Umhlanga Ridge
Umhlanga History
Easily one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world with majestic sunrises and silver shimmering seas. Umhlanga Rocks has seen phenomenal growth to become the popular holiday destination that it is today. Umhlanga Rocks begun as a humble beach cottage, the Oyster Box, but the warm sub-tropical climate soon attracted many to this area and by 1931 Umhlanga Rocks had become a village with additional cottages, stores, hotels and guesthouses. The tin roof of the Oyster box was used as a navigational beacon until 1953 when the automatic lighthouse was built.
As development continued in this area, buildings such as the Victoria, the first hotel, have been rebuilt and refurbished. The Oyster Box Hotel which first opened its doors to the public in 1947 has also been rebuilt as a stylish colonial hotel on the site of the original farmhouse.
Today Umhlanga retains the charm of a seaside village while witnessing tremendous growth inland along Umhlanga Ridge. Umhlanga Ridge has become the new town centre and overlooks the ever growing village of Umhlanga Rocks.
Umhlanga Overview
Umhlanga Ridge is comprised of the corporate precinct as well as the plush residential and commercial districts of the Umhlanga area. Located just north of Durban, Umhlanga Ridge Town Centre has attracted many multinationals as well as prestigious professional firms to establish offices and showrooms there.
The stylish design and eco-friendly approach to the development of Umhlanga Ridge has seen thousands of indigenous shrubs and trees being planted throughout offering tranquil havens amidst the urban buzz. While this peaceful village has seen phenomenal growth over recent years the strict guidelines to development have ensured investors that no further development of the area will adversely affect theirs.
Umhlanga Ridge is perfectly situated, overlooking the village of Umhlanga Rocks to the east, with easy access to a network of major roads including the N2 which connects Durban to the new King Shaka International Airport. It is the ease of access which has been seen as a massive benefit to many of the businesses that have decided to take up residence here.
Umhlanga Attractions & Amenities
This beautiful coastline offers some of South Africa’s most enticing beachfronts. The golden sandy shores lead down to the warm waters of the Indian Ocean which rarely dip below 20 degrees no matter the time of year. The excellent surfing, swimming and bathing conditions make these beaches a popular destination for local and international visitors all year round.
Described as the largest shopping centre in Africa or the southern hemisphere for that matter, the Gateway Theatre of Shopping is host to over 1.8 million shoppers each month. The retail floor space of 180,000 square meters houses almost all of South Africa’s major retail stores as well as restaurants, a skate park, indoor climbing rock, wave house, and various other specialist and entertainment options. www.gatewayworld.co.za
Completed in 1954, the lighthouse on Umhlanga’s beach has been the subject of numerous paintings and memorabilia. Built to replace the rapidly deteriorating Bluff lighthouse, it stands guard to some of the most treacherous waters of Southern Africa. While serving its original purpose to warn ships of hidden dangers, the flashing light also serves as a welcome to the ships sailing into the safety of the Durban harbour.
The King Shaka International Airport was conceptualised in the 1970’s but only officially opened its doors to passengers on May 1, 2010 after several setbacks. Completed, in time for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the runway, which was considerably longer than that of the old Durban International Airport, allows for more direct international flights making this whole region more accessible. www.airports.co.za
Founded in 1989 by Clyde Walker the Virginia Flight School is now owned and run by Bruce Scott. This dedicated team of instructors pride themselves on the high standard of instruction that clients have come to expect from the professional yet personal one-on-one training sessions. Here the training program starts with a private pilot licence and can lead all the way up to an airline transport pilot license. www.vfs.co.za
Neatly tucked away inland of Umhlanga Rocks is Mount Edgecombe Country Club. Boasting world class facilities for both practice and tuition, these two unique championship golf courses designed around the natural lie and habitat of these rolling hills. These courses have been designed to challenge the competitive golfer while also affording the social golfer an enjoyable round. www.mountedgecombe.com
Umhlanga offers a good number of dive spots including the T-Barge, Lighthouse Reef, the Dolphin Reef and the Trawler of Fonatao to name a few. These fascinating spots attract everything from tropical fish and crayfish to moray eels. The best diving conditions are generally found in the winter months when the clear blue waters of the Indian Ocean still offer warm and pleasant conditions.
Netcare Umhlanga Hospital’s state of the art facilities are complimented by a team of dedicated specialist, outstanding nursing care and amongst the most sophisticated equipment anywhere in the world. The 24-hour accident and emergency department is equipped to handle the full spectrum of medical needs with trained professionals suited to deal with trauma as well as general medical emergencies. www.netcare.co.za
