Blythedale Beach, Dolphin Coast

Just north of Tinley Manor, some 72 kilometres outside of Durban, Blythedale Beach is one of those unspoilt havens of white sand and beautiful, warm sea that resides amongst the subtropical vegetation so prominent in the area.

What makes Blythedale Beach even more attractive, particularly to nature lovers, is the fact that Blythedale Beach adjoins a small conservancy that includes the Umvoti River mouth - a haven for winged creatures and a must for bird lovers, worth a visit to spot the African spoonbill, chestnut-branded plover, lesser sand plover, white-eared barbet, scaly-throated honeyguide and blue-mantled crested flycatcher. The beach at Blythedale really is kilometres of sand that sends out an invitation for long walks, and the seas can be a hive of water activity for swimmers and surfers alike. If you’re not spotting dolphins or whales, then the common ghost crab will entertain you to minutes of gleeful happiness as he scurries around on an intertidal beach - the time between low and high tide - during which he scurries from his high-shore burrow to feed.

Just a few kilometres further up the coast brings one to Zinkwazi where a peaceful lagoon offers a wonderful spot for picnics, and fish eagles scoop down on to the waters in mid flight. There are wonderful walks, indigenous forest, fishing and a spectacular birdlife here, apart from the endless beaches - a real escape from it all.