This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Ballito.
About forty kilometers north of Durban is Ballito, South Africa, a fairly typical South African seaside town. Developers have had a field day here over the last few years, putting up multi-story apartments and hotels along the seafront. The authorities have still, however, managed to squeeze in a nice two-and-a-half-kilometer boardwalk between the buildings and the shore. Ballito, just over sixty years old, was founded in the mid-twentieth century as a sugar cane concession. It is now home to three shopping malls! La Lucia and Gateway Malls are the ones to head for if you are looking for public transport to onward destinations, as they house the minibus/taxi stations. For those going further afield, King Shaka International Airport is just twenty kilometers away.
Ballito is well-known for its surf; indeed, Ballito is home to the world's longest continually running professional surfing event. The Ballito Pro has been running since the late sixties and takes place in June/July every year over a two-week period. It attracts top surfers from around the world and has become more than just a surf event these days, with live music, sports events, and a festival atmosphere. Accommodation needs to be booked well in advance for this period, particularly the Ballito, South Africa hostels, as the cheaper beds are the first to sell out.
There is a fair choice of Ballito, South Africa hostel accommodation, with upwards of a hundred dorm beds, all catering mostly to the surf crowd. All of them have self-catering facilities and are all close to shops and restaurants. Whichever hostel you choose, you'll also be no more than a five-minute walk from the beach. Willard Beach is the preferred swimming beach; Boulder is the surfers' hangout.
This is a useful stop on the journey along the north coast of Kwazulu-Natal, although probably not an essential one. It's handy for getting stuff done, with its abundance of modern conveniences, and it does still retain a little of its seaside-town charm.
Written by local enthusiast for Ballito hostels
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