Umhlanga Rocks
Hotel in Umhlanga

Umhlanga Tourism Information Centre, Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa.

Visitors from around the world flock to the holiday resort village of Umhlanga Rocks to relax and have fun on one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world. Situated on the east coast of South Africa just north of the vibrant Port City of Durban, Umhlanga faces the the warm waters of the Indian Ocean and has the best South African accommodation, with superb holiday apartments, luxury hotels, lodges and B&B's. It also has up-market, first world Shopping Centres. Inland from Umhlanga, endless fields of sugarcane give way to the undulating landscape of the Valley of 1000 Hills, the Inanda Dam and the mystical hidden valleys of Zululand. Umhlanga offers the best South African tour operators, a wealth of entertainment, restaurants and nature trails, all in a secure environment. The spectacular Gateway shopping centre and Sibaya Casino are some of the key attractions that Umhlanga Rocks has to offer. Ocean enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers will be in their element; surfing, deep-sea fishing, whale watching and dolphin viewing, scuba diving, kite boarding and microlight flips are just some of the many activities available on this wonderful stretch of coastline. For the serious golfers there are many superb golf courses all within a 15 minute drive of Umhlanga. Umhlanga is also a paradise for the romantically inclined and many people either tie the knot here or spend their honeymoon here. Umhlanga is perfectly positioned for any leg of your South African adventure. From Umhlanga it's also an easy three-hour drive north along the superb N2 toll road to the many and varied Zulu Kingdom Game Reserves, or still further north to Swaziland and Mozambique. The average rainfall for the year is in the order of 900mm, with the main precipitation taking place during spring and early summer and the least rainfall during the dryer autumn and winter months. The area came under British control soon after, becoming part of the large estate belonging to the great sugar magnate, Sir Marshall Campbell, who sailed to South Africa from Glasgow in Indian indentured labourers were brought in to work on the sugar estates in 1860, bringing with them a vibrant and colourful culture, giving the area its unique multicultural flavour. In 1869, Umhlanga's first beach cottage was built on a rocky site overlooking the sea and in the true spirit of Umhlanga hospitality tea and scones were served to passers-by. The reflective roof of the cottage was also used as a beacon by passing ships' captains to navigate safely around Umhlanga's rocky headland. However, the cottage was converted into the Oyster Box hotel in the 1930s and in 1953 Umhlanga's distinctive red and white lighthouse was built to warn mariners away from the dangers of the rocks. The first hotel in Umhlanga was built in the 1920s by Virginia, daughter of Sir Marshall Campbell. Other hotels soon followed these two and the village of ' Umhlanga Rocks ' became the most sought-after area for locals to visit during their holidays. The name ' Umhlanga ' means 'place of reeds' in the Zulu language. Our skippers and guides are themselves very keen birdwatchers and photographers; as such you are assured a very informative trip.