Q1 2017/8

Dear Tourism Partner

It’s Summer Time and the South Coast is, as always, your affordable holiday destination of choice. This year we are putting on the biggest and best Summer Beach Festival ever, with a total of 100 beach event days over 11 beaches! Visitors also have a huge selection of coastal and hinterland activities for the whole family to enjoy. And to make your job easier, our members have put great Summer Specials together for you…

Hope to inspire you. Kay GM: Marketing & Events, Ugu South Coast Tourism #WeDoTourism

Sure Bets - the South Coast’s Lilizela KZN Award Finalists & Winners

This year the KZN South Coast has 7 provincial Lilizela Awards finalists that are lauded as the industry’s “Best of the Best”, as voted for mainly by the consumer for service excellence, with 2 establishments going through to the national awards finals in October.

Days at Sea Beach Lodge – Country House KZN WINNER

A perfect 5-star luxury hideaway, Days at Sea Beach Lodge has 6 coastal designer suites to tantalise the senses. Relax in an unspoilt, yet artistic setting on Trafalgar’s Blue Flag beach. Sea view deck massages, a fusion-style restaurant that caters for your personal preferences, and the exquisite pool make the experience unforgettable.

The Gorge Private Game Lodge & Spa – Lodge KZN WINNER

The serene 5-star The Gorge Private Game Lodge & Spa is a KZN Lilizela 2017 Lodge finalist. Guests are invited to unwind at this immaculate lodge in the heart of the spectacular Oribi Gorge. The Gorge Private Game Lodge & Spa offers unsurpassed luxury, hospitality, conference facilities and fine dining.

Umthunzi Hotel & Conference – Hotel KZN Finalist

A contemporary luxury hotel at 3-star affordability makes Umthunzi Hotel & Conference, in Umtentweni near , a favourite for families to unwind at the coast, conference organisers, as well as couples who would like to tie the knot in style. The 30° South restaurant offers ambient meals with stunning sea views.

TO Strand Beach Resort – Caravan & Camping KZN Finalist

TO Strand Beach Resort offers 4-star campsites and chalets in Leisure Bay. With plenty for the whole family to do on site from volleyball to fishing, nature or MTB trails, pools and pool to kayaking and much more, there is never a dull moment. The resort also has a shop, ATM and restaurant for the ultimate convenience.

Wild5Adventures – Action & Adventure Visitor Experience

Wild5Adventures, arguably the South Coast’s most famous visitor attraction, offers 5 incredible adventure activities that will turn your adrenaline up high. Take on the world’s highest gorge swing, face wild water rafting, abseil down Lehr’s Falls, walk the wild suspension bridge and slide 160m above the ground. If, after getting your fix, you’d like to relax with your friends, why not “go ballistix” with paintball?

Coral Tree Colony Bed & Breakfast – Guest House KZN Finalist

Coral Tree Colony Bed & Breakfast offers 6 private en-suite bedrooms in luxury accommodation that overlooks the scenic Country Club golf course. For the discerning leisure or business traveler, Coral Tree Colony B&B plays to your needs. In the mornings, enjoy a sumptuous breakfast on the spacious verandah appreciating nature and in the evening retire to your 100% pure cotton percale linen king-size bed, an all-round royal treat.

Summer Place – Self-catering Exclusive Finalist

In between and Port Shepstone, you will find Summer Place, a family holiday gem with 4 self-catering, air-conditioned beach cottages. The quiet beach offers endless entertainment for all family members. Ample, secure parking and amenities are provided on site.

100 Days of Summer Beach Events – Biggest Ever Beach Festival!

This year, the South Coast Summer Beach Tour in December will be even bigger and better, with a total of 100 beach entertainment days! Eleven of the 39 beaches on the South Coast will host the summer beach festival from to Port Edward, including Margate, Southport, Sunwich Port, Hibberdene, St Michaels on Sea, Ramsgate, , Southbroom and Umtentweni. Part of the fun and games will include music festivals, competitions and giveaways, live radio broadcasts and a much-awaited Southbroom New Year’s Eve Party that will rock Southbroom from 6pm throughout the night in KZN’s largest and loudest New Year’s Eve party – revellers will not want to miss it, tickets are on sale.

Summer of the Best Activities for Holidaymakers

Golf – the South Coast has 11 distinguished golf courses, which give rise to its long-standing reputation as ’s Golf Coast. Play at inimitable golf courses such as grand dame Selborne Park Golf Estate or South Africa’s first golf estate, San Lameer; popular Umdoni Country Club or scenic Southbroom Country Club; parkland Port Shepstone Country Club or hospitable Harding Country Club; Scottburgh Golf Club or Port Edward Country Club; Margate Country Club or neighbouring Umkomaas Golf Club or the championship Wild Coast Country Club.

Diving & Shark Cage Diving – The South Coast’s underwater treasures are world-renowned with both Aliwal Shoal and Protea Banks top diving and shark cage diving spots. Shark cage diving offers a thrill with lifetime bragging rights and scuba diving is spectacular, with multiple shark species per dive including diving with tiger sharks

High adventure – Award-winning adventure operator, Wild5Adventures offers river rafting, abseiling, gorge swing, suspension bridge and paintball; at Lake Eland Game Reserve, get up to 120km/hr on Africa’s longest and fastest zipline across the Oribi Gorge or do a 4x4 trail; at Umtamvuna River Lodge top adventure activities range from cable wakeboarding to tube rides, jet ski courses to stand up paddling and many more and on the doorstep you have the longest water tubes in South Africa.

