BEST BEACH HOLIDAY AT SALT ROCK
Salt Rock is a picturesque town on the beautiful coast of Durban North, otherwise known as the Dolphin Coast because of the large numbers of dolphins that move up and down that stretch of coastline. Located a scenic 40-minute drive from the city of Durban, it’s one of South Africa’s favourite holiday destinations.
Salt Rock is one of Durban’s most popular holiday destinations and home to a large residential community. It’s experienced a boom in recent years where people have moved to the area in droves to take advantage of the incredible outdoor lifestyle the coastal town offers.
A holiday in Salt Rock is all about outdoor living and fun in the sun. The coastline is breathtakingly-beautiful and the beaches are some of the best on the east coast. The Indian Ocean is warm, the waves are fantastic and there’s a stunning tidal pool for safe swimming plus there are plenty of great fishing spots and launch areas for boats. If you love sea, sun and outdoor fun; you’ll absolutely love Salt Rock.
Where is Salt Rock?
Salt Rock is a 40-minute drive from the city of Durban, heading north on the N2 past Umhlanga and just past the turnoff to Ballito and Shaka’s Rock. It’s located in Durban North on the east coast of South Africa, a stunning region that lies between the N2 freeway and the seashore. Umgeni River forms its southern boundary and La Lucia its northern boundary.
Durban North is home to some of Durban’s most affluent seaside towns including Umhlanga, Mount Edgecombe, Ballito, Salt Rock and Shaka’s Rock. Salt Rock is conveniently located to King Shaka International Airport and the hugely popular Gateway Theatre of Shopping complex.
The best thing about Salt Rock is it’s enroute to some of the finest Big 5 safari destinations in KwaZulu Natal. This includes Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve and iSimangaliso Wetland Park (Lake St Lucia) which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Salt Rock’s the perfect place to stay in Durban North for a day trip to KZN’s incredible wilderness regions.
Distance from:
Salt Rock to Durban Golden Mile: 40 min (52 kms) via N2
Salt Rock to Umhlanga: 30 min (37 kms) via N2
Salt Rock to Gateway Theatre of Shopping: 30 min (37 kms) via N2
Salt Rock to Ballito: 15 min (8 kms) via Salt Rock Rd and R102
Salt Rock to Hluhluwe-iMfolozi: 2 hours (190 kms) via N2
Salt Rock to iSimangaliso Wetland Park: 2 hours (190 kms) via N2
Why visit Salt Rock for a beach holiday
Do you need any other reason other than the fact that Salt Rock is one of the best places in Durban North to spend a wonderful family beach holiday? The town is quieter and less commercialised than the bigger seaside towns along the coast but closer enough to the entertainment hotspot in Ballito to enjoy the best of both worlds. Everything in Salt Rock is geared towards families and friends having a safe, fun time together.
The Top 5 reasons to book a holiday in Salt Rock are:
#1 Beautiful, safe beach
Salt Rock’s palm-lined beach is beautiful and the golden sand stretches for miles. It’s quieter and less busy most days than the beaches at the bigger towns like Ballito. Swimmers and surfers are protected by shark nets and there are lifeguards on duty in the busy holiday seasons.
The best thing about Salt Rock’s beach is its famous tidal pool called Granny’s Pool. It’s a large tidal pool that’s waist height on an adult and the perfect place for young and old to paddle and snorkel safely.
#2 Best surfing
Salt Rock has always been a firm favourite with local surfers. The surf produces foam-free barrels with a good left-hand point break, and is best surfed in the early morning. You can hire a surf board from a surfing shop in town which also offers surfing lessons for beginners.
#3 Best fishing
Some of the best fishing spots in Durban North are below the Salt Rock Hotel or along the beach towards Shaka’s Rock. Salt Rock started as a small fishing village and has always been a firm favourite with avid anglers in Durban. You can fish comfortably and safely from the sides of the tidal pool for kob, shad, Garrick and king mackerel.
