Umhlanga is one of the most popular beach resort destinations on the east coast of South Africa. The bathing is safe and the warm Indian Ocean waters wash the miles of golden beaches and laid-back fun in the sun beckons.

Umhlanga's main beach is one of the Zulu Kingdom's seven Blue Flag beaches.  This international award is only given to beaches that meet or exceed excellence criteria in four aspects of coastal management : Water quality, Environmental Management and Safety and Services, including excellent lifesaving standards, top-rated ablutions and parking facilities, with access for the disabled.
Superb surfing is available and regular fishing competitions and jet ski displays are held off the coast. Umhlanga is also on the world pro surfing circuit

Book a whale watching or dolphin-viewing excursion for a memorable experience on an 8m surf ski-boat which is launched through the waves. Deep-sea fishing and scuba diving adventures are all available.

Locals and visitors enjoy fishing off the rocks and the golden beaches offer wide-open spaces for soaking up the sun all year round.  Our professional lifeguards are stationed at the main swimming beaches along the Umhlanga coastline, where surfboards can be hired, as well as beach-loungers and umbrellas.

For a compelling taste of Umhlanga's safe, protected beaches and seafront accommodation, restaurants and attractions, the shore-hugging “Promenade” is a superb “people friendly” pathway that stretches for approximately 3 km in each direction. Along the way you can't miss the famous red and white Umhlanga lighthouse, a landmark that has kept shipping at a safe distance from the “Rocks” for more than half a century.  For the serious walkers and joggers, there are distance markers in place, but a leisurely stroll is equally accommodated with strategically placed viewing benches and rest stops

You can identify the indigenous plants along the promenade with the assistance of a handbook available from the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa.  Each lamp pole on the walk has a number, which correlates with the plants in the booklet.

A short distance north of the lighthouse is Granny's Pool, a sheltered bathing area between two rock formations that abounds in miniature sea-life and which also provides a safe launch site for the many surf ski-boats that launch from the beach.

For more information about other Durban Beaches, click here to go to the Durban Experience Website.
 

Shark nets and safe swimming
Shark nets are deployed along the all Umhlanga beaches by the Natal Sharks Board. The nets are 214 m long and 6 m deep and are secured at each end by two 35 kg anchors; all have a stretched mesh of 51 cm. The nets are laid in two parallel rows approximately 400 m offshore and in water depths of 10-14 m. All of Umhlanga’s beaches are protected by the nets. Durban, the largest coastal city and holiday resort in South Africa, has 17 nets, each 305 m in length, which cover all the popular swimming beaches between the mouth of the Umgeni River and the harbour entrance. The NSB boat crews service the nets every Monday through Friday, weather permitting and visits tto the nets with the crews, can be arranged through the Sharks Board.