South
Africa:
For detailed tips and
advice on the 100 best things to do in South Africa click here to visit Jen Reviews.
Umhlanga Rocks:
Umhlanga Rocks enjoys a warm sub-tropical climate all year round with mild temperatures between 19 C and 26 C
between winter and summer. Fishing, both from ski-boat and the shore, is popular. Various establishments, including
the Natal Sharks Board, offer whale and dolphin viewing trips.
Wave surfing and kite
surfing are popular along this stretch of coast. Umhlanga and surrounds have a lot to offer for
the whole family. There are plenty entertainment for young and old. Below we would like to mention a few
of the attractions of this wonderful slice of the east coast of South Africa.
Natal Sharks Board:
Visit the only organization of its kind in the world, featuring
an audio-visual presentation and shark dissection.
Althoughthis 26 minute long presentation
is designed to entertain, it is also educational with information on the sensory biology of sharks and their role
as top predators in the marine food chain. Visit the display hall and view the large variety of lifelike replicas of sharks, fish and
rays, including that of a 892kg Great White Shark. Browse in the Curio Shop where a treasure chest of unusual and stylish gifts, including
hand crafts, T-shirts, leather goods, jewellery and other ornaments, awaits
you.
The Umhlanga Promenade:
3
Kilometres of paved scenic walkway from
the edge of the Umhlanga Lagoon Reserve running south
from the Breakers Resort towards the Lighthouse and towards Durban in the far south. It spans the
popular apartment and resort complexes that line the golden sands of this premier beach resort destination.
Durban is just 17 km south of Umhlanga Rocks along an excellent motorway called the
M4.
Boat
Trips:
Look out for dolphins and whales on these
early morning boat trips on a Sharks Board ski boat and observe first hand how the meshing crews go about their
servicing of the shark nets off Durban's Golden Mile. Experience and enjoy the sights of Durban as you travel
through the harbour and out to sea into the rising sun.
uShaka Marine
World:
Ushaka Marine World offers a world of
entertainment. This aqua-marine park has a world-class aquarium, a water theme slide park, village walk,
private beach and lots of restaurants and shops.
Sibaya
Casino:
Sibaya Casino is a 20 minutes drive North of Umhlanga. They offer gaming, live
entertainment, conferencing, accommodation and food. There is also a cultural
village.
Suncoast
Casino:
Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World is situated along the
beachfront in Durban and offers not only gaming, gambling and restaurants but also access to one of Durban's
cleanest beaches.
Nature and Amusement
Parks:
Crocodile
Creek
Croc Valley
Umgeni River Bird Park
Horse Trails and Horseback
Riding:
Giba Gorge Horse
Trails
Shaka
Land:
Take a step back in time and enter the world of Shaka, King of
the Zulus at his Great Kraal overlooking the Umhlatuze Lake.The Nandi Experience is a three hour daytime adventure named in honour of Shaka's mother,
Nandi, and is not to be missed.
The adventure commences with a condensed audio-visual
presentation of the life of Shaka, followed by a guided tour through Shakaland's Great Kraal, headed by Baba
Viyese Biyela. Tales of ancient lore and legend will hold your interest, while
you visually experience basket weaving, beer making and pottery, to name a
few.
Discover the secrets of the sangomas. Drink zulu beer with
the Chief and his wives. A crash of drums heralds the start of a spectacular dance show which will keep
you spellbound for 40 minutes. The dancers will then sing as they escort you down to the "Shisa Nyama"
restaurant, to feast on traditional foods. Overnight stays in
a traditional beehive hut can also be arranged.
Golf:
Golfers are spoilt for choice with 11 Courses, including some of
the country's top-rankings with individual holes listed in the top 100 - all within a 35km radius of
Umhlanga.
Both Zimbali
Country Club and Prince's Grant offer tough challenging courses. Zimbali offers one of the toughest tests of
golf in the region, with the inward nine providing a scenic
distraction.
Also to the west is
the Umhlali Country Club course and the town of Tongaat has a nine-hole course which is the Amitikulu Golf
Course.
