Welcoming of the Whales Festival
Every year since 2019 Sodurba hosts its annual WOTWF which takes place on the Bluff. Venue for this year will be at the Bluff Beach and details will follow. For further information please contact us directly. We will be saving the date soon so watch our social media pages for further information.
Welcoming of the Whales Festival 2023
Official Press Release
With a turnout of 7000 people our event is getting bigger & bigger every year!
Foreshore Drive bought the perfect venue for this year’s festival, allowing us to showcase educational stalls; local crafts; the Durban Ricksha Bus; local businesses; delicious food & not to forget our beautiful KZN Whale Coast Line™.
Thank you to Durban Tourism for making this event possible and your continued support through the years. All eThekwini Municipality departments for the efforts in assisting us for this huge event.
WILDTRUST for their constant support as our educational partners –
this year was exceptional!
Tranquil Designs for all your graphic design work with our beautiful flyers, we appreciate you.
Donna Prinsloo for being our event coordinator this year, a job well done!
Fabricon for supplying our 2 generators without this many people wouldn’t have been able to function. Our Councilor Zoe Solomon for her continued support and dedication to our efforts.
Thanks to CRESS Safety; Metro, SAPS Brighton Beach, RTL8, ALS Paramedics, Sani Tech, Bluff Towers; DSW Educational, Khubs Tours; Virgin Active Bluff, Chas Everitt Bluff; REMAX Bluff, Wakefield’s Bluff; Messi Fingers; LadyChef; Xpose; Zoom; Isle of Capri Cruises; Refresha Trading; 4Shore Guesthouse and to all of you – for your beautiful attendance.
Thank you to WESSA who once again did an amazing Rocky Shore Walk and Beach Cleanup. We had full attendance for each event which is always so wonderful to see. Making a small difference in Marine Conservation.
A massive thank you to the Bluff Eco Park for supplying us with the venue for our Friday night Cocktail Evening (A SOLD-OUT EVENT) and the facility to have our park and ride the Saturday.
A big thank you to our MC for the night Sidney Govindsamy whom holds our Multi-Cultural Route portfolio, you did an outstanding job representing Sodurba.
Willis Events for always giving the best catering ever!
A special thanks to our guest speakers Erin Ross-Marsh from Sea Search Research/Conservation, your love and passion is remarkable.
Dr Deborah Robertson-Andersson, assisting Raggy Charters and the Southern African Humpback Whale Migration Route, from who just blew each and everyone’s mind with your presentation and the love for marine conservation.
Thank you to David Asgeir-Nielsen and Emil Unger for being our tour guides on Sunday to our annual Old Whaling Tour (A SOLD-OUT EVENT). The Bluff Army Base for giving us permission to enter, we thank you.
Lastly, a huge thank you to Peter and Jeanette Froude for sharing their rich history and passion for our Old Whaling Station, your presence completes our tour every year!
Helga du Preez – Chair Lady of Sodurba
KZN Coastline
Sodurba boasts some of the best beaches along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline: Treasure Beach; Cave Rock; Brighton Beach; Anstey’s Beach; Garvies Beach; The Cuttings and Isipingo Beach. Warmed by the Mozambican currents, this stretch of the Indian Ocean offers ideal swimming and surfing conditions throughout the year. Protected by shark nets and lifeguards, this part of the coastline is perfect for both seasoned and aspiring surfers, paddle-ski windsurfers, and snorkelers. Wilsons Wharf offers Dolphin and Whale Watching Cruises.
VISIT:
• Garvies Beach
• Anstey’s Beach
• Brighton Beach
• Cave Rock
• Natural Tidal Pool
• Treasure Beach
• Isipingo Beach
What you can see from the Viewpoints in Sodurba:
• Dolphin all year, in a school of 25 swim South from 6h00 – 8h30.
• Humpback & Southern Wright Whales from June to November. Whales calves in October and November.
• The Greatest shoal on Earth – May to July shoals of sardines arrive.
• Vervet monkeys, mongoose, fruit bats, a wide variety of bird life, mostly Hadeba Ibis, Tambourine Dove, Speckled Mousebird, Lesser Striped Swallow, Yellow-billed Kite, Purple-Crested Lourie.
Nature
Bluff Nature Reserve was proclaimed in 1961, making it Durban’s oldest bird sanctuary. The original extensive wetland area was split in two by construction of Tara Road, with the majority of the Vlei being to the east of the road. The reed beds potentially provide extensive roosting and breeding areas for several species of Herons and Egrets, as well as African Spoonbills and several crackers and rails. However, in the last few years breeding activity appears to have been mainly restricted to the likes of Egyptian and spur winged geese, swamp hens and coots.
VISIT:
• The Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve
• CROW (Centre for Rehabilitation of Wildlife)
• Bluff Eco Park and Van Riebeeck Park
Kenneth Stainbank is a 253-hectare reserve in Yellowwood Park, Durban, which was proclaimed in 1963. Established as a result of a bequest of land from Mr. Kenneth Stainbank, the area offers fine examples of coastal forest and grassland habitats for many species of plants and animals. There are 13km of nature walks and a pleasant picnic site is available. A walk for the physically disabled has been specially designed. There is also a 10km mountain bike trail which is challenging in places. An entrance fee is charged at the entrance gate, where visitors can obtain maps, plant and animal lists from the field ranger.
