Why Ballito is a holiday destination for your bucket list

Surfers call it the home of stoke while holiday makers know it is the warmest place to be thanks to the sunny winters, friendly people and wide variety of activities on offer.

Since the early 1970’s Ballito had remained a hidden jewel to the rest of the surfing world, but after playing host to the world’s longest running professional surfing event, The Ballito Pro presented by Billabong, for the past ten years it is now a must-visit destination.

With its wide beaches, warm ocean and tropical climate, KwaDukuza is the perfect place to fuel up on energy, leave behind the stress of your daily life and soak up that coastal chilled vibe.

Local surfers will tell you that Ballito’s waves are top notch in winter and will give you the ride of a lifetime with plenty of lift for those killer airs and let’s not forget the epic barrels.

Even the spoilt Hawaiians fall in love with Dolphin Coast waves as our homeboy Allan Johns recalls.

“I shared a session with Shane Dorian from Hawaii here once and he liked the solid swells we get in Ballito and the North Coast during our winter months – hollow , clean and fast!”

Our waves should not be underestimated though, as Salt Rock’s Simon Nicholson knows.

“Ballito, when its on, is not for the faint-hearted. It’s powerful, moves fast out of deep water onto shallow sand banks and you are always a few meters from the reef or some kind of rock outcrop,” said Nicholson.

When the waves aren’t pumping or you are taking a break from the board, there are plenty of outdoor activities from cycling through the sugar cane, exploring the beach on a fat bike, flying over the coastline in a microlight to tee-ing off on one of the various world class golf courses.

Not feeling so energetic? Experience the rich Zulu heritage at the King Shaka Visitor’s Centre or go on a trip through local history at the Luthuli Museum in KwaDukuza.

And let’s not forget that Ballito is a shopping paradise! With various malls offering everything from proudly SA boutique stores to international brands, you are sure to find whatever your retail-loving heart desires.