The family-friendly coastal town of Amanzimtoti offers residents everything they need – from good schools, to excellent amenities, to reasonably priced property.
Known for its many beautiful beaches and invitingly warm water, the coastal town of Amanzimtoti is a hugely popular holiday destination for locals and foreigners alike. The first house in the area is thought to have been built in 1895, and the first hotel in 1898.
Situated 25km south of Durban, Toti (as it is affectionately known) is only a 15-minutes’ drive from Durban, making it a holiday destination that in-landers visit to escape the Highveld cold. Legend has it that King Shaka named the area after drinking “sweet water” from a nearby stream in 1828.
Family-friendly Toti offers something for everyone. “There are beaches, a lagoon, a seaside water world, swimming, snorkelling, diving, surfing, kitesurfing, easy parking and easy access to restaurants, clubs, bars and nightlife, fishing, bowling, biking, golf and tennis! For shopping, there’s everything from beachside boutiques and stalls to the sprawling Galleria and Arbour Crossing malls,” says resident Indy Goduka.
Toti also boasts diverse fauna and flora (sources indicate KwaZulu-Natal’s first Arbour Day was held in Toti) and a number of nature reserves where visitors can enjoy everything from self-guided trails and birdwatching to mountain biking and picnicking. The reserves are home to numerous rare and endangered species, a wealth of birdlife, as well as Cape clawless otters, small antelope, frogs, fish and butterflies.
A highlight on the Toti calendar is the annual Sardine Run which generally occurs between June and August. Billions of sardines appear creating a feeding frenzy for dolphins, sharks, birds and whales. Suburbs in the area include Doonside, Doon Heights, Kingsburgh, Warner Beach, Athlone Park, Winklespruit, Isipingo Hills and Illovo Beach, with the most sought-after areas being Toti Berea, Sea Side (Athlone Park) and Illovo Beach’s Panorama Park.
Toti also has a number of good schools and a mix of seaside apartments, complexes, spacious family homes and the occasional mansion. As a result of offering refuge to many evacuees during WWII, Amanzimtoti still has traces of mixed heritage (most notably Irish and Italian). The area is also home to many retirees who are drawn to attractive offerings of Toti’s numerous retirement facilities.
The commute to shopping malls and smaller shops is very convenient as everything is close. My family and I have been very happy here” -Indy Goduka, resident.
“I have lived in Athlone Park for more than 20 years, and am still in the area. It’s generally an upmarket area with gracious old homes, very good security, green spaces and due to the high number of older people, a quieter suburb. Although some people in the area keep to themselves, most of the community is friendly and open-hearted. The commute to shopping malls and smaller shops is very convenient as everything is close. My family and I have been very happy here.” -Indy Goduka.
Dine out:
- Friends Restaurant on Kingsway for amazing seafood
- Food Story Deli at the Book Boutique for delicious bakery and café fare
- The Toti Brewing Company for tasty craft beers and great food
- Four Walls for appetizing breakfast and lunch
- Indian Origin for incredible Indian cuisine
Giorgio’s for sumptuous Italian food with style
Things to do:
Ice skating, tenpin bowling, go-karting, bingo at Galleria Mall
- Splash Water World
- Trail running and mountain biking at Amanzimtoti Sports Ground
- Kite Surfing Warner Beach
- Action soccer at Kingsway High School
- 12km horse trails along the beach
Park Run on Saturday morning
Schools nearby:
Moyeni Pre-Primary
- Amanzimtoti Primary and High schools
- Kingsway High
- Kuswag Hoërskool
This article originally appeared in Neighbourhood, Sunday Times.
