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There are some fantastic beaches in South Africa for surfing
and numerous other water sports. Durban and surrounding
KwaZulu-Natal have a renowned surfing culture, here
you can meet surfing heroes such as Shaun Tomson and
Shane Thorne who are locals, as well as up and coming
names like Frankie Oberholzer.
When to go
Durban's subtropical climate means its warm and suitable
for surfing all year round. In the winter temperatures are
between 16ºC and 25ºC but during the summer months
they can reach 32ºC. The best time for surfing in Durban
is when the sou'wester blows.
North Beach hosts the Gunston 500 in July.
This is an event which is part of the Ocean Africa Festival
that includes practically every beach activity imaginable.
There is night surfing, beer tents, music, beauty contests
and fashion shows. Needless to say this is a popular event
with huge crowds.
Where to go surfing
South Beach and Addington are best for beginners,
whilst North Beach, Bay of Plenty and Snake Park
have perfect breaks for the more experienced surfer.
The best surfing beaches north of Durban are Balito Bay,
Tekweni and Zinkwazi. Although you have to travel
a bit further, the breaks are less crowded. The Bluff,
south of Durban, is one of the countries most famous spots.
The infamous Cave Rock is a Mecca for experienced surfers
that is often compared to Hawaii's Backdoor. However,
south of the Bluff holds some real gems. The best time for
surfing around here is winter when you are guaranteed a Northwest
land breeze. Groundswells hit Scottsburgh, Greenpoint and
The Spot at a perfect angle. All are right-handers and
produce four to eight foot grinders. Make sure to always check
the currents and also with the locals before embarking out
into the swells.
Other things to do
Another extreme sport that has taken off in the last decade
in South Africa is cage diving with Great White
Sharks - a constant threat off the coast. One of the most
popular areas to do this is at Shark Alley. This is
located between the fishing village of Gansbaai and
Dyer Island towards the west coast.
Naturally you will need to be a qualified diver to view sharks
from the cage. The cages generally hold two people and are
incredibly safe. To date there have been no fatalities from
this sport in South Africa. This is an awe inspiring experience
which any diver will never forget. Rates generally start at
approximately $130 US for one day all in. It also includes
a lesson on the Great White and a talk on conservation designed
to expel myths of the Great White.
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