Amanzimtoti at a glance
Amanzimtoti is a coastal town just south of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. According to local legend, when the Zulu king Shaka led his army down the south coast on a raid against the Pondos in 1828, he rested on the banks of a river. When drinking the water, he exclaimed "Kantiamanzimtoti" (isiZulu: "So, the water is sweet"). The river came to be known as Amanzimtoti ("Sweet Waters"). The Zulu word for "sweet" is actually mnandi, but, as Shaka's mother had the name Nandi, he invented the word toti to replace mnandi out of respect not to wear out her name. Locals frequently refer to the town as "Toti". In 2009 the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Geographical Names Committee recommended changing the town's name to aManzamtoti/eManzamtoti.
Description and facilities
Amanzimtoti is renowned for its warm weather and its beaches. It is a popular tourist destination, particularly with surfers, and the annual sardine run attracts many to the beaches. Many South Africans flock here during school holidays and on long weekends. Its location on the N2 national highway, approximately 11 km from Durban International Airport made it a convenient destination, however the Airport closed on 1 May 2010 as the new King Shaka International Airport opened to the north of Durban.
There are well established sports facilities in Amanzimtoti, situated at Hutchison park. Included is a tennis-, squash-, cricket-, rugby-, soccer-, cycling- and bowls club.
Amanzimtoti has several malls, arcades and a water park. Arbour Crossing, a major new shopping development, opened on November 20, 2008, with a Pick 'n Pay Hypermarket being the key tenant. The Galleria, a second development nearby, opened on 26 November 2009, with 198 shops including a bowling alley, a skating rink, an 11-screen Nu Metro cinema (including a 3D cinema) and key tenants; Checkers Hyper, Edgars, Game and Woolworths.
The town of Amanzimtoti offers you white sandy beaches for long stretches, safe swimming and surfing facilities, beautiful family picnic spots, sfae fishing grounds, budget self-catering family units, top class sporting accommodation and affordable family accommodation, local cultural heritage, places of tourist interest, choice of cheap shopping facilities, family restaurants and exciting holiday makers nightlife.
Amanzimtoti is also well known for surfing, paddle skiing and cheap family Ski boat trips that can also be arranged.
For the more adventurous traveller the world famous Aliwal Shoal diving spot is a short distance from accommodation for diving and world famous as one of the top ten dive sites in the world, the shoal affords an exceptional undersea diving paradise.
The Banana Express train is a functioning narrow gauge steam train running between Port Shepstone accommodation and Paddock accommodation. The Banana Express leaves on Wednesdays and Saturdays at ten in the morning. The Banana Express climbs and winds its way inland through large banana plantations and lush green fields of sugar cane, twisting and turning almost doubling back on itself as it climbs the steep hills and valleys.
There's a wide choice of budget family shopping facilities, cheap family entertainment, budget restaurants and if you still have some energy left by night time, you can enjoy the exciting nightlife whilst finding overnight accommodation.
Diving accommodation for the world famous Aliwal Shoal, which is situated at the town of Umkomaas, is a popular scuba spot for adventure holidaymakers, being recognized as one of the one of the ten best dive sites in the World. The scuba diving sites include reefs, 2 wrecks, and one of the scarest attractions, "Raggie Cave" where scuba divers will get a chance to mingle with ragged tooth sharks of the warm Indian Ocean.
Golf Courses accommodation, close by the local Amanzimtoti Golf Course, UmkomaasGolf Course, Umbogintwini Golf Course, Scottburgh Country Club and the Selborne Country Club. The Kwa-Zulu Natal South Coast boasts some of the cheapest golf course accommodation with their indigenous coastal fauna. The courses all offer a spectacular ocean view making for a unique golfing experience whilst in Amanzimtoti.
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