Some of the birds to be seen at Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve:
• Grey Cuckooshrike
• Purple-Crested Turaco
• Little Bee-eater
• Tambourine Dove
• Squacco Heron
• Yellow-bellied Greenbul
• Black Sparrow Hawk
• Mountain Wagtail
• Brown-backed Honeybird
• Grey Waxbill
• Red-backed Mannikin
• Rattling Cisticola
• African Rail
• Red-Chested Flufftail
• Yellow Weaver
• White-browed Scrub-Robin
• Green Malkoha
• Narina Trogon
• Lesser Striped Swallow
• White-eared Barbet
• Olive Woodpecker
• Black Saw-wing
• Spotted Ground-thrush
• Bronze-winged Courser
• Green Twinspot
• African Jacana
• Neddicky
• Barn Swallow
• Square-tailed Drango
Some of the birds to be seen at the Bluff Nature Reserve:
• Grey Sunbird
• African Purple Swamp-hen
• Black-throated Wattle-eye
• African Fish-Eagle
• Black Crane
• Black-headed Heron
Landmarks & View Sites:
Sodurba has numerous areas of historic, geographic, and cultural interests. Some of its natural formations have been around for millions of years. One of its man-made landmarks is architecturally and technologically futuristic. All its viewpoints offer spectacular vistas that are both awe-inspiring and humbling.
VISIT:
• Maritime Museum
• Various Temples
• World War II Radio Station (WESSA)
• Cooper Lighthouse
• Bluff Wetlands
Harbour & Bay
The local Zulus called it eThekwini, the lagoon. A thriving trading post grew around the bay, becoming the third largest city in South Africa.
Durban harbour is the busiest port in Africa and the largest container port in the Southern Hemisphere. It is the hub of exotic trade, travel, and adventure and for centuries it has been the gateway to South Africa. A haven for ships since its first recorded discovery on Christmas Day 1497 by the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, this huge, sheltered bay became a regular port of call.
INTERESTING HARBOUR FACTS:
1. Largest port in Africa, third largest in Southern Hemisphere.
2. The leading container port in Southern Hemisphere.
3. Handles millions of containers per year.
4. Income generated by a single visit of a container ship to the port is millions.
5. Tourism generated revenue from passenger liners is millions per year.
6. Billions generated in direct port related salaries and wages.
History
South Durban Basin has a long and colorful history spanning years of natural environmental change – shipwrecks, tribal settlements, the Anglo-Boer War, two World Wars, slave trade, a whaling station, a military base, Apartheid, and the relocation of coloureds and Indians, and phenomenal industrial growth in many ways. South Durban Basin has transcended its history, transforming areas of war into areas of industrial and commercial growth, honoring nature, and working as a community to create a carbon neutral environment, and embracing the different cultures that were previously thrown together.
VISIT:
• Cave Rock
• Clairwood Temple
• The Nelson Mandela Stone in Jacobs
WHALE FACTS:
Whales were originally hunted for their blubber which was rendered into oil and used to make soap, margarine, and cooking fat. Spermaceti (sperm oil) was used as a general-purpose lubricant for delicate machinery and spermaceti was used in candles, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Baleen was used as stays for woman’s corsets, umbrella handles and riding crops.
Industry
One of the things that makes Sodurba so unique is that, interspersed among the houses of the five main residential suburbs (The Bluff; Treasure Beach; Merebank; Austerville and Wentworth), are several industries. These include two of South Africa’s largest oil refineries, a paper mill, and other small factories.
While industry is symbolic of progress and economic growth, it can also be hazardous in terms of pollution. Several community and government initiatives are promoting cleaner air, water and living standards. The aim is to make Sodurba carbon neutral as soon as possible.
VISIT:
• The Industrial Tour – COMING SOON
Entertainment
Sodurba is alive with restaurants, cafes, pubs, and clubs of every description. You can opt for a simple fare or go for something exotic. If you’re in need of a little pampering after long days of salty air and sun, there’s a wealth of salons and wellness centers from which to choose and should you be in the mood to flex that credit card, you’ll find every kind of shop in The South of Durban.
VISIT:
• Wilsons Wharf
• Restaurants
• Clubs & Pubs
• The Bunny Chow
• Shopping
• Factory Shops
Sports & Activities
You will never be bored in Sodurba! With beautiful beaches to go, you can happily surf, paddle-ski, swim, dive, snorkel, spear fish, go cray fishing or ocean fishing all day. (Permits permitted for fishing on public beaches & own equipment required, Bluff Beaches do not offer the hire of any equipment). You can improve your handicap on one of the best golf courses, Bluff National Golf Course. Commune with nature on long trails through various nature reserves. Go Birding. Amble through the harbour, visit the numerous landmarks or go on eco educational tours. And that’s before you sample the great night life!
VISIT:
• Learn how to Surf
• Snorkeling
• Fishing and Sea-Life
• Shark Cage Diving – Aliwal Shoal
• Sporting Events
• Bluff National Golf Course
• Deep Sea Fishing Charters
• Kite & Wind Surfing
• Whale & Dolphin Watching Cruises
