Hello and welcome to the first edition of What’s Happening: Dolphin Coast!

I hope you find something useful in here today.

Please email through anything you’d like me to add, or any Facebook/Instagram pages I should monitor. I’d love to make this a genuinely useful local guide each week.

Enjoy!

— Ryan

Best casual beach times this week: the sea is usually calmest around low and high tide — check the closest highlighted time before heading out:

Our beaches have dangerous rip currents so it is recommended you only swim where lifeguards are present, and keep yourself in the water between the 🚩 lifeguard flags 🚩.

Water quality E. coli counts have stayed in the ideal range the past two weeks. The table below is simplified from the full test results produced by Ballito UIP.

Willard Beach, Ballito — Ballito Open '26; 3 day surf contest for men and women, with points and prize money; beach will be packed for this one

Ohana, Umhlali Country Club — Kiddies Movie Night: K-Pop Demon Hunters 6:30PM, R100/child incl. food

Unit 4 Makers Yard, Umhlali — Thursday paint & coffee from 1:30PM; materials and tea/coffee included; R320; no experience; bookings or walk-ins (also 16 & 23 Jul)

Tiger’s Milk, Ballito — France vs Morocco at 10PM; booking recommended

Col’Cacchio Salt Rock — Creative Cub Workshop 11AM-1PM; build a bear & pizza, R499/child; tickets required

iLembe Auditorium, KwaDukuza — Battle of the DJs 10AM; registration 8:30-9:45AM, bring a USB; winner headlines Ballito Pro main concert

Durban Skydive Centre, Tinley Manor — World Skydiving Day record attempt; tandem and licensed skydivers count

Ballito Bowl, Ballito — O'Neill Skate Jam 2–6PM; registration 12PM; Groms & Open, R30K prize

NG Kerk, Ballito — Market032 Car Boot Sale 8AM-12PM; second-hand bargains; pancakes & vetkoek (also 18 & 25 Jul)

Karibu Farm, Umhlali — Music on the Farm Ft. Ross Learmonth gates open 12PM, R250 adults, R100 kids; Springboks vs Scotland on the big screen

Karibu Farm, Umhlali — Rhino Open Padel Tournament; mixed format, R10,000 prize pool; ticket required

Ballito Farmers Market, Ballito — every weekend good vibes and lots to see and do for the whole family; live music from The Honeymooners Band @ 9:30AM

Zimbali Lakes, Ballito — Smokehouse & Grill launch; slow-smoked meats, SA sides and puddings; family-friendly

AGS Lig & Lewe, Ballito — Dewald Gouws church evening 6PM; free entry; food on sale from 5PM; family friendly.

Saint Yves Cocktail & Social Bar, Salt Rock — Salt Rock Bok Town: Springboks vs Scotland at 5:40PM

Butcher & Wine, Salt Rock — Springboks vs Scotland viewing at 5:40PM; bottomless wontons & vodka R299; booking required

Ballito Lifestyle Centre — live music all weekend across The Market, Eat Street and The Studios: DJs from 4PM Thu–Sat, piano and acoustic sets from 10AM Fri–Sun, Hale Mary, Ember and Quiet Storm among the acts, plus the Springboks on the big screen Saturday 5:40PM

Tiger’s Milk, Ballito — Norway vs England at 11PM; booking recommended

Ballito Farmers Market, Ballito — Little Legends Market run by kids aged 6-16 from 10AM-1PM

Slow Roads Collective, Salt Rock — Salt Rock Sundays Farmers Market 9AM-1PM; coffee, fresh produce and local treats (also 19 & 26 Jul)

Sugar Rush Park, Compensation — Winter Thrift Market 9AM-1PM; secondhand treasures, live music from The Honeymooners Band @ 10AM, food and coffee

Kāya Shala Yoga Studio, Salt Rock — Safe Space on Sunday 12 July; donation based/free; email to confirm your space.

Oaklands Equestrian Estate, Umhlali — Holiday Pony Camp; 5 days / 13th-17th July, 8AM-12PM; R300 ages 2-6, R250 ages 7-18, booking essential

Fiamma Grill, Ballito — Waves of Change fundraiser from 5PM; R100 tickets, cocktail specials 5–6PM, prizes and auction items

Good Vibes, Ballito — Rage Festival Takeover from 7PM - 2AM; door tickets R100-R150, FREE for select passports

Below Deck, La Montagne, Ballitoville — Bingo & Quiz Night from 7PM; games and prizes (also 22 & 29 Jul)

Exclusive Books, Ballito Junction — Children's Gruffalo reading & craft session at 11AM; activity sheets only; RSVP essential

Sugar Rush Park, Ballito — Glide & Ride Holiday Club for ages 4–9, 8AM–12PM; R270/day; booking essential…. separately, there’s inflatables 10AM-2PM for R100/child

Sugar Bay Holiday Camp, Zinkwazi Beach — Come Dine With Me sleepover camp from 12 to 19 July for ages 7–17; 100+ activities, beach time and 24/7 supervision

Madame Butterfly, Ballito — Art Café for school holidays, daily 9AM-4PM

CrossFit HYRZN, Ballito — Kids Winter Break Camp for ages 5–11 at 9:30AM; fitness games, obstacles and CrossFit

Zimbali Oasis Padel Club, Zimbali — School holiday padel special: 50% off court fees, 9AM-3PM weekdays; kids active, beginners welcome

Burnedale Farm, Umhlali — Peter Rabbit’s Holiday Club, 7:30AM-12PM; creative holiday fun for little ones; R200/morning

The Hidden Forest Wildlife Sanctuary, Shakaskraal — specials available during school holidays

Ballito Pro, Ballito — Litter4Tokens volunteer shifts 8AM-5PM; beach clean-up, plastic awareness, community service hours

East Coast Radio and Busamed Private Hospital’s Big BIG Favour surgery giveaway for Mandela Day — nominate someone needing life-changing surgery.

Dolphin Coast SPCA — 130th Winter Appeal to help animals with warmth, comfort and vet care; donate.

Yarn Club, Burnedale Farm, Umhlali — drop off knitted or crocheted squares and yarn donations for 12yo Layla who is Crocheting for Charity and supporting orphanages

OThongathi Outreach Foundation — weekly weekday sandwich distribution; donate or volunteer. (weekdays; next: 10 & 13 Jul)

Vishwaroop Temple, Tongaat — Annual Feeding Scheme hot meal distribution for Mandela Month; donate or volunteer

CROW’s Wetland Restoration Mandela Day volunteer project: help install protective fencing in vital habitat; bring spades, gloves and tools; book your team

Plato Coffee, Umhlali/Simbithi/Linc Church — donate blankets and winter baby clothes; free hot drink for 3+ items.

KwaDukuza Municipality — Public comments open on draft Public Parks By-law covering parks, sports fields and open spaces; submit comments by 30 July

Ballito promenade upgrades — staircases are being improved for safer, easier access ahead of holiday foot traffic; ongoing work.

Voter registration stations open for 2026 Local Government Elections — bring Smart ID, green barcoded ID book or TIC; no proof of address needed; register/update.

That’s it! See you around!