16 holiday activities on the North Coast
Your holiday bucket list: 16 ways to live 'the Ballito life'
Just 15km inland from Ballito, Adventure Valley offers a 1.5km Zipline Tour with the first-in-the-world “Parazip”.
This guided adventure is suitable for ages 5 to 85.
The “Parazip” enables you to ‘fly’ down 400m cable with a parachute sailing behind you.
Adventure Valley also offers a 70 meter waterslide for the kids. Day visitors can bring a picnic and swim. A takeaway snack shop is available.
Booking essential.
Trading hours: Open 6 days a week (Sunday to Friday)
Cost: No entry fee (pay per activity)
To book contact: 032 9428014 | 082 414 2448 | clubventure@mweb.co.za | www.adventurevalley.co.za
Take to the skies with a microlight flight over the magnificent North Coast.
The microlight airfield is located just outside Ballito, off the R102 after the Sugar Rush turnoff.
Bookings are essential.
Contact: Rona or Dave Jackson at 082 659 5550 | ballitomicrolights@gmail.com | www.microlights.co.za
Cost: Multiple options starting at R450 per person for 10 minutes (inland flight) going up to R2 100 per person for a 60 minute customized coastal flight.
Trading hours: Open 7 days a week if weather permits. Best time to fly is early morning before wind increases along the coastline
Monkeyland KZN is a free roaming primate sanctuary, the sister sanctuary to Monkeyland Plettenberg Bay.
Enjoy a monkey safari and see multiple species of exotic monkeys – for example the black howler monkey, the loudest land animal in the world. Their “roar” can be
heard up to 7km away!
Kids will love spotting the ringtailed lemur, the iconic monkey made famous by the Madagascar movie franchise. He likes to “move it move it!”
Contact: Paula Hallam at 032 004 0178 | 066 479 6138 | info@monkeylandkzn.co.za | www.monkeyland.co.za
Cost: Day Tickets: R280 per adult, R140 per child aged 3 to 12 and under 3s are free of charge. Family Ticket: R670 for up to 2 adults and 2 children.
Annual membership tickets (unlimited visits for 12 months): R560 per adult; R280 per child
Trading hours: 10am to 3pm, Friday – Sunday
A day at a game reserve is not out of your reach with the Rain Farm lodge just 15 minutes outside Ballito.
Activities include game drives, walking and cycling trails, picnics, accommodation, a restaurant, swimming pool, spa, putt putt, cycling trails, kids area, kids parties, conferencing, weddings and private functions.
Situated on Esenembe Road on the Umhlali River, Rain Farm truly is a piece of paradise on our doorstep.
Contact: Natasha Montgomery at 032 815 1050 | info@rainfarm.co.za | www.rainfarm.co.za
Cost: Standard Game Drive R220 per adult, R120.00 per child under 12 (min 2 guests)
Sunrise and Sunset Game Drive R350 per adult, R300 per child under 12, includes beverages and snacks.
Schedules are season dependent (min 4 guests/max 20 guests)
MTB cycle trails: R150 per person (min 2 guests, about 8km)
Trading hours: Monday- Sunday, 7am to 4pm (Public day visits)
5. Tidal Tao
Experience the magic of the underwater kingdom on a snorkeling safari.
You can expect to see corals, a wide variety of invertebrates, Moray Eels, Parrotfish, Damsels, Surgeons, Butterflyfish and loads of other colourful fish.
Educational trips and group activities are available and include rocky shore guide day and night walks, learn to surf, canoeing and horseriding.
Costs: Discover and Explorer Snorkel Safari: R320 per adult, R150 per child for Discover (2 hours); Night Snorkel Safari R350 per adult (2 hours); Rocky Shore Night or Day Walk R150 per adults, R100 per child (2 hours); Underwater Photoshoot R960 (2 hours).
Contact person: Michy at 079 307 0608 | snorkel@tidaltao.com | www.tidaltao.com
Costs: Discover Snorkel Safari R320 per person, R150 per child (2 hours)
Trading hours: Everyday, weather and tide dependent, closed December 25 and 26 and January 1.
With everything from tortoises to cows and wolves, this farm is a wonderful place for both children and adults and 80% of the animals are rescued.
Flag Farm puts on a whole series of shows every day, including: 11am wolf interaction, 12.30pm milking show, 2pm reptile show and 3.30pm wolf interaction.
Contact: Gen at 032 9472018/20/ | fosgreen@mweb.co.za | www.flaganimalfarm.co.za
Cost: R55 per person, Rides tractor, train, pony, fire engine, animal feeds are R12 each, Waterpark R20 per child per hour
Trading hours: Monday – Sunday, 9am to 4.30pm. Closed on public holidays.
Sugar Rush Park is a popular destination for a variety of fun activities that will not break the bank, they also have a wonderful restaurant and wine tasting on site!
There is plenty to fill a day with, including: play area, pump track, putt putt, train rides, Food Fundi restaurant, Bon Appetit, Holla Trails, Single Track Minded, Craftopia, Unicorn Slime, Ndlondlo Reptile Park, Thumpers Petting Zoo, Jump Park, Laser Tag, Garden Décor Zone, Simply Be Spa and Hair Design Cabello.
