Up-market resort with sophisticated shopping malls, a beach with sandy stretches and rocky areas, and a paved walkaway along the beach. Trails meander through the dune forest of the Umhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve. Umhlanga Rocks attracts holiday-makers all year round. Since its amalgamation with the luxury suburb of La Lucia, Umhlanga is something of a mini-Durban. It has a population of over 50 000 residents, numerous shopping malls, nightclubs, a variety of good restaurants.
Umhlanga Rocks is an easy 15 minutes' driving from the Durban city centre, so is much in demand as a holiday spot. And, as with any top seaside place, all its holiday accommodation is within walking distance of the surf. The beach is long and slightly sloping with shark-netted bathing areas, lifeguards, refreshments and changing facilities. And the town's famous red-and-white lighthouse is visible the length of the beach.