ONE OF SOUTH AFRICA’S FAVORITE HOLIDAY RESORTS

Situated on the east coast of South Africa, just north of Durban,with an average of 300 days of sunshine a year; you'll find one of South Africa's most desirable Holiday resorts, Umhlanga (Zulu name for place of reeds) Rocks. The Umhlanga Rocks coastline enjoys a warm sub-tropical climate. Summer ranges from Nov - Feb and temperatures are hot and humid, from 24 - 33 degrees Celsius ( 75-91 F ) and winter which ranges from June – August is between 12 and 22 degrees Celsius ( 53 - 71 F )


With beaches stretching for more than 200 kilometers, all the way to the St Lucia; South Africa’s first named UNESCO World Heritage Site the iSimangaliso (meaning "It's Amazing"in Zulu) Wetland Park https://isimangaliso.co.za
From the New “King Shaka International Airport it's only 12km along the N2 to Umhlanga and from here to the center of Durban it is only 16 km.


Here are a few options of where to stay: If you love "Deluxe" Then the Beverly Hills Umhlanga Hotel is the place for you.







For those of you that like a Modernist look and feel I will suggest: The Square Boutique Hotel




If you love 'Ultra Grand': The Oyster Box Hotel is for you.




The 2.7km O’Connor Promenade was recently upgraded and runs from Durban View Park to Umhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve; the Promenade is lined with restaurants, a perfect place for people watch and a desired spot for walking/jogging. At Granny’s Pool there is a boat launch site, that allows visitors to dolphin/whale watch and if you are a keen angler you are welcome to drop your line here. 

The next beach over north from Umhlanga Rocks with a backdrop of green hills and lush vegetation is Umdloti; it has some of the best beaches in the area, with a rock enclosed tidal pool and a wide lagoon.  Further along the coast are Westbrook and Tongaat.  These beaches are quiet and offer great swimming and surfing, as well as a launching area for boats.

The waters off Umhlanga are rich with sea life, particularly whales and dolphins.  Pods of bottlenose dolphins can be seen breaching the water just beyond the breakers and surfing in the waves year-round, and from July to November each year, humpbacked whales and southern right whales can be seen all along the coast.   

There is snorkelling and diving like The T-Barge, Lighthouse Reef, the Trawler of Fantao and Dolphin Reef are excellent dive spots, attracting everything from moray eels to tropical fish.  The best diving conditions are to be found in the winter months. One of the best snorkelling spots in the area is at the northern end of Umdloti’s Beach Road.  A line of rocks encloses an enormous tidal pool, home to large cowries, crayfish and a variety of tropical fish.

You can visit Mahatma Gandhi’s home  - which is now a museum dedicated to his life and legacy.

The Hawaan Forest  a inland of Umhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve.  This indigenous woodland has remained in its natural state for centuries, and is characterised by important species of trees with tropical attributes, and many small animals. 

For the young and restless here are a few tips: 
 
The best surf spots are at Umhlanga main beach, and Umdloti and Westbrook.


Gate Way Skate Park & Wave House:  http://www.gatewayworld.co.za/wavehouse.htm


Micro Light Flying: http://www.microlights.co.za/


Golfing at Mount Edgecombe Country Club here: http://www.mountedgecombe.com/

Ladies while the boys are playing here is what you can do:

Gateway Theatre of Shopping http://www.gatewayworld.co.za/  it’s the biggest mall in the southern hemisphere, then there is La Lucia Mall http://www.laluciamall.co.za/home.aspx a lovely suburban mall with a relaxed atmosphere and big brand stores. You’ll find plenty of Zulu crafts like; beadwork, weaving and clay pots and wooden carvings, and many recycle used materials, such as plastic bags, oil tins and beer cans, turning waste into art all over Durban being sold on the streets and craft markets.

At night try:  Sibaya Casion & Entertainment Kingdom http://www.suninternational.com/DESTINATIONS/CASINOS/SIBAYA/CASINO/Pages/default.aspx between Umhlanga and Umdloti.
 
We look forward to seeing you back here at www.travelandtradesouthafrica.com real soon.