South of Umhlanga is the 5,883-meter Durban Country Club Beachwood Golf Course and on
the outskirts of Durban's CBD is the renowned Durban Country Club Championship course - home to some yearly
Sunshine Tour tournaments which hosts players such as Ernie Els, Rory Sabbitini and Retief
Goosen.
Nearby is the 9-hole
Windsor Park Golf Club, which has a mashe' course. Off-season rates and equipment for hire for the not-so-serious
and beginner golfers.
Royal Durban is in the centre of town,
surrounded by the Greyville Race Course. This course is very flat and
user-friendly.
At higher
altitude inland is the Kloof Country Club which is situated about 30 km along the N3 and is a good stop
before you travel to Hillcrest to visit the crafts and curio shops on the way to the Valley of a 1000
Hills.
Nature
Trails:
Stay on course as you explore a heritage trail, or take to
the forests and revel in nature that is aeons old.
Umhlanga, the Zulu name for "Place of the reeds" for the
profusion of reeds on the banks of the Ohlange River that flows just north of Umhlanga, was once part of a
coastal dune forest system. It provided sanctuary to a myriad small wildlife in and around the area
today.
Umhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve
- The O'Connor Promenade, which
hugs the shoreline, ends where the Umhlanga Lagoon Nature Trail begins. This is a delightful hour-and-a-half
trail on a well marked path. Wander through stunning coastal forest on boardwalks that cross the Ohlange
River on its way to the lagoon, buttressed by dunes. It is home to vervet monkeys, small buck and a profusion
of butterflies and birds. Benches and picnic spots are discreetly provided. Follow the trail to reach both
the beach and the lagoon, popular as a naturist "hideaway", as well as among parasailing enthusiasts and
board sailors. The remains of a Stone Age seashell midden can also be found near the
lagoon.
Hawaan Forest
- This unique
indigenous woodland has remained in its natural state for centuries. It is a beautiful forest characterized
by important species of trees with tropical attributes, and many small animals. Umhlanga Ponds is one of the best birding sites on the
coast.
Beachwood
Mangrove Nature Reserve - South of Umhlanga, this is a well-organized reserve on the banks of the Umgeni River. A series of
environmental education courses are held here and guided canoeing trips through the mangroves can be
arranged.
Sports:
Sports facilities in and around Umhlanga make it a
perfect venue for people who love to play. With its great weather (more
than 320 sunny days a year) the people of the Zulu Kingdom are sport crazy!
Comrades Marathon - The world's greatest ultra-marathon, run every year in
June between Pietermaritzburg and Durban.
Dusi Canoe
Marathon - The annual Dusi Canoe Marathon is the main canoeing event in
KwaZulu-Natal. It takes place in early January and attracts some 2000 paddlers supported by a 3 000-strong crew.
This world famous event stretches over three days through boiling rapids, deep African canyons and searing tropical
heat. It starts at Camps Drift in Pietermaritzburg and ends at the Blue Lagoon, 10 minutes drive from
Umhlanga.
Stadiums:
World-class sports facilities dominate the Isaiah Ntshangase &
Masabalala Yengwa area, just 15 minutes drive from Umhlanga. The beautiful Moses Mabhida Stadium is designed
for a number of sports and also offers tourist attractions. Absa
Stadium is a test rugby venue and the home of the Sharks rugby team. And next door Kingsmead is a well-known
international test cricket venue. Other sports clubs in the vicinity cater for archery, hockey, athletics,
cycling, tennis, golf, swimming and rowing.
Durban July:
Greyville race track, in the heart of Durban, hosts two of South
Africa's premier horse racing
events each year, The Durban July and the Gold Cup.
Surfing:
Beach Africa,
billed as the largest beach festival in the world, takes Durban's Golden Mile by storm for 10 straight days of fun
in the sun in July. It includes day and night pro surf contests that attract the worlds best surfers, a jet ski
festival, beach sports like volleyball, fashion and beauty extravaganzas and massive beach
parties.
| 
