Safe beaches, world-class shopping, the uShaka Marine World day-trip, and enough restaurants to keep everyone happy - Umhlanga has the complete family holiday formula.

South Africa is a big country with a lot of competing claims on your holiday time. So why do so many families return to Umhlanga, year after year, when they could be anywhere else? The answer is the same one it has always been: Umhlanga simply works.

The Beach Factor

Umhlanga Main Beach is one of the few beaches in South Africa that is both netted against sharks and patrolled by lifeguards every day of the week. That combination means parents can sit back and breathe while the children swim. The waves are manageable - big enough to be exciting, gentle enough to be safe for a six-year-old. The sand is clean. The walk from most of our properties is under ten minutes.

Everything Is Within Reach

Part of what makes Umhlanga so easy for families is the density of its offer. The Village - a few blocks of boutique shops, delis, and restaurants - is walkable from the beach. Gateway Theatre of Shopping, one of the largest malls in the southern hemisphere, is a five-minute drive. Durban itself, with uShaka Marine World and the Moses Mabhida Stadium, is 15 minutes along the N2.

Day trip idea

uShaka Marine World in Durban is a full day out - combine the aquarium in the morning with the water park after lunch. Book tickets online to skip the queues.

Eating Well With Kids

Umhlanga Village has an unusually high concentration of good restaurants for its size - and most of them are genuinely child-friendly rather than grudgingly so. La Bella, Ile Maurice, and Chez Nous line the main drag. For something more casual, the beachfront kiosks do toasted sandwiches and ice cream that are the stuff of childhood holiday memories.

Choosing the Right Apartment

For families, the choice of apartment matters as much as the destination. We recommend looking for units with at least two bathrooms, a washing machine (sand happens), a braai for those evenings when you do not want to go out, and - ideally - undercover parking. Our Sea Lodge apartments are perennial family favourites for their generous floor plans and direct beach access. The Shades offers a larger complex with a pool, which younger children particularly love.

  • Beacon Rock 416 - 3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, sleeps 6, pool, secure parking.
  • Stanley Grace - 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, sleeps 8, private pool, braai, double garage.
  • Sea Lodge - multiple units, steps from the beach, pool, great for extended families.
  • The Shades - 8 different units available, complex pool, quiet side streets.
"We've been coming to Umhlanga every December for twelve years. It is the place our children will bring their children."

A Word on Timing

School holidays in KwaZulu-Natal are peak season - prices reflect that and availability is limited. If you have flexibility, early December (before the 10th) or late January offers the same weather at lower rates and with fewer crowds on the beach. Book as far in advance as possible; our most popular apartments are reserved by August for the following Christmas.