#4 Best golf courses
Salt Rock doesn’t have a golf course itself but you’re a short drive from some of the best golf courses in Durban North. This includes the 18-hole golf courses at Umhali Country Club, designed by Peter Matkovich; Zimbali Country Club, designed by Tom Weiskopf and ranked in the Top 25 courses in Africa; and Simbithi Country Club, another course designed by Peter Matkovich.
#5 Trendy shopping centre
Tiffany’s Shopping Mall has added glitz and glamour to the otherwise sleepy seaside village. The modern shopping centre has 30 retail stores as well as great restaurants and delis, the major banks, medical facilities, optometrists, beauty centres, dry cleaning and service stores for cell phone repairs etc.
The anchor tenant is SUPERSPAR. There is ample parking at Tiffany’s Shopping Mall, both upstairs and in the basement.
Brief history of Salt Rock
The history of Salt Rock is very much tied in with the Salt Rock Hotel that was built in the 1930s by Basil Hulett and his wife Gwen, a couple who were part of the sugarcane farming community. The Salt Rock Hotel was and still is a legendary spot around which the town has grown.
The name Salt Rock dates back to King Shaka’s days when his handmaidens were sent to the coast to collect dried salt off the rocks at low tide. The salt was used for trading, swopping the highly-prized salt for goods from the settlers.
Is Salt Rock safe to visit?
Salt Rock is a small, tightknit community and well protected by vigilant security firms who keep a tight control on crime in the town. The beaches are patrolled and qualified lifeguards are on duty on the main beaches most of the year.
Shark nets run the length of the Dolphin Coast and are monitored by the KwaZulu Natal Sharks Board, keeping swimmers and surfers safe in the sea. Granny’s Pool provides a safe swimming spot for the young and old.
The sea is generally safe for swimming and the waves are great for surfing. However, certain times in the year, there’s a strong backwash or rip current. Over the years, there have tragically been a number of drownings, most times where a swimmers has been caught in a current and panicked. If you’re not a confident swimmer, it’s best to paddle in the shallower and calm water in Granny’s Pool on the main beach at Salt Rock.
Salt Rock is safe to visit as long as you take the usual precautions to avoid falling victim to a crime. This includes not ‘flashing cash’ or wearing expensive jewellery in public, keeping your valuables in safe keeping and not walking about town on your own at night.
Top 15 kid-friendly things to do in Salt Rock
Swim, surf, paddle, snorkel, sunbathe, build sandcastles, picnic, fish… Salt Rock is all about fun in the sun and having the best beach holiday. Once a sleepy fishing village, Salt Rock has developed into a thriving holiday destination and offers the conveniences of modern shopping centres, restaurants and entertainment resorts. If the sun isn’t shining and you’re not on the beach, there’s still lots to do in Salt Rock.
This list of things to do are only what’s available in Salt Rock. The seaside town is a short drive from Ballito, Shaka’s Rock and Umhali so when you’ve done everything there is to do in Salt Rock, you still have hundreds of other places to visit in the neighbouring towns.
#1 Salt Rock Beach
Salt Rock Beach is stunning. The water is warm, the waves are good and it’s always clean and well-maintained. Swimmers and surfers are protected by shark nets and lifeguards are on duty most of the year, particularly the busy holiday times. The main beach is quieter than other beaches on the Dolphin Coast and is mainly used by residents and visitors on holiday in Salt Rock.
Durban North has a warm tropical climate so it’s hot and sunny throughout the year. Apart from the few days a cold front moves in or there’s a summer thunderstorm, Salt Rock Beach is a year-round destination. Palm trees line the beach and provide welcome shade.
The water is warm enough to snorkel with just fins and goggles on the reefs located just off Salt Rock Beach. The reefs are alive with fish and fascinating marine life. Salt Rock Beach has always been one of the best fishing spots in Durban North and avid fisherman can expect to catch strepie, blacktail, karanteen and galjoen off the beach.
Salt Rock Beach is safe for swimming and surfing but there is quite a strong backwash. Keep an eye on smaller members of the family and rather swim in the tidal pool if you feel the current is a bit strong.
