Travel Adviser : One, two, three… Jump – Family holidays at KwaZulu-Natal’s Coast

WHERE TO STAY

$ to $$ Chestnut Cottage in Umhlanga Rocks offers B&B accommodation in a
quiet suburb. Tel 031-566-1151, e-mail chestnutcottage@worldonline.co.za,
web http://www.chestnutcottage.co.za

$ to $$$ Beachbreak House in Umdloti can accommodate a family of six and is
pet friendly. Tel 031-568-1876, e-mail marts@saol.com,
web wheretostay.co.za/beachbreak.

$$ to $$$ Renting a villa in Zimbali is surprisingly affordable – and you get
your own golf cart. Tel Valda Mhr on 083-233-3997, e-mail valdamohr@mweb.co.za.

$$$ Petite Provence in Salt Rock offers B&B accommodation that is family
friendly and a five-minute walk from the beach. Tel 032-525-5316, e-mail info@petiteprovence.co.za,
web http://www.petiteprovence.co.za.

$$ Sea Cottage in Zinkwazi offers several comfortable self-catering cottages
and direct access to the beach. Tel 083-265-9631, e-mail wbalcomb@polka.co.za,
web http://www.seacottage.co.za.

$$ The Hippo Inn in Richards Bay offers affordable accommodation for holidaymakers
and business travellers. Tel 082-801-0457, e-mail gina@hippoinn.co.za,
web http://www.hippoinn.co.za.

WHERE TO TAKE THE KIDS

Ushaka Marine World is right on the Durban Beachfront. Entry to Sea World (with
dolphin shows). Tel 031-328-8000 or web http://www.ushakamarineworld.co.za.

The Natal Sharks Board offers boat trips every day from Wilson’s Wharf in Durban.
Call 082-403-9206 to book. Shark dissections are held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays
and Thursdays at the Sharks Board headquarters in Umhlanga Rocks (R25 a person,
R12 for children under 12). Tel 031-566-0435 or web
http://www.shark.co.za.

Visits to Umhlanga Rocks Lighthouse and Coopers Lighthouse can be organised
with SA Lighthouse Adventure Tour Operations. Tel 021-449-2400 or web http://www.transnetnationalportsauthority.net.

Ballito Microlight School offers flips. Book on 082-659-5550 or e-mail microlight@yebo.co.za.

Cane Cutters near Salt Rock offers quad-biking, mountain biking and canoe trails.
Tel Paddy on 032-947-0851, e-mail microlight@yebo.co.za,
or web http://www.microlights.co.za.

Crocodile Creek, 12 km outside Ballito, is open every day except Saturday between
09h30 and 17h00. Tel 032-944-3845 or e-mail crocodilecreek@-mweb.co.za.

Flag Farm Animal Farm outside Salt Rock is open every day from 09h00 to 16h30.
Tel 032-947-2018, e-mail fosgreen@mweb.co.za,
or web http://www.flaganimalfarm.co.za.

Contact Sugar Bay for their specials. Tel 032-485-3778, e-mail info@sugarbay.co.za
or web http://www.sugarbay.co.za.

THE VEHICLE WE USED

“You’ll attract attention,” says the X-Trail advertising brochure.
“Be followed by admiring glances,” it continues. True enough, but
unless you’re an aspirant movie star, that’s all secondary to the pleasure of
driving the X-Trail. It’s a tough and powerful vehicle, but it handles you with
care and does everything you ask it to.

On the freeway, it was smooth and fast with plenty of acceleration and cornered
surprisingly well for a big vehicle. As for off-road performance, the road to
Crocodile Creek may be torture for sedans, but was pure fun in an X-Trail. Fuel
efficiency is very respectable at around 7.6 litres/ 100 km for the 2.2 l diesel
engine.

You could easily get used to the leather seats and steering wheel, the six-CD
shuttle and six-speed gearbox, the sunroof that’s big enough to give all your
passengers a tan and the cup holders that cool your drinks. On a more prac-tical
note, the rear seats fold down to provide a totally flat floor – great for transporting
dogs and bicycles.

The Nissan X-trail is available in four models: 2.2 l 4×4 diesel (R323 500),
2.5 l 4×4 petrol (R313 500), also available as an automatic (R324 800) and a
2 l 4×2 petrol (R242 600). For more information, web http://www.nissan.co.za.