In 1828, when King Shaka Zulu led his army down the South Coast of KwaZulu Natal on a raid against the Pondos, he stopped to rest on the banks of a river. A servant fetched him a calabash of water and on tasting it, he declared "Kanti amanza mtoti" (So the water is sweet). It became known as the Amanzimtoti river.
Amanzimtoti is situated 27km south of Durban on South Africa's east coast and lies adjacent to the warm Indian Ocean. This is truly one of the last holiday resorts that has not lost the sole purpose of a holiday - to relax!
'Toti' as it's more commonly known to the locals, has a laid back community that welcomes holiday makers and businessmen alike and Durban international airport is only a 10 minute drive away.
As is common in KwaZulu Natal, Amanzimtoti is blessed with 12 months of excellent weather, ranging from hot summers to mild sunny winters.
If you've had enough of the miles of golden sand beaches, a host of activities await you in and around Amanzimtoti. Two golf courses are within five minutes of the beach. These are both par 72 courses and are kept in mint condition right through the year. A total of twelve golf courses are situated along the KwaZulu Natal South Coast from Amanzimtoti to the Wild Coast.
For those who feel lucky, the Wild Coast Sun, Suncoast and Sugarmill Casinos are less than an hour's drive away.
During the winter months of June and July, Sardines make their way up the KwaZulu Natal coast and give anglers and tourists a lot of fun. The coast between Amanzimtoti and Umkomaas, 12km south, makes one of the best fishing stretches in South Africa.
Children and adults alike can enjoy the water slides on Amanzimtoti's main beach. On the rainy days, children can be occupied by visiting 'Funland' which includes games like dodgems and ten pin bowling, among others.
A short 15km drive takes you to 'Crocworld' which is a must! The local bird sanctuary is also a very popular outing as is a visit to Durban and its uShaka Marine World Aquarium and water theme park.
For a little 'retail therapy' and to take advantage of the favourable exchange rate for overseas visitors, have a look at the Pavillion shopping centre in Westville, Durban, which is just a 20 minute drive away and a wonderful day out for the whole family. |
