Stand on the viewing platform at Alkantstrand Beach and the Indian Ocean does most of the work for you: in season, humpback whales and humpback dolphins move through the water beyond the break, and the beach itself is the easiest stretch of sand to reach from town. Richards Bay is a harbour and industrial city on a large lagoon of the Mhlatuze River, and it has kept a surprising amount of wildlife around the edges of all that shipping and smelting.
That mix is what makes the place worth a day or two. You come for water, birds and animals rather than for museums and monuments, and you plan around the lagoon, the beach and the reserves that sit close to the suburbs.
This guide covers the sights and experiences the destination sources actually describe, with a one-day route that strings the best of them together.
Top things to do in Richards Bay
1. Alkantstrand Beach
Alkantstrand Beach is the town's front door to the Indian Ocean, and its viewing platform is the spot to scan the water for whales and humpback dolphins. It is the single most rewarding stop if you only have a short window, because the wildlife watching happens from land and needs no boat or booking.
Go when you have time to stand still and watch rather than a quick photo stop. Combine it with the rest of your beach time in the same visit, since this is the beach the sources single out.
2. The lagoon
The lagoon of the Mhlatuze River is the feature the city is built around, and it is the reason watersports are such a large part of a visit here. The sources note that the lagoon allows for many different watersports, so treat it as your activity base rather than a backdrop.
Plan your watersports for the part of the day when you want to be on the water, and keep the beach and the reserve for the hours either side of it.
3. The golf course
The golf course here is unusual for one reason: it is home to hippos, crocodiles, fish eagles and monkeys, which the sources describe as making for unusual challenges. Even if you do not play, the wildlife is the point of interest.
Keep your distance from any animal you see on or beside the fairways, and treat the course as a wildlife area that happens to have golf on it.
4. Enseleni Nature Reserve
The Enseleni Nature Reserve is home to wildebeest, reedbuck and zebra, and it has hiking trails. It is the best option for a walk with a chance of seeing larger animals, and the trails let you set your own pace.
Wear shoes you do not mind getting dusty and give yourself enough time to actually walk a trail rather than drive through.
If you only have one day
Morning: start at Alkantstrand Beach and spend time on the viewing platform watching for whales and humpback dolphins, then stay on the sand while the light is still cool.
Afternoon: move to the lagoon for watersports, then head to the Enseleni Nature Reserve to walk one of the hiking trails and look for wildebeest, reedbuck and zebra.
Evening: finish at the golf course, where hippos, crocodiles, fish eagles and monkeys share the grounds, and keep a respectful distance from whatever is on the fairways.
Frequently asked questions
Where can you watch whales and dolphins in Richards Bay?
From the viewing platform at Alkantstrand Beach, which the sources name as the place to watch whales and humpback dolphins.
Can you do watersports in Richards Bay?
Yes. The lagoon allows for many different watersports, which makes it the main activity area on the water.
Which animals might you see at the golf course?
Hippos, crocodiles, fish eagles and monkeys, which the sources describe as making for unusual challenges on the course.
What wildlife is in the Enseleni Nature Reserve?
Wildebeest, reedbuck and zebra, and the reserve has hiking trails.
Pick your dates around the beach and the lagoon, then build the rest of the day from there.