Bluff, Durban

The headland known simply as ‘the Bluff’ - a thick green belt that has a strong attraction for those who steer clear of the built-up beachside areas of Amanzimtoti and even Umhlanga Rocks - is a collection of suburbs that cover the stretch from the military base in the north to Treasure Beach in the south including Wentworth, Austerville and even Fynnlands closer to the harbour.

The Bluff is an area about which its residents are fairly possessive. Certainly in the past, one did not say that one was from Durban if you lived on the Bluff. People who live here regard themselves as a breed apart - just speak to the surfers who think their beach is one of the city’s best-kept secrets, and one quickly realises that this may as well be a world apart. The Bluff has earned a reputation as one of the safer suburbs in Durban. There are few roads that enter or leave the headland, making ‘quick escapes’ somewhat complex. A few years ago one still had to venture off the Bluff in order to shop but today the bigger brands have moved in, and residents no longer have to make the pilgrimage to the Pavilion in Westville.

So just why is the Bluff such an attraction? There’s the Blue Flag status of Anstey’s Beach, a golf course, yacht club, fishing, a bird sanctuary, a nature reserve, and now even Ethekweni Municipality has recognized the Bluff’s appeal, by spearheading an initiative to establish a Bluff Headland Heritage Park at the tip of the Bluff overlooking the entrance of the harbour, or Crest View.