With a stretch of resplendent beach that extends for miles, the suburban area of Bluff consists of several smaller suburbs on the southern shores of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal Province. The suburbs are built on an ancient coastal dune system that ends at a promontory, an easily visible landmark for ships entering the harbour. The Bluff is the southern quay of Durban’s port entrance.
The Bluff is mostly plush residential homes and a yacht basin along with some industry interspersed and a naval base on Salisbury Island.
Holidaymakers are lured to the Bluff for the wide expansive beaches, warm sea and beachfront activities, and dolphin schools regularly swim close to shore. The Bluff is also within close proximity of the vibrant city centre, and the chilled Berea suburbs where the café society hang out.
Top 8 reasons to visit the Bluff
1. The Bluff has 3 exceptional swimming beaches; Garvies, Ansteys and Brighton Beach. The uShaka Beach nearby is a Blue Flag appointed beach. The large swells at Cave Rock make for good surfing, however, there is a shallow reef to avoid.
2. The gigantic uShaka Marine World theme park promises unending family fun. A TripAdvisor multi-award winner, the park has shark diving, a water park, dolphin and seal stadiums, a penguin rookery, restaurants, the list goes on…
3. Dress up for an outing at the races. The Greyville Racecourse holds horse race meetings twice weekly and the Friday evening night races are popular for the market-style meals and drinks on offer while enjoying the races.
4. The BAT Centre on the Esplanade features DJs and jazz musicians, drum circles and African art – a diverse mix of art forms worth experiencing.
5. You can take the self-guided walk through the 45ha Bluff Nature Reserve in the centre of the Wentworth suburb. The reserve has a pan, bird hides and several small mammals roaming the area. Keep an eye out for the elusive, and rarely seen, spotted genet.
6. Enjoy a round of golf at the 18-hole Bluff National Park Golf Club within a conservation area.
7. You could be forgiven for thinking you are in an Indian bazaar when you walk through Victoria Street Market where you are bombarded with delightful aromas wafting from incense and colourful bowls of spices on display.
8. Durban has more memorials and monuments than any other city in South Africa. You can get a map from the info centre and walk the city.
Transport
The Bluff is 50km south of Durban’s King Shaka International Airport. Car rental agencies operate out of Durban and King Shaka Airport or you can book your vehicle online. Traditional taxi companies are available throughout Durban but if you have the Uber app, just order a ride using your mobile phone. The city operates a bus service throughout Durban and outlying suburbs and there are 9 train stations within walking distance of Bluff residences for trips into Durban city centre.
Did you know?
South Africa’s first railway line was built in Durban in 1860 and ran from the city centre to the Point, a whole 3km journey!
Durban’s harbour entrance between the Point and the Bluff must be continually dredged to maintain a 13m low tide depth required to enable large container vessels to safely travel through the piers.
