The Golden Mile is a stretch of golden sand that runs through Durban’s beaches. You’ll quickly see why Durban (eThekwini) is everyone’s favourite beachside playground, with warm water, high waves, and seemingly endless stretches of sandy beaches. The beaches of Durban offer public amenities such as shark nets, beacons indicating safe swimming areas, and lifeguards on duty throughout the day. Arguably, a beach in Durban is the best option if you visiting South Africa.
If you are in South Africa or now planing your trip, add Durban to your bucket list and explore some of Durban’s beautiful beaches. And sleep in some of Durban’s beach resort.
Durban Beaches
North Beach
The safe swimming, large waves, busy esplanade, and cultural activities make this sandy beach along Durban’s stunning Golden Mile well-known. North Beach is one of Durban’s best sites for watersports, peaceful strolls, and a long stretch of beautiful sand.
Enjoy swimming in safe conditions, surfing in frequently big waves, and marvelling at the stunning coastal views from waterfront cafés. North Beach lies in the heart of Durban’s Golden Mile, which features a plethora of beaches and waterfront promenades overlooking the Indian Ocean.
Addington Beach
Despite being significantly less crowded than its adjacent beaches, Addington Beach’s protected location close to the Harbour makes it an ideal beach for families and individuals wishing to relax away from the crowds. It’s a great swimming beach because of the warm Indian Ocean.
Throughout the year, skilled lifeguards are on duty, and with shark nets in place, you may go swimming, scuba diving, and surfing to your heart’s content. Addington is one of Durban top beaches you can visit with the family.
Several companies offer surfing lessons from Addigton Beach, making it a great beach for learning to surf, especially for children, due to its well-protected nature. When you’ve had your fill of sunshine and surfing, stop by one of the many bars and eateries that line the route.
Umhlanga Rocks beach
Tourists from all over the world visit the destination community of Umhlanga Rocks to relax and enjoy one of the world’s most beautiful coastlines. Umhlanga is located on the east coast of South Africa, just north of the vibrant port city of Durban. It faces the warm Indian Ocean and is home to the best South African hotel, including superb holiday condominiums, high-class resorts, lodges, and B&B’s. It also has high-end, world-class shopping centers.
The beautiful sandy beaches run for nearly 200 kilometres northwards, up to the incredible Isimangaliso Wetland Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Away from Umhlanga’s shoreline, endless sugarcane fields give way to the undulating landscape of the Valley of 1000 Hills, the Inanda Dam, and Zululand’s enchanting hidden valleys.
Umdloti Beach
Umdloti Beach, located north of Durban and a little further out, is a popular hangout for locals who prefer to avoid the busy beaches. It’s a cosy, enclosed lagoon-style bathing area with lots of rock pools and a surfing-friendly open section to the right. It’s also known for early morning dolphin sightings and whale watching from July to November.
Ansteys Beach
Ansteys Beach, dubbed a “hidden treasure,” is a little beach in Bluff, a seaside suburb south of Durban, only 10–15 kilometres from the city centre. The ocean is great for snorkelling, scuba diving, and surfing, and there are some shallow locations for swimmers with lifeguards and shark nets in place. You can also explore the exposed rock pools if you walk along this laid-back beach during low tide.
uShaka Beach
Due to the pier in the south, which earned a reputation as a dividing wall, uShaka is sometimes referred to as the apartheid beach. Despite its past, however, this beach is enjoyable, friendly, and well-known for kayaking, kite surfing, and, of course, surfing. Addington Beach, noted for its surfing, lies to the north, while uShaka Marine World, a wonderland-class aquarium and water world, is to the south. Vetch’s Pier is ideal for snorkelling and scuba diving, while Moyo uShaka Pier has a peculiar café. If you don’t want to get wet, simply relax on the grassy higher ground and watch the sand sculptures work their magic, or look out for dolphins on this gorgeous length of shore.
South Beach
Durban’s South Beach, another terrific one that needs no introduction, is right in the heart of the city’s renowned beachfront, and it’s a great spot for swimming or simply sightseeing.
This sandy beach, which is part of Durban’s magnificent Golden Mile, offers safe swimming as well as a surf museum, a theme park, a waterpark, and an aquarium.
Durban’s colourful and attractive South Beach attracts sunbathers, bathers, and surfers. Swim in the calm waters of the Indian Ocean, learn about Durban’s surfing history, and have fun at the underwater and amusement parks. South Beach stretches all the way to North Beach, passing past the Port of Durban. It’s the southernmost part of the Golden Mile, a bustling beachside district that wraps itself around Durban’s Indian Ocean waterfront.
Bay of Plenty
The Bay of Plenty, which is part of Durban’s vibrant Golden Mile, is located in the heart of the coastline, with high-rise resorts and residences taking advantage of the breathtaking views. The Bay of Plenty, along with North and South Beach, is the site of several international surfing and beach volleyball championships, as well as being popular with holidaymakers who flock to KwaZulu Natal’s coast at every opportunity. The beach is one of Durban top beaches for surfing.
The Bay of Plenty is regarded by surfers as a consistent surf area, offering both right and left hand waves, and, like the other beaches along Durban’s seafront, shark nets are in place to decrease the risk of encountering one of the predators that take advantage of the warm Indian Oceans. The pier in the Bay of Plenty is a popular spot for fisherman to spend their leisure time, albeit fishing is restricted to specified periods during the day during the holidays.
Tiger Rocks Beach
This secluded, far-flung beach, located south of Durban in Isipingo, is nearly unheard of. Despite this, due to its placement below a cliff, it has some of the best views of the east’s Dolphin Coast. The rocky coastline has various tidal pools that are home to a variety of marine habitats, and it attracts anglers from all over the world, particularly during the famous sardine run in the winter. Whether you’re watching whales make their way across the ocean at dawn or spending a late afternoon chatting with fisherman on the rocks, it’s a calm and unassuming setting that shows its beauty in subtle ways.