Umhlanga Accommodation
Sugar-cane fields give way to the Valley of a Thousand Hills to the West, while just beyond the developments lie 200km of unspoiled beaches. This is what makes accommodation in Umhlanga so desirable - that and the fabulous climate.
Just to the North of Durban, capital of the KwaZulu Natal province of South Africa, the settlement is virtually a suburb of the larger city. As such, it enjoys easy access to many amenities including the King Shaka Airport and the N2 highway, a vital transport link for anyone planning a worthwhile road trip following the east coast. Furthermore, Umhlanga is home to one of South Africa’s largest malls, dramatically named the Gateway Theatre of Shopping.
Umhlanga, and indeed the greater Durban area, enjoys a warm subtropical climate, with night-time winter temperatures reaching an average low of just 12 degrees Celsius. The ocean temperatures at the coldest time of year rarely drop below 20 degrees. You might now understand why Umhlanga is such a sought after location for sun-worshippers! To complement the weather, there are a host of leisure activities on offer. While staying in Umhlanga you can try your hand at surfing, micro-lighting and deep sea fishing. There are also numerous golf courses within fifteen minutes of the town and whale and dolphin watching expeditions are popular in season. For the more adventurous there are a number of in demand scuba diving locations while land-lovers can get to any number of Kwazulu Natal’s game reserves with ease.
This section of the Sugar Coast is lined with ocean-fronted rental apartments and hotels, the oldest of which being the elite Oyster Box Hotel, which started out life as a little cottage before Umhlanga was even declared a settlement. Another building synonymous with Umhlanga is the old red and white lighthouse, there to alert ships to the dangerous rocky coastline.
The only barrier between the upmarket accommodation in Umhlanga and the beach is a well-kempt promenade – a nice place to enjoy an evening stroll. There are also several distinguished restaurants, merely adding to Umhlanga’s esteem.