Find Sugar Rush just outside Ballito, off the R102.
Contact: 060 997 9996 | info@sugarrush.co.za | www.sugarrush.co.za
Cost: No entry fee to the park, activities are charged separately.
Trading hours: Monday – Sunday, 8am to 4pm.
Ilembe’s Seventeen87 wine pays homage to the King of the Zulu nation who was born in 1787.
King Shaka’s legacy lives on in The Seventeen87 Wine Cellar which is at Sugar Rush.
There are 5 different cultivars i.e Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Pinotage Rose, Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon.
The cellar also stocks 13 other wines from Cathedral Peak Wine Estate, in the Drakensberg.
Contact: Daniel Maerkl at 083 652 0396 | daniel@enterpriseilembe.co.za
Cost: R50 per tasting for 5 different wines. Wines range from R70 to R320.
Trading hours: Monday – Sunday, 9am – 4pm.
The Ventures Group is a national based team building company that offers a host of activities including: archery, abseiling, wall climbing, low ropes, group dynamics, indigenous games, Foosball, team challenges, kayaking, raft building, zip line and hiking.
Contact: Samantha or Cassy at 031 701 2845 | info@tvg.co.za | www.tvg.co.za
Cost: Only group bookings, a minimum of 10 people.
R205 for day camp for school groups, R295 per person for half day corporate teambuilding and R495 for full day.
Trading Hours: office hours 8am – 4pm (activities can be booked for any time/day)
Few things can instill a sense of tranquility like a relaxing horseback ride.
Rides with Redwoods generally last about and hour and a half and start at 8.30am in summer and 9am in winter.
Booking is essential.
Contact: 083 301 5532 | redwoodbookings@gmail.com | www.redwoodsridingballito.wordpress.com
Cost: Trail ride R450 per person and Champagne Breakfast ride R850 per person
Trading hours: Monday – Friday, 8am – 4pm; Saturday 8am – 12pm.
11. Ace Karting
Sometimes we all feel the need for speed. Race to your heart’s content at Ace Karting in the Ballito Junction Regional Mall.
Contact: 082 867 9955 | jagger14.gg@gmail.com | www.acekarting.co.za
Cost: R100/10 laps; R150/20 laps; R200/40 laps per person
Trading hours: 9am – 6pm.
12. Jump Street
Channel your inner adventurous spirit and enjoy the thrill of the 22 Jump Street indoor entertainment centre at Ballito Junction.
From bumper cars and arcade games, to open jumping, dodge ball, basket ball and sponge pits, there is plenty on the go to keep both you and your children entertained for hours.
Contact: 032 586 1772 | info@22jumpstreet.co.za | www.22jumpstreet.co.za
Cost: R100 an Hour
Trading hours: Monday – Thursday, 9am – 6pm; Friday – Sunday 9am – 9pm
13. Luthuli museum
One of the greatest names ever to have come out of South Africa, chief Albert Luthuli became the first African to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent stance in the fight for liberation.
Luthuli’s former home in Groutville has been turned into a museum commemorating both the icon himself, and the struggle against apartheid in SA – while also providing a platform for cultural expression.
The museum is open Monday to Saturday from 8.30am – 4pm and on Sundays and public holidays from 11am-3pm.
Cost: Entrance is free.
Contact: 032 559 6822 | www.luthulimuseum.org.za
14. Ballito Ski Park
For just R150 you can get an hour’s worth of skiing fun at Ballito Cable Ski Park.
They also offer an inflatable fat boy (slide) R800 for the day or R50 an hour, airsoft bush warfare (similar to paintball) at R300 per person, jet ski rides at R100, tube rides R100, paintball at R150 and more.
Booking is essential.
Contact: 082 337 6044/ 083 233 5165 | info@cableski.co.za | www.cableski.co.za
Trading hours: Monday to Sunday, 9am – 7pm (in season).
For a true township experience visit Palmland Shisanyama in Thembeni, KwaDukuza.
You can stay at Palmland Guesthouse, have a township tourism experience, get your car washed and enjoy an authentic Shisanyama (braai/ barbeque).
Contact: Pinky at 073 436 6024 | www.palmland.co.za
Cost: Free entry
Trading hours: Monday – Thursday, 8am – 8pm, Friday 9am – 10om, Saturday 9am – 11pm, Sunday 8am – 7pm.
16. 032 Lifestyle
Owner Siyethemba Cele (25) said his Shisanyama, 032 Lifestyle, in Groutville, is the real deal.
“Shisanyamas are so embedded into the history and culture of our country – they are about food, friends, music and laughter. While the menus differ from one establishment to the next, you will likely find boerewors, mieliepap and chakalaka. One of our most popular meals is the traditional Usu (trip) and Inyama Yenhloko (cow’s head) cooked in a big black pot on an open fire.”
Contact person: Siyethemba Cele at 072 1597 543 | 032lifestyle@gmail.com
Cost: Entry is free, R30 for events
Trading hours: Monday – Sunday, 9am – 10pm.
For more info on local tourism visit Enterprise Ilembe or visit the tourism office on the corner of Ballito Drive and Link Road in Ballito.
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