Umhlanga: Coastal Forest, Lagoon and Beach

To decide whether Umhlanga is right for your trip, nature, beach and sea offer several concrete points to consider. If you are looking for hotels in Umhlanga, you can first weigh up whether you are more interested in coastal trails, beach and diving, or an exhibition.

Coastal Forest, River and Lagoon

The trail in the Umhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve runs along a well-marked path through coastal forest. It crosses the Ohlange River on boardwalks and heads towards the lagoon between the dunes; it also leads to the beach and lagoon. Benches and picnic spots are dotted along the trail.

A walk along the trail in the uMhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve takes about an hour and a half. The O’Connor Promenade is 2.7 km long, runs between Durban View Park and the Umhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve, and is used by walkers and runners. For planning purposes, these offer two different measures: an approximate walking time and the length of the promenade.

Beach, Surfing and Diving

Umhlanga Main Beach and Bronze Beach, to its north, are described as beaches protected by shark nets and supervised by trained professional lifeguards. As protection and supervision can change, check current local notices before swimming.

In the wider Umhlanga area, Umhlanga Main Beach, Umdloti and Westbrook are named as the best surf spots; surfing conditions vary. Several dive sites are located just off Umhlanga; according to the description, the best diving conditions are in winter. The sites mentioned include The T-Barge, Lighthouse Reef, the Trawler of Fontao and Dolphin Reef. Conditions can vary here too.

The Sea in Umhlanga

Another local highlight is the KZN Sharks Board in Umhlanga. It has an exhibition hall featuring life-size replicas of sharks, fish and rays. Unlike the trails and beaches, the focus here is on the animals on display, giving the sea theme its own exhibition format.

More to Explore in the Wider Durban Metro Destination

The wider Durban Metro destination encompasses the eThekwini Municipality, which stretches from cosmopolitan coastal areas in the north to rugged valleys in the west. Umhlanga and Durban Metro offer two different scales for planning: trails, beaches and the KZN Sharks Board are the local focus, while museums and uShaka add to the picture of the wider destination.

The eThekwini municipal museums cover a range of subjects: the Durban Local History Museums focus on cultural and historical heritage, the Durban Art Gallery on visual art, and the Durban Natural Science Museum on the natural-science aspects of heritage. The Local History Museums comprise 19 sites, all managed by the eThekwini Municipality.

uShaka Sea World and uShaka Wet n Wild also form part of the regional picture: Sea World is an aquarium, and Wet n Wild is a water park. Sea World’s programme includes dolphin shows, seal viewing and penguin presentations; the programme may change. Check the current schedule before your visit.

Discover more destinations: La Lucia, Kwagingindlovu, Jozini, Mooi River, Empangeni, Southbroom, Underberg, Durban

View the wider destination: Kwazulu-Natal.