Seeking the ultimate relaxing beach holiday? Look no further than Hibberdene on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal Province. This small seaside village has four swimming beaches, fringed by masses of green foliage peppered with bright hibiscus flowers and the occasional vervet monkey seen peering out from the trees.
The area surrounding Hibberdene is known as the Hibiscus Coast and where a wealth of beautiful links golf courses are located. The Mzumbe River runs through the village to form a tranquil lagoon and from here boats are launched for skiing and deep sea fishing, while the main north-south highway borders the western end of Hibberdene.
Hibberdene has a Blue Flag-appointed beach where cleanliness, amenities and safety are the criteria to achieve this status. The village has increased in popularity, particularly from the international community, who see Hibberdene and the perfect weather as an ideal summer vacation.
Top 6 reasons to visit Hibberdene
1. While away the daylight hours on the sandy beach and swim in the warm, inviting waves. The main beach’s esplanade has mini golf, a super tube and restaurant. Three of the beaches are patrolled by lifeguards and all are protected by shark nets.
2. Book a leisurely game of golf at the Port Shepstone Country Club. The 18-hole course is located alongside a river and visitors are welcome. If pressed for time, work on your short game at the 9-hole Mashie course at Blue Waters.
3. New to surfing? Why not take a one-on-one lesson with the guys at SA Surfari. The company provides the equipment (wetsuit and boards) and they should have you standing up in no time! Expert tutoring offered to anyone from 6 years and older.
4. Charter a boat to enjoy an exciting deep sea fishing trip to catch swordfish, cob and king mackerel. A licence is required and there are strict bag limits to allow the various species of fish time to recover.
5. Visit the Riverbend Crocodile Farm on a Sunday afternoon to watch a weekly feeding of the hundreds of Nile crocodiles on the farm. The venue has an education centre and presentations are given on the lifecycle of this enormous reptile.
6. Meet up with the locals at the Jolly Roger Fun Pub and Grub for a drink and excellent value meal. The restaurant overlooks the ocean and has a busy outdoor seating area.
Transport
The nearest international airport is Durban’s King Shaka International Airport, 129km from Hibberdene. An alternate airport is the Margate Airport for chartered flights, 46km away. Several car rental agencies are based at nearby Port Shepstone, the airport and Durban city centre, or you could order a vehicle online. There are a few taxi companies operating in Port Shepstone for transport in and around Hibberdene.
Did you know?
Once a year, the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal is struck by sardine fever when thousands of sardines travel up the coast. The fish are harried and chased by all sorts of predator, from whales to gannets with trawlers not far behind, scooping up thousands of fish in their nets. Sardines land up on the beaches and a carnival atmosphere ensues as people rush to collect sardines in any container available.
The South Coast Railway Company built a railway line along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline at the start of the 20th century and at the time, Hibberdene consisted only of a few scattered homes. Once a hotel was constructed, Hibberdene began to establish itself as a restful seaside resort.
