Tongaat is a mid-sized town of 45,000 on the Sugar Coast, a cane-producing region of KwaZulu-Natal province.

Tongaat sprawls along R102 near the King Shaka International Airport, about halfway between Durban and KwaDukuza. Tongaat is a relatively new township with a largely Indian population, though much of its architecture is English in style. The first sugar processor in the area was the Maidstone Sugar Mill, which was built in 1850 and still uses some original manufacturing methods today. Other major employers include the Moreland Molasses Company and Tongaat Hulett Sugar.

Visitors to Tongaat can enjoy easy access to beautiful beaches along the Indian Ocean; after all, what's known as the Sugar Coast to businessmen is also known as the Dolphin Coast to vacationers. Crocodile Creek is a popular beach attraction that allows for a close viewing of crocodiles as they come to feed. The nearby gardens of Amanzimyama provide lovely grounds for family picnics and strolls, while the Jugannath Puri Temple is an architectural wonder not to be missed. Built in 1901 to serve the large population of migrant Indian cane workers, the temple is an official National Monument and popular heritage site.