blythedale is a village in northeast Harrison County, Missouri, United States. The population was 211 at the 2020 census. History Blythedale was laid out in 1880, and named in honor of a railroad employee. A post office called Blythedale has bee ...

Darnall Darnall is a suburb of eastern Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. Darnall is approximately east-north-east of Sheffield city centre. History Darnall was initially a small hamlet usually included with Attercliffe. William Walker, a resident ...

Groutville Groutville is a town in Ilembe District Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. Home of the late ANC leader, Chief Albert Luthuli, Home to the late RT Rev j. Mdelwa Hlongwane founder to The Bantu Methodist Church. Mission s ...

* Shakaskraal *

Shaka's Rock Shaka's Rock is a town on the North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Shaka's Rock is a small residential village from Durban. Its name comes from a promontory over which the Zulu chief Shaka is said to have thrown his enemies and to have t ...

* Sheffield Beach * Thukela Mouth *

Tinley Manor Beach Tinley is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Adam Tinley (born 1967), known as Adamski, English DJ, musician, singer and record producer * Cris Tinley (1830–1900), English cricketer, one of the best slow bowlers of his time * M ...

Umhlali Umhlali (Zulu language, Zulu: ''eMhlali'') is a village on the North Coast (KwaZulu-Natal), North Coast of the KwaZulu-Natal Province, KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, just inland from Salt Rock and approximately 50 km north-west of Durba ...

* Zinkwazi Beach

Transport

Road

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

Richards Bay Richards Bay ( af, Richardsbaai) is a town in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is situated on a 30 square kilometre lagoon of the Mhlatuze River, which makes it one of the country's largest harbours. Richards Bay also has the deepest natural ha ...

Empangeni Empangeni is a city in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is approximately 157 kilometres north of Durban, in hilly countryside, overlooking a flat coastal plain and the major harbour town of Richards Bay 16 kilometres away. The N2 freeway runs east ...

and Ermelo in the north and

Durban Durban ( ) ( zu, eThekwini, from meaning 'the port' also called zu, eZibubulungwini for the mountain range that terminates in the area), nicknamed ''Durbs'',Ishani ChettyCity nicknames in SA and across the worldArticle on ''news24.com'' from ...

Port Shepstone Port Shepstone is a large town situated on the mouth of the Mzimkhulu River, the largest river on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast of South Africa. It is located halfway between Hibberdene and Margate and is positioned 120 km south of Durban. ...

East London East or Orient is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from west and is the direction from which the Sun rises on the Earth. Etymology As in other languages, the word is formed from the f ...

Port Elizabeth Gqeberha (), formerly Port Elizabeth and colloquially often referred to as P.E., is a major seaport and the most populous city in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is the seat of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality, Sou ...

and

Cape Town Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the second largest ...

in the south-west * The

R102 The R.102 (originally referred to as Project H) was a British airship planned in 1930 but never built. The development of R.102 resulted from the Imperial Airship Scheme, when it became apparent that the R100 and R101 airships then being buil ...

connects to

oThongathi oThongathi (previously and popularly known as Tongaat) is a town in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, about north of Durban and south of KwaDukuza. It now forms part of eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, or the Greater Durban area. The area is ho ...

, Verulam and

in the south-west and Empangeni in the north. * The R74 connects to Greytown, Colenso,

Bergville Bergville is a small town situated in the foothills of the Drakensberg mountains, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was established as Bergville Mountain Village in 1897 and is now the commercial centre for a 2,500 km2 dairy and cattle ranchin ...

and

Harrismith Harrismith is a large town in the Free State province of South Africa. It was named for Sir Harry Smith, a 19th-century British governor and high commissioner of the Cape Colony. It is situated by the Wilge River, alongside the N3 highway, abo ...

* The M4 connects to Westbrook,

eMdloti (previously and popularly known as Umdloti or Umdloti Beach), is a small resort village on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast, South Africa that is situated at the mouth of the Mdloti River north of Durban and now forms part of eThekwini, the Grea ...

, uMhlanga and Durban. 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 King Shaka International Airport , abbreviated KSIA, is the primary international airport serving Durban, South Africa. Located in La Mercy, KwaZulu-Natal, approximately north of the city centre of Durban. The airport opened its doors to passen ...

near Durban in the south-west and ends in

Mtunzini Mtunzini ( Zulu: ''eMthunzini'', from ''umthunzi'' meaning "a place in the shade") is a small coastal town that is situated almost exactly halfway along KwaZulu-Natal's coastline in South Africa approximately 140 km north of Durban. In 2011, ...

in the Zululand region in the north-east. The Mvoti Toll Plaza near

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

The North Coast is served by the

, north of Durban which has flights to domestic destinations such as

Johannesburg Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu and xh, eGoli ), colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, or "The City of Gold", is the largest city in South Africa, classified as a megacity, and is one of the 100 largest urban areas in the world. According to Demo ...

Gqeberha Gqeberha (), formerly Port Elizabeth and colloquially often referred to as P.E., is a major seaport and the most populous city in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is the seat of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality, So ...

Bloemfontein Bloemfontein, ( ; , "fountain of flowers") also known as Bloem, is one of South Africa's three capital cities and the capital of the Free State (province), Free State province. It serves as the country's judicial capital, along with legisla ...

Mbombela Mbombela (also known as Nelspruit) is a city in northeastern South Africa. It is the capital of the Mpumalanga province. Located on the Crocodile River, Mbombela lies about by road west of the Mozambique border, east of Johannesburg and north ...

and

George George may refer to: People * George (given name) * George (surname) * George (singer), American-Canadian singer George Nozuka, known by the mononym George * George Washington, First President of the United States * George W. Bush, 43rd Presid ...

and international destinations such as

Doha Doha ( ar, الدوحة, ad-Dawḥa or ''ad-Dōḥa'') is the capital city and main financial hub of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf coast in the east of the country, north of Al Wakrah and south of Al Khor, it is home to most of the coun ...

Dubai Dubai (, ; ar, دبي, translit=Dubayy, , ) is the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the capital of the Emirate of Dubai, the most populated of the 7 emirates of the United Arab Emirates.The Government and Politics of ...

Istanbul Istanbul ( , ; tr, İstanbul ), formerly known as Constantinople ( grc-gre, Κωνσταντινούπολις; la, Constantinopolis), is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, serving as the country's economic, ...

and

Harare Harare (; formerly Salisbury ) is the capital and most populous city of Zimbabwe. The city proper has an area of 940 km2 (371 mi2) and a population of 2.12 million in the 2012 census and an estimated 3.12 million in its metropolitan ...

Media

The newspapers in the KZN North Coast are the North Coast Courier Stanger Weekly and The Bugle. In terms of radio, East Coast Radio and

Ukhozi FM Ukhozi FM is a South African national radio station & owned by SABC, based in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal that caters to the needs of the Zulu-speaking community. Founded in 1960, it is the largest radio station in South Africa and Africa (by listen ...

are the main radio stations mainly serving the whole province of KwaZulu-Natal.

References

{{coord missing, South Africa Geography of KwaZulu-Natal Coasts of South Africa