Going coastal

1. Catch sardine fever
Every winter millions of sardines head en masse up the South Coast and coastal life bubbles with excitement. People line the beaches and vantage points to watch the thousands of swarming sea birds that dive from dizzy heights to catch fish. Hundreds of schools of dolphins thread through the water, sharks make their way in for a quick meal and fishers head out in boats, with nets and onto the rocks to get a piece of the action. Contact: Sardine hotline 082-284-9495.

2. Watch a shark dissection
Ever wanted to get up close to a shark? The Natal Sharks Board has an awesome multimedia display and then you get to watch a shark dissection, smelly guts and all. To see the live creatures in their own environment, as well as dolphins and sea birds, head out for a trip on the NSB's ski boat. Contact: Natal Sharks Board 031-566-0400, http://www.shark.co.za.

3. Raft the mighty
Tugela and Umkomaas rivers Climb into a kayak and conquer the white water on the province's two most powerful rivers. Spend half a day or up to four days paddling, and stay in tented accommodation on the rivers' banks. Contact: Zingela Safaris 036-354-7005, http://www.zingela-safaris.co.za; Umko Rafting 082-561-5660, http://www.umkorafting.co.za.

4. Feel the spray of the falls
Take the chain ladder to the top of the Drakensberg's Amphitheatre and stand at the lip of Africa's highest and the world's fourth-highest waterfall (and that's only measuring the longest of its three drops), the Tugela Falls. Alternatively, for a less dramatic 'fall', picnic at two of the Midlands' loveliest waterfalls at Howick and Karkloof. Contact: KZN Wildlife 033-845-1999, http://www.rhino.org.za; Howick Publicity 033-330-5305.

5. Surf's up
If your long board's gathering cobwebs, head on down to the Mr Price Pro (the old Gunston 500) at Long Beach in Durban. Join in the beach festivities every July and be inspired as some of the world's best surfers strut their stuff. Contact: Mr Price Pro http://www.mrpricepro.com.

6. Scuba do
Get a fish's-eye view of KZN's coastline and dive the coral reefs of Sodwana Bay, where more than 1 200 species of fish have been identified. Check out ragged tooth sharks at Aliwal Shoal off Umkomaas, or dive deeper for bigger sharks and pelagic fish at Protea Banks, which is off-shore from Shelly Beach. Contact: KZN Tourism 031-366-7500, http://www.kzn.org.za.

7. Search for whales
July to November is whale season that's when humpbacked and southern right whales make their way up to the warm waters off Mozambique to breed, before heading back down to Antarctica. Pack your binoculars into your beach bag, or get up close on a boat trip. Contact: KZN Tourism 031-366-7500, http://www.kzn.org.za.

8. Swim with the fish
If watching marine life from behind glass isn't exciting enough for you, then swim with the fish at uShaka Marine World. Or walk on the ocean floor. Or snorkel in a cage in the shark tank.... Contact: uShaka Marine World 031-328-8000, http://www.ushakamarineworld.co.za.

9. Watch the turtle migration
Between November and January, on moonless nights, female loggerhead and leatherback turtles heave their bodies onto the beach at Kosi Bay to lay their eggs. In January and February, the little turtles hatch and try to find their way to the Indian Ocean, running a gauntlet of predators and hazards. To see this ancient migration, take a walk to the beach with a KZN Wildlife ranger. Contact: KZN Wildlife at Sodwana Bay 035-571-0051.

10. Take to the water
View the ocean from a dolphin's point of view in a kayak and get nose to nose with those marine mammals. Contact: Glenmore Eco-Ventures 082-799-1935.

11. On the fly Break
Kamberg's early morning stillness with the whoosh of a rod. Even if trout fishing is not your thing, go for the spectacular view of Giant's Castle. Contact: KZN Wildlife 033-845-1999, http://www.rhino.org.za.

12. Go on a summer holiday
Pack the kids, the beach balls, sun cream, Lilo, beach towels, cricket bats, Frisbee and a good book and head off along the North or South Coast for a week-long beach holiday. Contact: KZN Tourism 031-366-7500, http://www.kzn.org.za.

13. Get back to nature
The Greater St Lucia Wetland Park is a World Heritage Site for good reason. There's great birding in the wetlands and walking trails along the lake's edge and through dune forests, with wonderful views over the lake system. You can take a boat tour on the Santa Lucia to watch hippos and crocodiles, or visit the crocodile centre. Or dive at Sodwana, fish at Cape Vidal or chill on the beach at Mapelane. Contact: KZN Wildlife 033-845-1999, http://www.rhino.org.za.