Did you know?
Tidal Tao offers a fun ‘Discover Snorkeling Safari’ for first-time snorkelers. If you can swim, the super-friendly and patient instructors from Tidal Tao can teach you to snorkel. You don’t need to be super fit or a super strong swimmer to discover the joy of snorkeling in the protected waters at Salt Rock.
Paddling out in the water with your guide, you can expect to see at least 20 to 50 species of fish, coral and other marine life. Depending how far out you go towards the reef, you may even see moray eels, parrotfish, damsel surgeons and butterflyfish.
If you don’t fancy snorkeling, you can join the team at Tidal Tao on their rocky shore walks and night walks.
Visit Tidal Tao: www.tidaltao.com
#2 Granny’s Pool
One of the favourite features of Salt Rock Beach is Granny’s Pool. It’s a massive man-made tidal pool situated right in front to the Salt Rock caravan park. It’s the perfect spot for families with kids or holidaymakers who aren’t that confident swimming in rough seas.
Granny’s Pool is shallow, about waist high on an adult at its deepest spot. It’s safe for young children who can swim and great for paddling and snorkeling because the water is calm and protected even when the sea is churning.
The tidal pool has a rocky section and a sandy section as well as a thick outer wall that you can sit on or kids can use to jump in and out the water. At high tide, waves break on the rocks at the sea end of Granny’s Pool which creates ripples that delight the young kids.
#3 Ballito to Salt Rock trail
The walking trail from Ballito main beach to Salt Rock beach is wonderful, taking you on a gorgeous coastal walk along the beach and through the wooded forests. It’s a comfortable walk if you’re reasonably fit and takes just over an hour.
Park your car near the Gallery Beach Bar & Grill in Ballito and take the stairs down to the paved boardwalk that starts at the tidal pool. Turn left and follow the path to Salt Rock, taking to the beach after you pass the Sheffield Beach lifesavers.
On the other side of Sheffield Beach, the path cuts up onto the cliffs at the famous Shaka’s Rock. This is where King Shaka forced his warriors to leap off a massive rock to prove their loyalty to him. There are four benches at the top where you can take a break and enjoy the view.
Continue walking over a rocky stretch until you reach more cliffs. If the tide is out, cut around the rocky platforms but if the sea is in, take the steps and go over the top. You can walk back the same way but otherwise, organise for a friend to meet you for lunch in Salt Rock and drive you back later to Ballito.
#4 Salt Rock Hotel Resort
After a lovely morning on the beach, treat yourself to a delicious meal at Salt Rock Hotel Resort. Oozing charm and homely comfort, the hotel is situated right on the main beach and offers spectacular sea views, an elevated sun terrace and a safe outdoor playground for the kids.
You’ve got the choice of three eateries for anything from casual pizzas on the terrace to a formal sit-down lunch or dinner. Enjoy Salt Rock Hotel’s legendary hospitality and sightings of dolphins and whales out in the sparkling Indian Ocean.
Coco’s Buffet & Carvery is hugely popular. The hearty and generous buffet breakfasts and delicious carvery dinners are legendary. Locals from all over Durban travel to Salt Rock for the hotel’s famous Sunday lunch buffet and carvery. Served from 12h30 to 14h30.
For the Terrace menu, you have a wide choice of affordable and kid-friendly meals, ranging from wood-fired pizzas, yummy burgers and the hotel’s famous curries. Freshly-baked scones with afternoon tea are a must and a choice of the barman’s best cocktails shouldn’t be missed. Served from 10h00 to 21h30.
Salt Rock Snack Bar is fun for the young and old. It’s situated at the hotel’s large swimming pool and offers light snacks, milkshakes, ice-creams and a variety of sweet dishes. Open all day.
Don’t forget Salt Rock Hotel’s Pensioner’s Special every Friday. Bring your retired folks for a delicious meal at the pensioner’s rate which includes a glass of wine or fruit juice. Served from 12h30 to 14h00.
