Umhlanga Vacations
Situated not far from Durban on the coast of KwaZulu-Natal, Umhlanga is a charming spot from which to head out to the Battlefields, the Drakensberg, Phinda Private Game Reserve, and iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
When to go to Umhlanga
Best Time to Go
Visiting in South Africa’s summertime is great for hot beach days and ocean adventures.
An affluent seaside town
Great range of attractions
Excellent access to a variety of wildlife reserves
Plenty of accommodation options
A Scenic Seaside Stay
Umhlanga is a great gateway town to many of South Africa’s most thrilling destinations. Offering an amazing range of its own attractions, it’s perfect for stopovers both before and after the main event/s of your vacation. This affluent seaside town is situated 16 kilometres north of Durban, within the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality. The name Umhlanga translates as ‘place of reeds’ in the Zulu language – refering to the reed beds along the River Ohlanga, which runs north of the town.
Activities
Umhlanga’s beaches are its main attraction, stretching for miles along the scenic coast. There are also inland adventures, and the town has an enjoyable mix of culture, shopping, and dining.
Explore the beaches
Enjoy inland adventures
Visit the town
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Umhlanga’s golden sandy beaches are a great option for travellers who want to do nothing more than relax and soak up some sun! The town’s iconic lighthouse, with its jaunty red top, also draws the crowds. Visitors can enjoy a pleasant stroll out to sea along Umhlanga’s pier, or along the seafront on the town’s promenade. You can also experience the ocean on boat trips and diving or snorkelling excursions.
For those who’ve had their fill of beach time, Umhlanga offers some fun inland adventures, including ziplining and paintballing in the forest!
Culture fans will appreciate Umhlanga’s art gallery, art-and-craft markets, cinemas, and theatres. The town contains plenty of shops too, and the Gateway Theater of Shopping is the Southern Hemisphere’s largest mall! And there are lots of cafés, restaurants, and bars for whenever you need to take a break from sightseeing.
History
Umhlanga was founded in 1895 by Sir Marshall Campbell, a sugar industry pioneer. Campbell had arrived in Durban in 1850 with his parents, all as English immigrants to Natal under a settler scheme. Umhlanga’s first hotel was built in 1920, closely followed by its first shop and a lighthouse. Many other hotel developments took place in subsequent decades, not least The Oyster Box, a favorite at Yellow Zebra. On 1 August 1972, the Borough of Umhlanga was formed by merging the town with the suburb of La Lucia.
Talk to someone who’s been there
Real expertise doesn’t come from a few trips to Africa. All our specialists have either been guides, run the camps, or grown up and lived in Africa. That’s over 600 years of genuine safari experience.Good to Know
01.What are the best accommodation options?
Accommodation options in and around the town include hotels, self-catering apartments, guesthouses, and B&Bs. Our favorite properties are The Oyster Box and Lalaria Lodge. The former is a fabulous 5-star hotel that’s suitable for all types of traveler, while Lalaria is a lovely boutique guesthouse with only five rooms in total.
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