THROUGH THE EYES OF A CONTENT CREATOR

My name is Stephan Baron and I am a freelance content creator with six years of being behind the camera. I started a media agency called Baron Media based out of Durban, South Africa. I started out taking images of myself and friends adventuring around South Africa for Instagram brand campaigns.

Since those early days, I have had the privilege of working with professional athletes, traveling overseas, working with exciting brands, and much more. I love telling stories and documenting our journey through life – media is an extension of this passion for living. Though media is my primary source of income, my calling in life is to become a holistic healer and teacher. I plan on combining my media capabilities with my passion for healing, creating awareness and courses that people can follow to learn how they can activate the healer in them.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PART ABOUT LIVING IN KZN?

There are many pros and cons to KZN, fortunately, I am a glass-half-full kind of guy. For me, KZN has so much to offer – especially being a waterman (surfing, kiteboarding, diving, etc). I love our coastline and if you travel a little up the coast we have the beautiful country of Mozambique on our doorstep. The climate and shift between seasons suit my hobbies. We have down-to-earth communities that pull together in testing times. As a bonus – the cost of living is less than Cape Town and Pretoria and most of all, the lifestyle that Durban offers is just so unique.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU LIVED IN KZN?

I have lived in KZN since 2005 just above Bronze Beach in Umhlanga.

TELL US ABOUT A HIDDEN GEM?

Mentioning one hidden gem in KZN is difficult because there are so many! Both the North and South Coasts have so many unique locations. Hoopoe falls located inside Oribi Gorge South Coast has to be my favourite hike. It’s a 2-hour hike to a beautiful waterfall that has a large beach and pools you can swim in.

YOUR FAVOURITE SURFING SPOTS IN KZN?

Well, this is a tough question because we are spoilt with great waves all over our coastline that work in different swell and wind directions. But I would say that my most surfed spot is Umhlanga Main Beach.

AN ABSOLUTE MUST-SEE IN KZN?

Sodwana Bay – the diving and reefs are next-level rated in the top 5 best spots in the world for Scuba Diving.

THE BEST CUP OF COFFEE IN KZN is at Kuta Kola in Ballito. You can sip and watch the waves with a view of Durban in the distance.

IF YOU HAD TO CHOOSE A GETAWAY SPOT IN KZN – WHERE WOULD IT BE?

The Drakensberg Amphitheater. The ampitheatre backpackers is a vibe and are very close to many great motocross enduros, 4×4, and hiking trails.

A KEY MOMENT IN MY LIFE is when I recently worked in Kenya as a freelance content creator and traveled to Tsavo National Park while living in Watamu. I loved Lion King growing up, watching it for the first time when I lived on a game farm as a young boy in Limpopo. I never knew it was based on the Masai Mara in Kenya and the Swahili names of all the animals were the direct translation, e.g Rafiki means friend in Swahili. I, fortunately, was lucky enough to do a safari in Tsavo National Park and found myself seeing a different form of Africa that left me wanting more. Adventure when you can and if you can’t micro adventure as often as possible.