Ifafa, South Coast

Ifafa is a Zulu expression meaning ‘place of sparkling waters’ or ‘sparkling one’. The legend goes that King Shaka arrived at a place with beautiful views over a lagoon where the river meets the Indian Ocean and he named this place Ifafa. When you visit this beautiful place, you too will discover what delighted King Shaka.

Ifafa lives up to its name by being home to incredible beaches with miles of sparkling coastline. Ifafa offers holiday makers quiet sandy beaches and magnificent bays with tidal pools for splashing around in, swimming and an all-round good time. In Ifafa, however, fishing is what most visitors come for. There is an abundant supply of karateen bait for fisherman as well as several glistening dams in the area. If you come unprepared, rods and boats can be hired for fishing expeditions. Ifafa point has been rated by Spear-fishermen as one of the best reefs in South Africa to watch out for sharks and game-fish.

The Ifafa lagoon and estuary is a tranquil and shimmering water mass that is nestled between low cliffs and dense coastal forests abundant in vibrant bird life. Take a slow, leisurely paddle up the lagoon or estuary and marvel at the exquisite beauty of this area. Ifafa is also well known for 2 popular lookout points from which one can view the magnificent whales and dolphins at play. The sheer sizes of these creatures are subjects which enhance the folklore of Ifafa.

Enjoy fun and informative farm tours which reveal the many different crops grown in this area. Bananas, sugar-cane, pineapples, macadamia nuts, pecan nuts and eucalyptus trees are just some of the many varieties of Ifafa’s flora. A little inland, South Africa’s national flower, the Protea, is farmed. Come and see the seemingly endless fields of over 5 000 trees which produce these beautiful flowers for sale both locally and internationally.

If you are feeling a little adventurous, then try the 4x4 trail that takes you across the sparkling river and leads you through the calm coastal bush. Ifafa also boasts a popular paragliding site to get the adrenaline pumping. Ifafa clearly has something to offer everyone. Fantastic accommodation, fun activities in exquisite terrains, warm sandy beaches and of course sparkling waters is what makes Ifafa an ideal holiday getaway.