#5 Salt Rock Country Club
Considering much of the seaside town revolves around the historic Salt Rock Hotel, the country club on the property is still a popular spot in Salt Rock to meet up with friends. Salt Rock County Club has a fantastic swimming pool and newly-renovated squash courts as well as large playing fields for sporting events.
The main attraction is the English-style pub with a pool table. The pub has been a local favourite for decades and can tell a tale or two about the legendary characters that have passed through its doors.
Salt Rock Country Club offers an a la carte menu which includes the club’s famous curries and wood-fired pizzas. The club has three small venues that are suitable for private functions or conferences for up to 60 delegates.
#6 Canelands Beach Club & Spa
For the best sundowner spot or place to gather with friends, pop into Canelands Beach Club & Spa. It’s a refined boutique hotel so leave the kids with a sitter. Canelands terrace restaurant offers 180 degree views over the ocean and is a beautiful sundowner spot, with the sound of the waves crashing meters away from where you sit.
Savour the tranquility away from the busy beach and enjoy sipping on a range of delicious cocktails paired with Canelands culinary delights prepared by their executive chef.
Treat yourself to a pamper session at Canelands spa. A haven of tranquil bliss, the spa offers a wide range of treatments coupled with its range of holistic Healing Earth products.
#7 Tiffany’s Shopping Centre
Tiffany’s Shopping Centre is a modern shopping centre with a laid-back beach holiday atmosphere located in the heart of Salt Rock. You’ll find a great selection of retail outlets, restaurants and delis at Tiffany’s as well as the major banks, a medical centre, beauty centre, laundry and dry cleaners and car wash.
Try Holy Cow Coffee and Fego’s Café for the best coffee in Salt Rock and for lunch through to dinner, you’ve got the choice of BBM Café and Restaurant, Jack Salmon Fish & Grill, Mac’s Fish & Chips and Leaf Café.
#8 Holla Trails
Holla Trails is heaven for mountain bikers. It was set up a few years ago to offer mountain bikers a safe place to test their skills and fitness. The 340-kilometre trail network is arguably the most extensive trail venue in the country. The furthest point is high on an escarpment about a 70-minute driver from the club house.
Holla Trails has 8 mountain biking routes, including a 15-kilometre Green Route for young or inexperienced riders. The routes getter harder from Blue through to the Black Route which throws everything at the riders from steep hills to thick sandy paths. Your reward for your hard work on the bike are spectacular views over the Mamba valley.
Visit Holla Trails: www.hollatrails.co.za
#9 Sugar Rush Park
Sugar Rush Park is the best destination not far from Salt Rock for a day of fun and quality time with the family. There’s something for everyone and the whole focus is to get everyone – young and old – to enjoy the outdoors and have some fun.
You’ll find a wide range of activities at Sugar Rush Farm and enjoy the wide open spaces, delicious food at the restaurant and the fact that it’s so easy to get to from Ballito.
Activities at Sugar Rush Farm include:
- Kids Play Zone
- Feathers & Furballs Petting Zoo
- Kids Mountain Bike Track
- Ballito parkrun
- The Sugar Rush Express & Tractor Rides
- Milk Station
- The Digs Kitchen
- Holla Trails
- TUWA Beauty Bar & Spa
- Gymnastics and Trampoline Park
- Ndlondlo Reptile Park
- Sugar Rush Putt-Putt
- Laser Rush
- Garden Decor Zone
Where: 14-minutes’ drive via Salt Rock Rd and R102
Visit Sugar Rush Park: www.sugarrush.co.za
#10 The Jump Park
The Jump Park is located in Sugar Rush Park a short drive from Salt Rock. It’s a hugely popular fun park for both youngsters and older folk. The Jump Park has a fantastic indoor trampoline park with 700 square metres covered wall-to-wall with trampolines. It’s the perfect place for families and adrenalin-junkies. All the trampolines are designed for 100% and suitable for adults, teenagers and children.
