Bordered by the Umgeni River in the south and La Lucia in the north, the Virginia area of Durban’s coastline used to be a dune forest system. Traces of this is intricate still visible in the lush mangrove swamps and pristine nature reserves that are found here today.
The Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve: The reserve protects the shoreline north of the Blue Lagoon. It is home to a diverse range of indigenous birds, crabs, and other creatures that can be seen when you take a stroll along the series of boardwalks that are available within the reserve.
Umhlanga Rocks: This beautifully sandy beach is often depicted on postcards and in tourist brochures. It offers both sandy stretches and rocky patches, and there’s even a granny pool for the faint-hearted. What’s more, Umhlanga is renowned for being an utterly pristine and absolutely clean beach – and there’s even lifesavers to look after you. It’s perfect for long, leisurely sunset walks, and it’s also one of only seven Blue Flag beaches in the province.
Glenashley Beach: If you’re looking for an awesome spot to spend a laidback day with your family, then this it! This beautiful beach teams up with the warm Indian Ocean to enable you to enjoy a whole host of wonderful water sports – from swimming, surfing, boating, jet skiing, kite surfing and canoeing to stand-up paddle-boarding. Or, you could just opt to pack a picnic basket, umbrella and book and breathe in the fresh ocean air.
Virginia Beach: Virginia Beach is nestled between Umhlanga and Durban Central, and is also quite close to Virginia Airport. Because this beach is often very windy, it’s wildly popular among local kite surfers, who can’t get enough of the action here. You’ll also often find surf-ski paddling enthusiasts here, as the conditions are perfect for them. Other sports enthusiasts who flock here include anglers, who reel in some impressive catches from the shore, and dog-owners love strolling along this shoreline with their furry friends. It’s important to note that this is not a swimming beach.
Words: Riekie Human | Images: Supplied
