Pennington Beach

Travel south from Durban towards Port Shepstone for about 74km, and you will come across the beautiful Pennington Beach. A serene and inviting stretch of golden sand and warm turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean breaking on the shore. Known for its tranquil ambiance, unspoiled beauty, and diverse activities, it’s a popular destination for both holidaymakers and locals seeking relaxation or adventure.

Pennington Beach holds Blue Flag Beach Status, which is an international eco-label signifying its commitment to high environmental and safety standards, water quality, and responsible management. This ensures a clean, safe, and eco-friendly beach experience for all visitors. The beach falls within the Pennington Conservancy.

Key Features & Amenities at Pennington Beach

At Pennington Beach there is so much to see and do, with an abundance of facilities available:

A safe swimming beach manned by capable lifeguards
Shark nets in place (check local signage)
A tidal pool that is both kid and adult friendly (occasionally filled with sand making it ideal for smaller children).
Beautiful rocky areas with rock pools to explore.
Accessible restroom facilities
Spacious picnic and braai(barbecue) areas
A great play area for the kids.
A local Beach Kiosk nearby offering light meals.
Spectacular views from the the viewing desk – you may spot a whale or dolphins.
Dog Friendly beach, so bring along your fur-babies.
Best of all, it is a Blue Flag Beach.

In season Black Mussels can be collected from the rocks and enjoyed as a local delicacy – make sure you have the right permits. The Viewing Deck is perfect for Whale Spotting and watching the Sardine Run when it is on.

Location and Surroundings

While being a peaceful retreat, Pennington Beach is also conveniently located near various attractions. Making it an ideal base location to explore the KZN South Coast. Other family-friendly beaches are close by, with Kelso Beach about 3km away.

Activities at Pennington Beach

There is a variety of activities to suit every interest:

Water Sports: Pennington Beach is a hidden gem for surfing enthusiasts with an excellent swell. We offer a comprehensive guide to surfing spots on the KZN South Coast. Visitors can also enjoy swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling, scuba diving, bodyboarding, kite surfing, and hydrofoiling in the warm Indian Ocean. Don’t forget the fun to be had in the tidal pool!
Fishing: A hotspot for anglers, the area is excellent for rock or deep-sea fishing, with a massive variety of species including rock salmon, shad, shark, kingfish, grunter, Garrick, and barracuda. Crayfish diving and collecting black mussels on the rocks are also popular.
Leisure & Nature: Take strolls along the golden sands, lie in the sun, or enjoy horseback rides on the beach. From the kiosk and viewing platform, you can enjoy whale and dolphin watching during their migration seasons.

Other Activities & Attractions Nearby Pennington Beach

Beyond the beach, the Pennington area and the wider KZN South Coast offer numerous attractions:

Golfing: Pennington is renowned for its magnificent golf courses, including the 18-hole Umdoni Park Golf Club and Selborne Park Golf Estate, as well as the 9-hole Penn Valley.
Nature Reserves: Explore the Umdoni Park (a 200-hectare sanctuary of indigenous coastal forest with walking trails, Komba Bird Sanctuary, and Nkumbane Dam), Nkomba Sanctuary, and the Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve (about 15km away).
Wildlife: Crocworld Conservation Centre (approx 16km away) offers exciting and educational experiences with crocodiles and other reptiles.
Breweries: Visit Basset Breweries in Pennington for craft beer tours and tastings.
Cultural & Historic Sites: Discover local heritage at places like Botha House, an elegant Cape Dutch Style house.
Extreme Adventures: While not immediately close by, the famous Oribi Gorge (about an hours drive) offers thrilling activities like ziplines, wild swings, abseiling, and white-water rafting. There is more than a day’s worth of activities there, along with the Lake Eland Game Reserve, where you can drive among the animals. We feel it is DEFINITELY worth the drive.
Diving Hotspots: The world-famous Aliwal Shoal, rated as one of the top dive spots globally, is just a few kilometers off these attractive beaches, offering incredible scuba diving opportunities.

For further information, check out our Explore Section and Things to do in the menu above. You will not be disappointed!

Access to the beach

Access to Pennington Beach is convenient.

There is a pathway winding through the greenery leading past the Kiosk, braai (barbecue), and kids’ play area towards the viewing deck.
The beach can be accessed via a walkway to the left of the viewing deck or steps to the right of the viewing deck, leading directly to the sandy beach and tidal pool area.

Tidal Pool

The tidal pool is slightly higher than the sea level and allows for lovely views over the ocean while you are taking a dip. On the day we visited the tidal pool was nearly filled with sand making it perfect for smaller children to play in. The swimming beach area is to the right of the tidal pool. The day we visited it was almost full of sand. This can change from week to week depending on tides and weather.

The Sights of Pennington Beach:

Parking

There is a smallish parking area bordered by indigenous trees that offers shade for your car. The winding pathway leading towards the beach and the Impithi Beach Kiosk is particularly inviting, inspiring visitors to go and explore.

Feeling hungry after enjoying the beach and then take a short walk back up to the local Beach Kiosk. There you can have a tasty home cooked light meal at the Impithi Beach Kiosk, managed by the Pennington Conservancy. The Beach Kiosk has a stunning view of the ocean and is surrounded with green lawns bordered by majestic indigenous trees. There are several informational display boards if you want to know more about the conservancy and the local sea life.

There was a troop of resident monkeys at play when we visited, so don’t be surprised when you see a monkey peeking through the leaves at you.

To learn more about Pennington the town, visit the Pennington website for more information.

Where is Pennington Beach?

GPS: -30.38603, 30.69612

The directions indicated on this map are from the R102 and lead to the parking area of Pennington Beach.

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