The year 1895 is a very important year for the resort town of Umhlanga as Sir Marshall Cambell founded the town during that year. Its first hotel was established in 1920, it was then followed by a shop and then a lighthouse. The town’s further developments included the Natal Anti Shark Measures Board now known as the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board and more hotel developments. From 1972, Umhlanga saw progressive developments when The Borough of Umhlanga was formed through the integration of Umhlanga Rocks, a resort town and La Lucia, a suburb. Throughout the 1980s, further inland developments took place.

Today, the resort town attracts thousands of tourists each year and continues to offer its holidaymakers an unforgettable experience. Named after the Ohlanga River, a river that leads to the Indian Ocean, a mere three kilometres from the town. The town is often mispronounced as Umshlanga but the correct pronunciation of the HL is pronounced voicelessly using the lateral alveolar similar to the Welsh II. The former sugarcane fields of the town have become a focus for the economic development of the rest of Durban and Umhlanga is fast becoming synonymous to places like Sandton in Johannesburg as an economic hub. A perfect example of the resort town’s economic impact is the fact that in 2010 the Durban International Airport was moved to La Mercy which lies a few kilometres from the town and was re-launched as King Shaka International Airport. The town is home to an array of hotels, holiday apartments and guesthouses with amazing views of Umhlanga’s popular and historic lighthouse which is also a landmark. Throughout the year, some of the world’s most serious surfers take to the waves and enjoy the water by wave surfing, body boarding or kite surfing along the endless, pristine coastline. Surfers tend to prefer a stay in an Umhlanga self-catering type of guesthouse which is reasonable yet offers the same luxury as any other hotel or guesthouse in the area.

The area boasts with adventures such as diving, air flips, river rafting, quad biking, hot air ballooning and abseiling to name a few. During the whale watching season, there are plenty of spots to enjoy land-based whale watch and some Umhlanga guest houses offer views of this wonderful spectacle which attracts people from South Africa and around the world every year. Being the economic hub of the greater Durban region, the town is home to numerous world class restaurants, night clubs, shopping malls and theatres. The La Lucia Mall and the Pavillion Mall are two of the most popular malls in the area, offering visitors a world class holiday shopping experience. For the more eccentric and artistic, there are plenty of arts and crafts markets as well. Umhlanga is ideal for any kind of holidaymaker, whether you simply need to get away from the city or have an adventure and fun filled holiday for you and your family.


Water sports enthusiasts will definitely feel at home in Umhlanga, a town that enables them to make the most of their vacation. Furthermore, apart from a variety of water sports they can enjoy, they will be pleased to discover Umhlanga Guest House http://ubuntustay.com/accommodation/Umhlanga_Rocks,_Kwazulu_Natal,_South_Africa# and Umhlanga Self-Catering http://ubuntustay.com/accommodation/Umhlanga_Rocks,_Kwazulu_Natal,_South_Africa# .