Join your kids for a great workout or take some me-time while they play, enjoying free Wi-Fi and something to eat and drink at the Viewing Lounge.
Visit The Jump Park in Ballito: www.thejumppark.co.za
#11 Sage Café & Deli
Sage Café & Deli is a hugely popular eatery that offers delicious food, a relaxing environment and an amazing play area for kids. It’s the best spot to hang out if you need a break from the beach and some quiet time in beautiful country surrounds.
For some pampering, treat yourself to a session at Sage’s in-house treatment centre. Leave the kids to play safely in the play area.
Where: Old Fort Road, Fox Hill, Salt Rock
#12 Flag Animal Farm
Flag Animal Farm has been voted the best animal farm in Kwa-Zulu Natal and not only is it a fun outing for the whole family, it’s also home to animals that have been rescued and given a safe place to live.
The animal sanctuary has been running for 16 years and in that time over 13 500 orphaned, injured or abandoned animals have been saved by the people who work at Flag Animal Farm. Supporting the animal farm means they can keep up the good work saving animals in distress.
There are not many places in South African where young children can enjoy a real farm experience and at Flag Animal Farm, kids can walk freely and safely among so many wonderful animals.
Other facilities at Flag Animal Farm include children’s entertainment shows, a pirate ship, indoor play centre, reptile room, tractor and train rides, an obstacle course and a prayer facility. There’s a lovely coffee shop and deli which also serves certified Halaal food.
Visit Flag Animal Farm: www.flaganimalfarm.co.za
#13 The Litchi Orchard Market
The Litchi Orchard Market is located on an established litchi farm in the country not far from Salt Rock. It’s a firm favourite for locals and visitors, offering a divine spot in the countryside to spend quality time with family and friends. A day at Litchi Orchard Market is a celebration of delicious food, décor and design with an emphasis on supporting the local artist and artisan community.
What started as a humble wholesale nursery in the middle of over 300 litchi trees and a rustic farmer’s market, Litchi Orchard Market is now one of the most popular places to visit in the Ballito area. You’ll find a range of food and lifestyle shops and eateries, pottery and art studios, vegetable and fruit market. the upgraded Muddy Boots Garden Centre and a wonderful open space where the kids can play safely.
Watch out for the seasonal night markets at Litchi Orchard Market. Held on regular intervals from 14h00 to 21h00. It’s perfect for a laid-back evening with family and friends with love music and delicious local food.
Where: Seaforth Avenue, Umhlali
Visit The Litchi Market: www.litchiorchard.co.za/home
#14 Burnedale Farm
This lovely country coffee shop offers something for everyone. A petting farm, café and deli, clothing store, pottery and painting studio and saddlery. Enjoy fresh, healthy meals with friends while the kids play in a safe playground. Free uncapped Wi-Fi and excellent service are just two reasons why locals love Burnedale Farm Coffee Shop.
Where: Burnedale Farm, Old Main Road, Umhlali
#15 Rain Farm Game & Lodge
Rain Farm is a beautiful 30-minute drive from Salt Rock and the perfect place to visit for the day if you’re keen on wildlife and would like to join one of their daily sunrise, sunset or night game drives. The small reserve is home to a variety of plains game, including giraffe, zebra, wildebeest and ten antelope species. It’s not quite a Big 5 safari destination but it’s great fun for a day out in the beautiful KZN bushveld.
Rain Farm offers sunrise, sunset and night game drives. Different rates for different things; for instance, the sunrise game drive includes hot beverages and breakfast snacks while the sunset game drive includes local wine, gin and your favourite South African snacks of biltong and nuts.
Places to stay in Salt Rock
The choice of accommodation in Salt Rock is wide and varied, ranging from a neat, well-maintained caravan park and campsite at Salt Rock Hotel Resort to affordable guesthouses and B&Bs, self-catering cottages, upmarket seaside apartments and luxury exclusive-use homes.
