Hi, I’m Jean from Southport on the KwaZulu Natal South Coast.
Southport IS BEST KNOWN FOR its relaxed, laid back atmosphere.
GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN AT the main beach.
THE BEST pictures of the sunrise over the ocean CAN BE TAKEN from there too, especially if you manage to incorporate the interesting shapes of the milkwood trees.
WHEN THE WEATHER’S GOOD, I LIKE TO swim in the sea under the watchful eyes of our experienced life guards.
WHEN THE WEATHER’S BAD … hey this is KwaZulu Natal; we don’t have bad weather, just rain sometimes to keep everywhere lush and green.
I THINK THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT IS winter, BECAUSE the weather is warm, clear and dry – or the summer when it is hot and sizzling. In fact we have year round summer, so any time to visit is good.
MY FAVOURITE BREAKFAST SPOT IS The Tea House, sitting outside in the balmy summer mornings.
FOR LUNCH, I SUGGEST a braai under the milkwood trees at the beach.
MY FAVOURITE RESTAURANT IS Afritude, TRY THE pizza sitting on the upper deck overlookin the ocean.
FOR A NIGHT OUT ON THE TOWN TRY Captain’s Anchor Pub & Grill.
IF YOU WANT TO MEET LOCALS, GO TO Hunter’s Grill; a favourite watering hole for some real South Coast characters.
Southport’s BEST KEPT SECRET IS the Bendigo Forest Reserve.
MY FAVOURITE THING TO DO WITH FRIENDS IS to sit at an outside table at the Captain’s Anchor with a drink watching the waves break on the beach just meters away.
FOR SOME gardening advice and curios, I LIKE TO GO TO Southport Nursery, and normally come away with plenty of “memories” for my garden or house.
TO RELAX AND RESTORE MY SOUL, I LIKE TO take a leisurely stroll along one of our pristine beaches soaking up the quiet and solitude.
IF YOU’RE FEELING ADVENTUROUS, TRY snorkelling to view the fantastic underwater world of the Indian Ocean.
MY FAVOURITE WALK IS in the little known Bendigo Forest Reserve, spotting the fantastic variety of butterflies that have recently been released there.
MY FAVOURITE shop to browse IS Southport Swop Shop, where you can find some fantastic bargains of little used items, or memories of yesteryear.
MY FAVOURITE Sardine Run WATCHING SPOT IS from the deck at Afritude. The sardine run is a natural phenomenon where billions of sardines migrate up the KwaZulu Natal South Coast close to the shore creating an exhilarating experience for divers, birders, whale watchers, anglers and just you and I who enjoy watching gannets diving into the “boiling” sardine filled water gorging themselves on a huge feast, dolphins surfing the waves and whales breaching.
IF YOU’RE HERE IN winter, JOIN IN THE FUN AT The Sardine Festival. Many different sporting, cultural and music events as well as trade and agricultural shows have been arranged between the beginning of June and the end of August up and down the entire South Coast and inland as far as Harding.
MY FAVOURITE MUSEUM IS the Port Shepstone Museum. CHECK OUT THE maritime exhibits, shipwreck information and other items of importance in the fascinating history of this area.
MY FAVOURITE BUILDING IS Port Shepstone Lighthouse, FOR ITS wonderful views – go to the top and see for yourself. The lighthouse is still a working lighthouse.
TRAVELLING WITH CHILDREN? A FUN OUTING IS to take a picnic to Uncle Arthur’s Animal Petting Farm and Fun Park where, apart from petting the very tame and friendly animals, the kids can play on the jungle gym or in the sandpit – fishing, BMX or mountain biking.
BEST CHEAP AND CHEERFUL OUTING IS of course to visit the beach – but make sure you have plenty of sunscreen, or you could be sorry.
WHEN MONEY’S NO OBJECT, I LIKE TO visit the malls in Shelly Beach and shop up a storm.
THE MOST UNUSUAL THING I SEE HERE IS monkeys in the banana farms.
MY FAVOURITE WEEKEND GETAWAY IS to to play bowls at the Southport Bowling Club.
WHEN I WANT TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY, I would help the Southport Community Police Forum who are extremely community orientated, not only with regard to crime but also to helping out wherever they can.
I Love Southport BECAUSE it is a very casual seaside holiday area where families can enjoy sea and sun and beaches and just relax in each other’s company. It’s a small village where we value our beach life and fishing, but we are close to the hype of South Coast attractions at Hibberdene, Port Shepstone, Shelly Beach, Margate and Oribi Gorge if you want to do something different. If you are hooked on golf there are 10 excellent golf courses within 50km for you to try out.
Useful Southport Links
- Southport Guest Houses
- Southport Self Catering
- Southport Accommodation
- KwaZulu Natal Accommodation
- Accommodation in South Africa
Desirable Digits
Captain’s Anchor: +27 (0)39 681-3585
Afritude: +27 (0)39 681-3105
Bendigo Nature Reserve: +27 (0)39 695-1137
The Tea House: +27 (0)39 681-3062
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I am an historian in Southport, UK, and I am writing a book on ALL the Southports around the world, and so was wondering if you could send me ANY literature, especially hisorical, of YOUR beautiful Southport. Thankyou very much. My home address is Geoff Wright, 94 King Street, Southport, Lancashire PR8 1LG, England.