Umdloti Beach

Umdloti Beach lies a short distance north of the South African city of Durban, close enough to be incorporated into the Greater Durban Metropolitan Municipality of eThekwini. Making the most of the area’s warm Indian Ocean waters, Umdloti Beach is also situated at the mouth of the Mdloti River, from which the beach garners its name, and is surrounded by native sub-tropical flora and the neat rows of sugar cane fields.

Umdloti Beach is patrolled by lifeguards, and also boasts a natural rock pool for those seeking out a little more shelter while bathing. However, Umdloti Beach is probably most well-known for the pods of dolphins that come close to shore each morning. Between July and November, it’s also possible to spot migrating whales from the beach.

Umdloti Beach is at its busiest during the Christmas and Easter holidays, during which time accommodation needs to be booked in advance.