Amazing Facts and Noteworthy Landmarks to Visit in Ballito

Ballito has a remarkable story to tell… if you just know where to look and what to see. A quick look at the seaside town as you never saw it before…

Beached Whale at Boulder Bay Beach

In August 2010, locals swarmed to the small bay at Boulder Bay, Ballito, to witness the incredible sight of an adult Humpback Whale marooned on the rocks. The animal is believed to have died at sea and the carcass washed ashore in high seas.

A small window of opportunity between tides was lost to drag the animal back into deeper water so the carcass remained, rotting quickly in the sun and creating an unbearable stench in the area. Many took the opportunity to hack quantities of meat to take home.

The body was finally disposed of, using a large grader to remove tons of flesh from the rock.

First Cheetah in the World to be Bred in Captivity

Collisheen Estate is a preferred Wedding Venue for countless brides opting for a natural country wedding celebration. Before becoming a popular Wedding and Function Venue, the estate was a working sugar cane farm. Farm owners Neil and Morag Hulett were keen conservationists and were the first to successfully breed cheetah in captivity.

The shy animal faced extinction in Southern Africa and it is only through careful captive breeding programs such as the De Wildt Ann Van Dyk Cheetah Sanctuary in Hartbeespoort that South Africa can record a Cheetah population of approximately 1500 animals.

Crocodiles in the Tongaat River

In March 2005 some ninety baby crocodiles escaped from Crocodile Creek Farm. Many of the small reptiles were recovered, but some made it into the natural waterways of the area.

A holidaymaker in Wesbrook reported a large croc sunning himself on the sandbank in the middle of the Tongaat River. An escapee from 2005 now grown and flourishing in the ‘wilds’ of urban Ballito?

In July 2011, M/S Phoenix Ran Aground at Sheffield Beach

Residents Sheffield Beach were witness to an incredible Real Life Sea Drama when their quiet beach became the stage for a dramatic rescue and salvage operation. M/S Phoenix was on her way to India with a skeleton crew for scrapping when high seas caused the tanker to run aground. All fifteen crew were airlifted to safety and the ship eventually pulled from her nest on the rocks so she could continue on her journey to the shipping graveyards in India.

 Strange Pillars Rising Salt Rock Main Beach

Ever wondered what those STRANGE pillars are beyond Salt Rock Tidal Pool? Basil Hulett built the Salt Rock Hotel and was an avid Rock Surf Fisherman. The concrete pillars formed a nework of Fishing Platforms linked with rope walkways to allow him to enjoy his hobby to the fullest.

King Shaka and Salt Rock

The mightiest Zulu Warrior once made this town his own. In fact, Salt Rock was actually named for the Salt the Zulu King’s handmaidens would collect from these rocks.

Basil Hulett who foundered Salt Rock Hotel, built the Salt Rock Tidal Pool in the late 1950’s.

King Shaka’s Rock of Torment

From Thompson’s Bay beach, a short walk northward onto the rocky pro-minatory favored by rock fishermen is the infamous Shaka’s Rock. Historic lore tells that the Zulu Warrior King tested his warrior’s courage and loyalty from this place – forcing his enemies or any young soldier deemed too cowardly to face battle to jump from this rock into the sea below.

Wait Awhile Longer at Umhlali…

Umhlali, the quaint village which serviced local farmers for a century with supplies brought in by train was named for “the Place of Waiting” as oftentimes travelers were forced to wait at this outpost for the river to subside before crossing.

John Burne was a Scottish Soldier stationed near Fort William here and later married and stayed at what is now Burnedale Farm.

Shakaskraal once housed King Shaka’s Impi Army

The bustling town on the R102 north of Umhlali was actually the site of King Shaka’s Warrior Army. The Anglo-Zulu War, fought here in 1879, brought the mighty British Empire to it’s knees as King Shaka implemented his ingenious war tactics against the empire who already ruled great portions of the globe.

‘Charlies Pool’ at Thompson’s Bay

The Olympic Size tidal pool was built by Charles de Charmoy as his personal exercise pool. Charles and his twin brother came to South Africa from Mauritius as orphans at the tender age of 15. Charles became a successful sugar cane magnate in the area and the family retains a beach cottage overlooking the famous Thompson’s Bay.

White Christmas in Ballito

It was dubbed ‘White Christmas 2014’. A heat wave over the region on Christmas Day combined with Power Failures as part of the rolling blackouts instituted by Eskom as the National Grid came under pressure with the influx of holidaymakers to the region resulted in mass Poultry Deaths. Without fans and air conditioning units to keep temperatures within the poultry barns to a moderate levels, thousands of birds expired. Where possible, farmers let animals out to cool outdoors. Farmers donated the dead birds to local crocodile farms to feed.

Great White Sharks in Ballito

Although not common, Great White Sharks do sometimes cruise our Dolphin Coast Waters. This 4.2 metre Great White Female was found in the shark nets twice. Although Natal Sharks Board staff managed to release her alive the first time, the second netting killed her. She is pictured here on the beach at Zinkwazi.