Meet four families whose journeys have led them away and then back to South Africa, and discover what makes Ballito more than just a fabulous place to live.
Claudine Schafli
After two years in Woking, Surrey, a transfer opportunity for my late husband brought us back to South Africa, and while his company wanted us in Cape Town, our hearts were set on Ballito. We had holidayed here before and even spent the lockdown in Simbithi, which confirmed it as home. Life here is relaxed, active, and community-driven. The kids cycle, hike, and play freely, and we love the beach and berg getaways. While the UK has its charm (London will always be a favourite), Ballito offers a slower pace and a stronger sense of belonging. The town’s growth has been incredible, yet it still feels like a close-knit village where neighbours look out for each other. Returning wasn’t just about work or lifestyle; it was about raising our kids in a place filled with sunshine, simplicity, and that unmistakable South African spirit.
Hayley Larson
My return to South Africa was after two years in the UK, an adventure that began when my son needed his British passport. While it started off exciting, the reality soon set in: tiny flats, grey weather, long commutes, and missing my family, friends, and the easy outdoor lifestyle of home. A serious accident was the turning point. I realised I wanted the support, warmth, and familiarity of Durban, so I packed up within weeks and came back. Not long after, I met Craig, the love of my life, and together we’ve built a beautiful life in Simbithi, with our home even being featured on South Africa’s Finest Homes. Here, every day feels full: mountain biking, golf, beach walks, braais with friends. Ballito is vibrant yet friendly, and it truly feels like a bubble of happiness. And I easily restarted my interior designbusiness as so many of my clients were thrilled that I had returned. Coming home was the best decision I ever made.
Lesley Jessop
After seven years in New Zealand, running both our SA-based business and a newly purchased one in Rotorua, we realised that while life there was good, it never truly felt like home. Once we gained citizenship, we sat down as a family of five and unanimously voted to return to South Africa. Ballito was a new chapter for us. The warm ocean, family nearby, and the chance for our kids to grow up surrounded by loved ones made it an easy choice. Now, we wake up to birdsong, watch sunrises over the sea, and spend weekends fishing, braaiing, and exploring the bush or beach. What surprised us most is the friendliness here; people stop to chat, and there’s a real sense of community spirit. For us, Ballito offers sunshine, connection, and opportunity, and it feels like the perfect place to plant roots for the future.
Audrey Fourie
When our daughter started approaching high school, we knew it was the right time to leave the Middle East and come home. After eight years abroad, family connection became the priority, and Ballito felt like the natural choice, a familiar stretch of coast that had grown from a small village into a vibrant town. Life here has given us back what we missed most overseas: the humour, the gees, the diversity, and the freedom of being able to drive from the beach to the Berg or bush in a day. While expat life was rich with travel and community, settling back in Ballito has opened a new chapter, one where I’ve launched Sugar Coast Tourism, renewed my tourist guide badge, and I’m pursuing courses in wine. What excites me most is embracing this next phase of life in a town that blends community spirit, natural beauty, and endless possibility.
Leaving South Africa on an immigration basis is such a huge and life-altering decision that has both positive and negative results. We focused this feature on those returning to South Africa and having chosen Ballito (North Coast) as their place to land and re-integrate into the country. These real stories show how amazing our coastal town is, and how lucky we all are to call it home. Whether you’re reading this as someone who has also just returned and resonates with these experiences, or if someone has sent this to you as you’re busy weighing up decisions from afar, I hope these families’ stories shed some light for you. These four families are just a snippet of the hundreds of families that are looking to return or have returned from so many places around the world. No place is perfect, but the reality is, the North Coast is a huge draw card for so many, either returning back to Ballito or returning to SA, and now want to live by the warm coast of SA. We get it! Sun, sea, the warmth both in temperature and people, this is living!