Travel Guide Umhlanga Rocks

In 1925, Alfred Campbell, son of sugar magnate Sir Marshall Campbell, built a house near the sea so he could come to the Hawaan Coastal Forest to hunt more often. At the time, there was only one small shack facing the ocean, the Oyster Box, which sailors could spot from a distance by the sunlight on its metal roof. In the 1920s, the daughter of Mauritian planter Melidor Chéron, Virginia, a successful singer, opened the first hotel in the area, the Victoria, with her Scottish husband. In 1953, a red and white lighthouse was built, and then fashion did the rest... Today, Umhlanga, pronounced "M'Chlanga", is one of the most chic seaside resorts in South Africa. Seen from the centre, the town lacks character but the coastal walk at sunset is unforgettable. Recreational activities abound, with the full range of water sports and pleasant walks. The main reason for coming to Umhlanga Rocks is to relax in the almost permanent sunshine and to enjoy the temperate ocean. Due to urban growth, Durban is touching the outskirts of Umhlanga. In fact, the resort is now considered the chic district of the regional capital, and for some the only livable area in Durban!