KITESURFING & SURFING SPOTS
The following is a rough guide to the surfing and kiteboarding spots in Vulamanzi, Kelso and the surrounding area. Many kiteboarders are also surfers so we thought some info on the surf would be handy as well.
Quick links: Kiteboarding spots & info | Surfing spots & info
Kitesurfing in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Durban is situated on the East Coast of South Africa and enjoys a warm sub-tropical climate year-round with temperatures in the mid to low twenties even in winter. Durban has some of the best kitesurfing locations in South Africa. All locations offer good surf conditions and very warm waters - the water temperature is warm all year round, so the most you are going to need is a springsuit. On hot days in summer and winter you will be quite comfortable kitesurfing in boardshorts.
Durban's windy season runs from about September through to March but gets wind throughout the year. The prevailing wind is NNE (cross on).
KITESURFING ON THE SOUTH COAST
While Durban offers excellent safe kitesurfing beaches the south coast offers epic un-crowded conditions with good point breaks that work in winds from NE through to SW. A rough guide to some of the better known kitesufing spots along Durban's South coast.
VULAMANZI / KELSO
Kelso lies 65 km south of Durban and offers excellent conditions in both NE'erly and SW'erly winds.
'Happies' is perfect point break and offers 2 kiting spots - the first being in front of the caravan park and the second and more advanced spot is the point itself. Both spots have rocks - especially on the point and if kiting in NE'erly winds the rocks are downwind from you. If you are blown downwind on the point there is a sandy beach approx 1 km further down wind past the rocks. The point break provides some of the best and longest waves. The beach is a beginner to expert location, while the point is strictly experts only.
The above spots are the more well-know kite spots in the area, however there are cracking unkited, uncrowded spots to be had all the way up the KwaZulu-Natal coast. We can't give you the names here because some are secret and that's the way we'd like to keep it.
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SURFING KWAZULU-NATAL
In summer, the KwaZulu-Natal coast has surf almost every day. There are a couple of reasons for this: The continental shelf comes right up to the coast in parts, which means the reefs catch open ocean swells, The prevailing wind is from the NE which provides wind-generated swell and to top it off, there are fairly regular ground-swells from the south.
The big bonus, however comes from the cyclone swells which are common in summer. Between November and April tropical cyclones off the east coast of Madagascar track south and often push in seriously big swell which is often confined to the Mozambique and KwaZulu Natal coast. A lot of spots are at their best in these Easterly swells.
Generally, the best conditions are encountered during winter, especially in the early mornings or evenings when gentle land breezes blow. During summer months, offshore days are rare due to the NE onshore wind but these systems do create wind swell.
SURFING ON THE SOUTH COAST
The South Coast is one of the world’s most underrated surf zones. From Illovo to Port Edward there are waves, waves, waves. Some spots are quite famous – like Greenpoint, Scottburgh, St Mikes and Southbroom. But don’t be fooled, there are many lesser known spots where the waves are excellent. These include Mnini point, Pipe (just south of Scottburgh), Mzumbi, Umtentweni, TO Strand, Trafalgar, the Spot (aka Mfazazana) and Umnamfu. All this adds up to a premier surf coast where you can have fun exploring your own break.
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SURFING AT VULAMANZI POINT
This point break offers cooking surf and is walking distance from your Kitesurf Base Camp accommodation.
SURFING AT MFAZAZANA POINT AKA 'THE SPOT'
The remote and legendary Mfazazana Point lies a little further south of Kelso. This is a classic pointbreak setup with cracking walls and a tubey inside section. This waves goes on forever! Access is from the old South Coast road which winds through the hills and valleys a few kilometers inland of the National Road (N2).
Apparently you used to have to pay off a local chief, or one of his representatives to be able to park and surf here.
SURFING IN KELSO
A few good waves in the area. Locals are fiercely protective of their spots but show the proper respect or hang around long enough, and you will be accepted.
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