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. Fantasticactivities in exquisite terrains, warm sandy beaches and of course sparkling waters is what makes Ifafa an ideal holiday getaway.
Travellers' Reviews
1 Review from SA-Venues.com travellers. All reviews are verified.
Verified review
Our entire time at Ifafa was spent in the water! It was a very hot summer and we couldn't bear being out of the sea. We saw whales early one morning and we saw dolphins on most of the days that we were there.
Susie Chambers (Fairbanks, Alaska)
In the vicinity
Hotels & other accommodation options
Kuta Beach Unit A
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Dolphin View Self Catering
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Claridge Heights 307
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Barbados 13
Barbados 13 offers accommodation in a holiday home in the Caribbean Estate in Port Edward. The home is a sea front property in a tropical setting...
Dumela Flat 8
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San Lameer Villa 2514
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Umdlalo Lodge
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Santorini Unit N
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Saints View Resort Unit 03
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Things to do in the area
Bazley Beach
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Ifafa Beach
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Elysium Beach
Warm, blue waters and long stretches of pristine white sands are what the tranquil Elysium Beach is all about. This idyllic beach is perched on t...
Noteworthy attractions
Mkambati Nature Reserve
Flanked on either side by the forested ravines of the Msikaba and Mtentu Rivers, Mkambati Nature Reserve is 8000 hectares of coastal reserve that...
Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve
The Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve is a wonderfully scenic area offering excellent hiking opportunities. The area boasts cliffs and forests and spect...
Umtamvuna Nature Reserve
The Umtamvuna Nature Reserve is famous for its magnificent views of the deep Umtamvuna River Gorge. Umtamvuna is a treasure house of rare and end...
Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve
The Vernon Crookes is a delightful and convenient reserve for travellers holidaying on the South Coast of KwaZulu Natal. Vernon Crookes Nature Re...
Amanzimtoti Golf Club
Set just south of Durban and on the white sandy shores of KwaZulu Natal lays the Amanzimtoti Golf Course and Country Club. Originally opened, in ...
Margate Country Club
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Port Shepstone Country Club
Port Shepstone's golf course is one of the most popular along the South Coast and is well supported by local and overseas visitors alike. The cou...
San Lameer Country Club
The San Lameer golf course is situated on the Durban South Coast and is rated one of the top 30 South African golf courses. Opened in 1922 the co...
Scottburgh Golf Club
Scottburgh Golf Club's undulating golf course has a most attractive setting with the sight and sounds of the Indian Ocean always in the backgroun...
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