Mountainbiking, hiking & running trails – Plenty MTB, hiking and running trails through scenic forests, plantations and coastal reserves abound, check out Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve, Rocky Bay Resort, Burry Stander Bike Park, Lake Eland Private Game Reserve, Ingeli Forest Lodge, Clearwater Trails, Bushbuck Trail, Beaver Creek, Ramsgate Marine Ramble, Uvongo Park Run, the Red Desert and Wild2SouthCoast Walk. Check out the exciting trail events on our calendar.

Fishing – An angler’s paradise, the South Coast offers plenty unique beaches for rock and surf fishing as well as multiple skiboat launch sites and boat charter companies specializing in deep sea fishing for those who prefer to take on the deep blue. Some of the fish that you can expect to catch from the shore, rocks or piers, and depending on time of year and area, are shad, Garrick, bronze beam, brusher, rock cod, blacktail, cob and karanteen. Game species include yellowfin tuna, amberjack, king mackerel (couta), dorado, skipjack, sailfish, marlin, whahoo, sarda sarda, bonito, yellowtail and green jobfish.

Culture & Heritage – The South Coast’s rich Zulu culture is all around, from awe-inspiring Zulu dancing & youth singing performances to unique township experiences such as the Umzumbe Time Travel experience. Why not try the newly launched Great Drives Out for self-drive excursions into the hinterland? Enquire at local Visitor Information Centres or consult the Southern Explorer website.

Birding – The South Coast offers a variety of habitats from coastal and wetland environments to forest, woodland and grassland. The Afromontane forests and the rich subtropical forests overlap to give rise to diverse and unique birdlife, incl. many rare bird species, see a list of over 380 species. Find the Cape Vulture and Knysna Woodpecker in Oribi Gorge and Umtamvuna Nature Reserve; the Black-rumped Buttonquail, Grass Owl, Broad-tailed Warbler, Pale-crowned Cristicola and Short-tailed Pipit in the Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve. Weza Ngele Forest is home to Cape Parrots, Orange Thrushes, Bush Blackcaps and Forest Buzzards and in the nearby grasslands you’ll find Blue Swallows. Common forest residents include the Burchell’s Coucal, Narina Trogon, Green Twinspot and Grey Waxbill.

Agri tours - Farm tours are fun for everyone. The South Coast has a great agricultural heritage supplying produce such as bananas, macadamia nuts, sugarcane and coffee nationally and internationally. From the boutique colonial-styled farm stall, The Outlook Trading Post, you can embark on a fascinating journey discovering the most sophisticated banana packshed in KwaZulu- Natal. Learn everything there is to know about bananas, of course, but also gain an insight into the region’s history, weather and socio-economic background. For coffee lovers, visit the world’s southernmost coffee estate, Beaver Creek for a Crop to Cup coffee tour. A family-owned business, Beaver Creek tours and coffee ensure a personal touch. Here you will learn the distinctive flavours of the world’s coffee regions and the processes involved in creating the perfect cup. Finish off sampling coffee and purchasing a range of the world’s best coffees.

Get hold of activity operators.

Fam Trips on the South Coast: As part of our ongoing promotion of the South Coast, we host exciting and informative fam trips throughout the year. If you’d like to join us on any of these trips, please let us know.

The Outdoor Eco Adventure and Travel Expo: As a major outdoor and adventure destination, Ugu South Coast Tourism and its members will be exhibiting at the Outdoor Eco Adventure and Travel Expo, to be held in Kyalami, Gauteng in October 2017. Please pop in to discuss any opportunities with us.

Golf packaging: The South Coast, with its 11 golf courses, is also known as the Golf Coast and has had this distinction for a very long time – San Lameer, South Africa’s first golf estate, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year! If your business involves golf packages, please let us know, so we can talk golf.

Action-packed events on the South Coast: For your clients who are into mountain biking; trail hiking and running; or motor racing, there are multiple events on the South Coast that will satisfy their thrill seeking this summer. Check out our full events calendar for details and don’t forget the upcoming South Coast Orchid and Exotic Plant Fair and the Ramsgate Book & Art Festival for those who like a quieter pursuit.

The Summer Season is here and set to sizzle with the following specials adding great deals to what is always a spectacular, fun-filled, festive time on the South Coast:

PALM BEACH CHALETS – SAVE R550 PER NIGHT From 9 October to 6 December, chalets at Palm Beach Chalets are only R650 per night. The whole establishment only caters for maximum 12 people, so you can avoid the crowds. A private garden overlooks the magnificent Mpenjati lagoon and Indian Ocean, where guests can picnic or enjoy sundowners. T’s and C’s apply.

SADHI BEACH HOUSE – STAY MIN. 3 NTS FOR R350 PPPN Stay minimum 3 nights at Sadhi Beach House in Glenmore, near Port Edward and pay only R350 p/p per night. T’s and C’s apply.

LEARN TO SURF – R1250 Learn to surf this summer! At either Umzumbe Surf Camp or Southbroom Surf School, you can learn to surf in 5 lessons. Surf coach and all equipment included at R1250 p/p. Beginners to advanced. T’s and C’s apply.

SHARK CAGE DIVING KZN – R900 p/p incl. complimentary underwater photos & DVD of your trip Shark Cage Diving KZN is offering a summer special for R900 p/p and will include complimentary professional underwater photos and a DVD of your trip. T’s and C’s apply.

VENTURE INN – 10% DISCOUNT Quote “SCTSummer” in order to qualify for a 10% discount on accommodation at Venture Inn until 10 December 2017. T’s and C’s apply.

DOLFINVIEW SELF-CATERING ACCOMMODATION – STAY MIN. 2 NTS & GET 2 MEALS FREE Get 2 meals at local restaurant with every confirmed booking for 2 or more nights at Dolfinview Self-catering Accommodation. For groups of 6 minimum, stay 5 nights and get 2 nights complimentary. T’s and C’s apply.