14. Amble through the dunes
Mpenjati Beach Reserve is a quiet spot with a lovely, short trail through the dune forest. The beach is usually devoid of people; head to the north side of the river where there's a cosy picnic spot. Contact: KZN Wildlife 033-845-1999, http://www.rhino.org.za.

15. Walk around Kosi Bay
As you circumnavigate the lakes system at Kosi Bay the scenery will change from wide, open beaches to dense mangroves. On the four-day hike you get to flirt with Mozambique, wade across eerie mangrove channels, go turtle spotting in the even-ings and snorkel in the estuary mouth. Contact: KZN Wildlife 033-845-1999, http://www.rhino.org.za.

16. Dine out at the harbour
Grab a bite to eat at a restaurant on Wilson's Wharf. Make sure you sit at a table outside so you can watch the yachts come and go, and see container ships being loaded and unloaded. Charlie Croft's serves delicious meals and the coffee at Zack's at the end of the pier is definitely worth a few cups. Contact: KZN Tourism 031-366-7500, http://www.kzn.org.za.

17. Pedal lagoon boats
Hire a pedal boat at Uvongo and cruise up to the waterfall that drops down into the lagoon. You can also hire pedal boats at Ramsgate make sure you reward your efforts afterwards with a waffle at the legendary Waffle House. Contact: Hibiscus Coast Tourism 039-312-2322, http://www.hibiscuscoast.kzn.org.za.

18. Brush up on your history
At Spioenkop Dam near Bergville you can swim, fish, powerboat, ski, jetski, paddle, sail almost any sport you'd associate with water. What makes it an interesting place to stay, though, is that the area is steeped in Anglo Boer War history. Info on the Battle of Spioenkop is available at the reserve's reception, but make sure you take a copy of The Boer War by Thomas Packenham to read. Contact: KZN Wildlife 033-845-1999, http://www.rhino.org.za.

19. Bird watch at Nsumo
Nsumo Pan in the east of Mkuze Game Reserve is a favourite spot for birders; this lovely water source is home to plenty of water birds as well as hippos and croco-diles. Tuck yourself into a hide and tick off the pink-backed pelican and whiskered tern. Contact: KZN Wildlife 033-845-1999, http://www.rhino.org.za.

20. Camp at Midmar
Half of Midmar Dam is a nature reserve and the other half is a recreational haven. That means you can put in your canoe and paddle right up to the zebras, impala and wildebeest that graze near the water. Back on the re-creation side you can braai the afternoon away while the kids splash about in the water, or learn to water ski, wind surf or kite surf. Or you can relax and do nothing at all. Contact: KZN Wildlife 033-845-1999, http://www.rhino.org.za.

More reasons to visit KZN

21. Go surfing along the province's 500 kilometre coastline. For a four-day wind and swell forecast SMS 'WH' (South Coast), 'WD' (Bluff, Durban) or 'WN' (North Coast) to 34010, or go to http://www.wavescape.co.za.
22. Go game fishing at Cape Vidal or Kosi Bay (KZN Wildlife 033-845-1999).
23. Climb the lighthouses at Port Shepstone, Cape Vidal, St Lucia and Umhlanga Rocks and enjoy the views out to sea (http://www.lighthouses.co.za).
24. Take a boat tour of Durban's harbour (KZN Tourism 031-366-7500, http://www.kzn.org.za).
25. Catch tiger fish on Jozini Dam (Pongola Tourism 034-413-1144).
26. Swim in an icy Drakensberg rock pool (KZN Wildlife 033-845-1999).
27. Learn to kite surf in Durban (Ocean 2 Air 031-301-1110, http://www.ocean2air.co.za).
28. Fish for bass and blue gill at Crystal Dam in Mount Currie Nature Reserve (KZN Wildlife 033-845-1999).
29. Camp at Umlalazi Nature Reserve and fish, go water skiing, wind surfing or take a walk through a mangrove swamp (KZN Wildlife 033-845-1999).
30. Wander through an old mine sweeper boat, tug and pilot boat at the Maritime Museum in Durban (031-311-2230).

This feature originally appeared in Getaway Magazine. For more, visit getawaytoafrica.co.za