All the holiday homes in Salt Rock are ideally located to the main beach, Tiffany’s Shopping Mall and the town centre. Salt Rock village is a short 6-kilometre drive to the N2 highway which takes you to the neighbouring towns of Ballito, Shaka’s Rock and King Shaka International Airport.
Family-friendly accommodation in Salt Rock
Salt Rock Hotel Resort is located on the main beach, overlooking the tidal pool. It offers a selection of rooms that are air-conditioned, ensuite and equipped for comfort and convenience. The hotel has a large swimming pool, restaurant and terrace with magnificent views of the Indian Ocean.
The best thing about Salt Rock Hotel Resort is its position on the beach and all the fun activities you can do without having to drive to far from the hotel. The resort has a large children’s entertainment area set in the lush tropical garden.
Self-catering accommodation in Salt Rock
Many private homes and guest houses in Dunkirk Estate are available to rent over the holidays, either on a self-catering or B&B basis. Dunkirk Estate is set among the gently sloping coastal hills of Salt Rock in a 42-acre indigenous coastal forest, home to blue and grey duiker, bushbabies and over 97 species of birds.
Dunkirk Clubhouse is an exceptional facility that has been featured in several architectural magazines. It boasts a 25-metre heated outdoor swimming pool that leads to a sauna and steam room, a fully-equipped gym and flood-lit tennis courts.
Affordable accommodation in Salt Rock
The most affordable accommodation in Salt Rock is a site at the hugely-popular and legendary Salt Rock Caravan Park. The caravan park is situated right on the beach overlooking Granny’s Pool, with magnificent views of the Indian Ocean. It was built by Basil Hulett in the 1930s and has been used by families from one generation to the next.
Salt Rock Caravan Park also offers a variety of affordable self-catering accommodation in Plettenberg units if camping and caravanning is not your thing.
Luxury accommodation in Salt Rock
One of the most popular establishments to stay at for a holiday in Salt Rock is Canelands Beach Club & Spa. The high-end lodge is located on the beachfront with spectacular views of the ocean. The ocean-facing restaurant is a popular spot for sundowners and a meeting place for adult friends groups.
Canelands Beach Club & Spa has 10 modern and stylishly-decorated bedrooms. Each suite is air-conditioned and ensuite, and has its own private patio with either a garden or sea view. The popular spa treatment centre is ideal for a decadent pamper session before joining family or friends on the terrace for sundowner cocktails.
Secure estate accommodation in Salt Rock
New Salt Rock City is a multifaceted development between Salt Rock and Ballito in Durban North. The residential and commercial development boasts 188 hectares of rolling hills and sea views with approximately 57 hectares of greenbelt, wetlands and conservation area.
The development is located close to some of the best beaches on the Dolphin Coast and the most popular holiday destinations in the area. New Salt Rock City has excellent security controlled by IPSS with 24-hours gated access to all residential properties.
Pet-friendly accommodation in Salt Rock
Quite a few holiday homes in Salt Rock that are rented to holidaymakers allow pets.
Check Ballito Holiday Homes for a listing on pet-friendly accommodation in Salt Rock.
Best time to visit Salt Rock
Salt Rock is a year-round holiday destination. The Durban North region has a humid subtropical climate with sunny, gorgeous weather throughout the year. It experiences heavy rainfall and high humidity in summer from November to February. To avoid days with afternoon tropical thunderstorms and the most humid months, the best time to visit Salt Rock is in September/October and March/April.
The most humid month in Salt Rock is February, caused by the warm Agulhas current and northern and southern upswells that pass along South Africa’s East Coast. Summer temperatures generally average between 28° C and 33° C, peaking at 35°C in February.
The winter season in Salt Rock is from end-April to end-August. The weather during the day is warm and pleasant with a high-temperature of 22-23°C, dropping to a low of 11°C at night in July which is the coldest month in Salt Rock.
Salt Rock’s weather is one of the best things about this popular seaside holiday town. The second-busiest period in Salt Rock is over the June-July school holidays and even though it’s mid-winter, you can still swim and surf in the warm Indian Ocean.