Beaches
Pipeline beach

Pipeline beach is popular with locals as a swimming and surfing location with plenty of spots for those who wish to braai or picnic. Alternatively, head to the restaurant for a bite and a refreshing dip in the fresh-water pool nearby.

Wildlife & Bird Watching
Pipeline Coastal Park, The

One of several popular areas to visit around Amanzimtoti, Pipeline Coastal Park is an elongated strip of tropical paradise along the Indian Ocean. It has lush vegetation that features Strelitzia nicolai, Mimusops caffra and Brachylaena discolor.

Wildlife & Bird Watching
Ilanda Wilds Nature Reserve

Situated along the Amanzimtoti River, the Ilanda Wilds is a small 14 hectares nature reserve that consists of a richly vegetated patch of riverine and coastal scarp forest inhabited by more than 120 various tree and shrub species including the rare Fluted Milkwood and Natal Elm tree.

Three self-guided trails within the reserve will delight visitors with prolific birdlife and probable sightings of vervet monkeys. The trails are well laid out and each cover a distance of about 1 kilometre.

Of historical interest, there is a plaque in the reserve mounted on stone, where King Shaka apparently tasted the river water and gave the town of Amanzimtoti its name, "place of sweet water".

Park visitors can also enjoy the picnic and braai spots.

Wildlife & Bird Watching
Umbogavango Nature Reserve

According to SA-Venues.com, the 36-hectare nature reserve is ‘like something out of a story that the passage of time forgot’ with ‘the thick overhead canopy of forest, the tangle of creepers, the slatted bamboo bridge at Dick's Crossing just below the bird hide, alongside which a grove of arum lilies grow in spring, and the odd little water hole combine to form a haven for birds.’

There are two trails that lead through the coastal forest and a longer trail to the dam system, passing a large plantation of exotic trees where you can spot raptors like the black sparrowhawk. Three hides along the edge of the dams gives one better access to the water.

Wildlife & Bird Watching
Umdoni Bird Sanctuary
(also known as Amanzimtoti Bird Park)

This wonderful family attraction bird park sprawls across 4,5km hectares of landscaped gardens and boasts a birdlife of more than 150 species.

Visitors can either enjoy the calls of birds from the lush gardens or tea garden that overlooks the pond, or the more adventurous can head off on a self-guided trail through the indigenous riverine forest.

The park also features picnic areas and a number of bird hides.

Wildlife & Bird Watching
Vumbuka Nature Reserve

031 949 2081 – bookings need to be made in advance

Another birdlife gem, Vumbuka Nature Reserve is situated within the factories of the Industrial Park of Amanzimtoti. Walk through the indigenous forest with the opportunity to spot a multitude of species.

Experiences
Crocworld Conservation Centre

039 976 1103

Come meet Henry, the world's oldest surviving crocodile who, born is 1900, is over 120-years old. He killed several men and children before he was captured in 2003, but according to a sign around his enclosure, still has a ‘sweet tooth for children’.

Henry is 4m long and weighs 750kg; he has 10 wives, who produce over 400 babies a year.

A great excursion for the family, there are many things to see and do here with feeds Tuesday to Sundays and you can go into the hatchings section to see the babies. There is also an animal farm and a bird enclosure.

When you have built up your own appetite, dine at the Fish Eagle Café.

Experiences
Swim with sharks

Blue Wilderness, Scottburgh, 071 705 8518

Delve into the mystical shark waters and an exhilarating adventure suited to your level of comfort, with a choice of shark cage dive, swim with sharks or shark SCUBA dive.

Suitable for anyone over eight years old, the expedition takes about 2,5 hours with the opportunity to see blacktip sharks, tiger sharks, dusky sharks and ragged tooths, as well as the odd dolphin and whale, depending on the time of year.

Golf
Selborne Park Golf Estate

039 975 8500

The world class parkland 18-hole golf course with its beautifully manicured fairways was designed by Denis Barker around one of only two privately owned coastal forests. Selborne Park Golf Estate is a challenging but exhilarating course that will test your abilities while you enjoy the gorgeous sea views and glimpses of the indigenous wildlife.

Wildlife & Bird Watching
TC Robertson Nature Reserve

074 792 0605

The TC Robertson Nature Reserve lies on the edge of Scottburgh, on the south bank of the Mapambanyoni River.

Mpambanyoni means 'where birds gather' and the 60 hectares of land is home to 180 species of bird, as well as the blue and grey duiker.

Park visitors can also enjoy the picnic spots.

Beaches
Ramsgate Beach

Located in the quaint village of Ramsgate, the picturesque beach is an escape from some of the other bustling beaches on the South Coast. That said, the quieter beach is equipped for launching ski-boats and has a large tidal pool and lagoon for great water activities and swimming.

Experiences
Butterfly Valley

073 422 5357 / 072 235 3688

A fun and educational outing for the whole family, Butterfly Valley is located in Ramsgate.

The butterfly farm specialises in South African butterflies and because they breed its own, are able to present the whole butterfly lifecycle to visitors.

Dining
Pistols Saloon and Wild West Museum

039 316 8463

It’s no joke, Huckleberry the donkey is a familiar face and regular to Pistols Saloon – he drinks cold drinks at the bar and munches on carrots.

Pistols is a family friendly restaurant and wild west-themed pub, which also has a museum next door, with lots of cowboy memorabilia and information about Indians and the ‘Most Wanted’ criminals of that era, including Billy the Kid and Frank and Jesse James.

There is no horsing around in this pub, with its no swearing rule. If you let one slip, you are fined R2, which goes to the SPCA and a worthy cause.

Dining
The Waffle House

039 314 9424 / manager@wafflehouse.co.za

The iconic eatery has been serving wholesomely fresh Belgian waffles since 1991 and has a view overlooking the Ramsgate Lagoon, with a quaint wooden bridge accessing the beach below.

Great care is taken in the preparation of all dishes on the waffle and breakfast menus, using quality ingredients and organically grown fruit and vegetables where possible.

You can also visit the deli on the property and purchase the same organic foods used at the restaurant.

Open Monday to Sunday between 08h00 and 17h00.

* Recommended by previous Wild Coast Sun guests.

Experiences
Ramsgate Whale Deck (Whale Watching)

From the Ramsgate Whale Deck, you have spectacular views of the main beach, lagoon and tidal pool. It is also the perfect spot for whale watching all year round and the annual migration of the Humpback whale, which occurs between May and September.

Spectators can also enjoy the delightful antics of resident common and bottlenose dolphins, as well as the annual Sardine Run during the winter months.

Experiences
Umtentweni Whale Deck (Whale Watching)

Another great deck to watch the migration of the Humpback and Southern Right whales traveling to Mozambique.

The deck falls part of the Umtentweni Conservancy, which was established in 2007 to protect and promote natural heritage within the greater Umtentweni area