Flying in from Cape Town? Why Travellers Are Choosing the KZN North Coast This Winter

A tale of two winters: Cape Town and the KZN North Coast

Cape Town is one of the most beautiful cities on earth for about nine months of the year. June to August is not those months. The cold front rolls in, the rain settles, the mountain disappears and even the dog refuses to go outside.

The KZN North Coast runs on a different calendar. Winter is the driest time of year here, with mild low-twenties days and water warm enough to swim without a wetsuit and a brave face. You can be walking barefoot to the beach in the morning, lunching with the windows open and watching dolphins go past in the afternoon. Same country, completely different season. And from King Shaka International you are at Shakas Rock in about 20 to 30 minutes.

Self-catering apartments in Shakas Rock

Shakas Rock is one of the prettier pockets of the North Coast. It is residential, leafy and right on the water, a place where you hear the sea more than the traffic. The beaches are clean and uncrowded, the Shakas Rock tidal pool is a favourite with families, and Ballito is five minutes up the road for restaurants, shops and anything else you need. Umhlanga and Durban are an easy half-hour drive south.

Beachfront Apartments sits right on this stretch of coast, built for the way a holiday should actually feel. Beachfront position, fully equipped kitchens, room for the whole family and views that make you cancel your afternoon plans. Self-catering means you arrive, unpack and the holiday starts immediately. Cook a slow breakfast in your own kitchen, eat out at the local spots one night and braai on your balcony the next. Your days, your pace.

Common questions from Cape Town travellers

Is the KZN North Coast warm enough to swim in winter? Yes. The sea on the Dolphin Coast holds at around 21°C to 23°C right through winter, warmer than the Atlantic off Cape Town gets in the middle of summer. The days are mild and mostly dry, which is exactly why winter is one of the busiest times of year here.

How far is Shakas Rock from the airport? About 20 to 30 minutes by car from King Shaka International. Get off the plane and you are at your beachfront front door before the holiday playlist finishes.

Is self-catering a good fit for families? It is the easiest way to travel with kids. Your own kitchen for fussy eaters and early breakfasts, space to spread out and a safe tidal pool a short walk away.

Planning your KZN beach holiday from Cape Town

If you are searching for KZN North Coast accommodation, self-catering on the Dolphin Coast, or simply somewhere warm to escape the Cape winter, this stretch of coast is hard to beat. 

If winter sun, warm water and your own space sound like the holiday you actually want, take a look at our apartments and let us hold some dates for you. Fly in from Cape Town, drive 20 minutes from King Shaka and let the North Coast do what it does best.