Why the Kwazulu Natal South Coast is a great surfing destination.

Every surfer's imagination gets a bit wet when thinking about travelling to exotic locations around the world to surf world class waves with their best mates. Destinations like Tavarua Island resort in Fiji being on every surfers bucket list, or drinking an ice cold Bintang under a palm tree in Padang Padang Indonesia waiting for an epic swell to arrive. Many of us endeavour to quench our insatiable thirst for that perfect wave by being in the right place at the right time, but lets face it, surf travel in this current economic climate in South Africa is only for a select few who can afford the costs of traveling with a weaker Rand.

The good news is that South Africa has got over 2500km of pristine coastline that stretches from the desert border with Namibia on the Atlantic coast, southwards around the tip of Africa, then north to the border with subtropical Mozambique on the Indian Ocean.

The Kwazulu Natal South Coast sitting on the eastern coast of South Africa on the warm Indian Ocean is a little slice of paradise that has a bountiful amount of quality surf spots.

The Kwazulu Natal South Coast is blessed to have waves all year round, with mainly wind swells in the summer months bringing messy but fun size waves to enjoy in warm subtropical waters. Winter is when this stretch of coastline comes alive, with solid ground swell pounding the coastline, with this part of the coast being wild and exposed the wave has some powerful grunt behind it.

Here is our pick of surf spots you should check out while making a surf trip to this beautiful part of the world.

Scottburgh point has a fairly exposed point break that has quite reliable surf and can work at any time of the year. Offshore winds blow from the west/south west. Ground swells and wind swells are likely and the ideal swell direction is from the south. It can be quite a busy spot.

St Mikes, known for it's big powerful right handers that grind off the point and run all the way to the beach. St Mikes is a reef point break and sand bar rolled into one. The swell hits a rocky reef on the corner of the tidal pool and then jacks up into a long wall that freight trains onto the beach.

(Photo credit Sergio Marucchi).

Lucien is a left hand point break. Good summer break, protected from the north east wind. Good shore break. Good-quality sand-bottomed point that refracts around a grassy hill lined with rocks. As with most South Coast point breaks, likes mild Westerlies and a 3-6 ft south ground swell.

Southbroom is a good quality sand bottomed point break that wraps around a grassy hill lined with rocks. Like most South Coast point breaks, it requires a light South Westerly and offers a 3-6 ft swell.

Trafalgar is a fun beach break, with a big wave right hander that breaks off a reef further out off the tidal pool. Famous for nearby marine fossil beds, Trafalgar beach is a fun beach break, with a big wave right hander that breaks off a deep bombora reef on the outside. Long paddle out through pounding sandbars. Holds moderate South West winds.