Although it's only recently opened, it’s easy to imagine that Sala Beach House has been around for years – to marry this level of service and effortless design with a Malibu surfer vibe takes a lot of skill.
There are only eight accommodations – three suites and four guestrooms in the main house, and a self-contained three-bedroom bungalow – and they all nestle around a terrace and pool area with uninterrupted views over the spectacular spray of the Indian ocean. It’s a perfect place to take an al fresco breakfast where, if you’re lucky, you might spot a migrating humpback. Or enjoy a romantic dinner, before huddling down with a nightcap around the firepit.
Water babies will love the choice of swims – an infinity pool off to the side, a secluded tidal pool a short walk along the beach and, naturally, the sprawling sands lapped by the foaming sea. There’s also a restaurant and bar, a spa and a Zen garden. And if you can bear to tear yourself away, nearby Ballito has a host of bars, eateries, shops and nightlife; bustling Durban is an hour’s drive, while a safari in northern Zululand is just slightly further afield.
Highs
- That view certainly has the wow factor and the floor-to-ceiling windows in each of the rooms make the most of it
- The professional but unfussy service has been earning rave reviews on travel sites
- There’s a great deal of privacy – private access to the tidal pool and a secluded beach
- Great spa offering a range of facilities from saunas and massages to beauty treatments. There’s also a yoga deck
Lows
- With an age limit of 12+ it’s not suitable for young families, this is very much a retreat – although the separate bungalow can house up to six
- No twin beds (double beds can be made up with separate bedding though) or extra beds
- Towards the pricier end of the scale
Best time to go
Ballito is situated on South Africa’s Dolphin Coast, so the best weather is to be had during the European winter months – normally November to March/April. However, January to March is also the rainy season. Other times of the year, the weather is mild and pleasant, although evenings will get cold so pack accordingly. Sala Beach House is open year-round.
Our top tips
The skies over Ballito are filled with Microlight planes and it’s the best way to see the coastline. There are plenty of tours available that focus on the wealth of marine life – whales, dolphins, manta rays and schools of tuna. But beware, it gets chilly up there!
- Boutique Hotel
- 7 rooms and a 3-bed villa
- Restaurant and bar open daily
- Over 12s welcome
- Open all year
- Outdoor Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car recommended
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Concierge Service
- Laundry service
Rooms
There are four guestrooms and three suites in the main house. The two Pool View rooms are located amid the gardens with direct access to the pool. Similarly furnished and also on the ground floor, the two Ocean View Rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows and a balcony.
On the floor above, the Courtyard Suite overlooks the gardens and inner courtyard, while the spacious Ocean Suite is open-plan with its own seating area and balcony. The Sala Suite has been crafted with romance in mind – more secluded and boasting a four-poster bed.
All ensuite bathrooms come with double vanities and rainfall showers, with toiletries by [], and bathtubs, except in the Pool View rooms.
Set apart from the main house, the Sala Beach Villa is for groups and families with older children. Featuring three bedrooms, all with kingsize beds, a veranda apiece and their own ensuites with shower and bathtub, it has an open-plan living/dining/kitchen area and a private plunge pool.
The décor throughout is cool and modern – calming neutrals, light woods and natural linens with understated touches of local African culture – but relaxed and welcoming with a barefoot beach house feel.
Features include:
- Bathrobes
- Fan
- Hairdryer
- In-room treatments available
- Safe box
- WiFi
Eating
There is a well-reviewed restaurant onsite that offers breakfast, evening meals and lunch/snacks throughout the day – all with spectacular views across the ocean. The menu changes daily according to the seasons but usually features a catch of the day, and there are always vegetarian options to choose from.
Ballito, the nearest town, has a multitude of restaurants offering dishes to sate most palates and budgets. Seafood naturally features strongly – calamari, squid, prawns, hake, kingklip and line fish are most popular – but there are also Italian eateries, pizza joints, Argentinian steak houses, and Greek and Portuguese tavernas (many of which also offer seaview dining.)
When the kitchens close, they frequently turn into bars/nightclubs, each offering their own signature cocktails. Again, the vibe here is more laidback beach hangout than urban hotspot but there’s usually a DJ to be found, and it’s only a short cab ride back to your room.
Features include:
- Bar
- Breakfast
- Dinner by arrangement
- Lunch by arrangement
- Room service
- Vegetarian options
Activities
- Swimmers, surfers, body boarders, snorkellers, anglers and sunbathers will be spoiled for choice. As well as Thompson’s Beach on your doorstep (with its private tidal pool) there’s also Willard Beach, Salt Rock Beach and Catfish Beach
- Wellness is a big feature at Sala Beach – all the rooms have yoga mats and small weights. There are also three treatment rooms at the onsite spa, offering a range of wellness and beauty treatments including Swedish and hot stone massages, enzyme facials, reflexology, body polishing, waxing and tinting, and sound therapy
- For retail therapy, head to Ballito Junction, which hosts over 200 stores, a food court and delis. The cobbled Ballito Lifestyle Centre boasts a more ‘street’ shopping scene
- Durban is only 40 mins away and offers a plethora of galleries, retail outlets, food and craft markets
- Ballito is the perfect stop before or after a safari in Zululand but also offers its own natural wonders. Crocodile Creek (home to 10,000 crocs as well as snakes, monkeys and mongoose) is popular, as are guided tours of the Hawaan Forest just outside Durban – home to bush pigs, duiker and pythons. The Flag Animal Farm is a rescue centre that houses 14,000 orphaned animals but also has a play centre, reptile room and train rides
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Fishing
- Golf
- Scuba diving
- Shopping / markets
- Snorkelling
- Surfing
- Swimming
- Well being
- Whale watching
- Wine tasting
- Yoga
Kids
The minimum age accepted is 12 and there are no twin beds or extra beds available. There's a retreat vibe here rather than a family one.
Best for:
Teens (over 12)
Family friendly accommodation:
Families with teenagers will need to book two rooms. Alternatively families can stay in the Villa.
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Sala Beach House is set beside Thompson's Bay near Ballito on the Dolphin Coast, located on the north eastern coast of South Africa.
By Air:
Fly to Durban. Sala Beach House is just 24km north of Durban airport.
By Car:
Car rentals are readily available and recommended – there’s very little public transport in Ballito, and Sala Beach House is just over 4km outside it. However, taxis and shuttle services are easy to come by.
Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.
Airports:
- King Shaka International Airport 24.0 km DUR
Other:
- Beach 0.1 km
- Shops 4.0 km
- Restaurant 3.8 km
Our guests' ratings...
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