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Umhlanga Coastline

Welcome to the Umhlanga Coastline of South Africa

If you need any additional travel information not mentioned on this site, please feel free to email us for complimentary assistance.

Safety & Security

In terms of safety, the Durban / Umhlanga area is one of the safest in South Africa and Umhlanga in particular still sees people walking freely. The North Coast beach areas, including the Umhlanga promenade are also safe for families to relax and enjoy a day or an evening out.

When on holiday (vacation) there is often a tendency to relax to such an extent that we forget all our normal rules of safety and security. While we want people to relax and forget the stresses of everyday life and, regardless of how safe an area may be, there are basic guidelines that should always be adhered to. Some general pointers in this regard are:

Don't venture into a bad area at night, nor on your own during the day. As with all countries in the world, there are areas which are more prone to criminal activity than others.

Lock your car doors when you park somewhere, even if you are just "popping in for a minute". As an extra precaution, it doesn't hurt to keep your doors locked even while driving. There may be a one in a million chance of anything happening, but who's to say who that one will happen to?

Don't walk around dripping with gold and diamonds. Apart from the fact that this is generally good advice for any country, if you intend doing anything active, including a romp in the sea, you risk damage or loss to your valuables. Rather use the safe available at your accommodation. Most establishments listed on this site provide a safe, either centrally or within your room. Leave your valuables there.

Avoid going to quiet beaches on your own. Try to go to the beach when other people are bound to be there or visit a beach that enjoys passing traffic. This is especially true for very early mornings and after dark. The Durban beachfront and most North Coast beaches are popular spots and meet these criterion. The North coast beaches in particular are such that you can enjoy a sense of privacy and solitude without actually being isolated from other people.

If your accommodation has a private entrance, please lock your doors at night. Feel free to keep windows open if there is no air conditioning, but check that these have burglar bars. This is more for the mischief of monkeys than for any bad apple that may wonder along!

Avoid walking along quiet streets or in quiet areas at night or very early in the mornings, especially on your own. If you desperately need something and don't have a car, the chances are that your accommodation establishment would be able to assist you. The establishments listed on this site are all more than happy to help you in whatever way possible to make your stay a safe and pleasant one.

If you want to go into areas that you are unsure of, there are numerous tour operators who specialize in local and city tours. Not only will you feel safer with them, but they will also ensure that you get to see the best on offer within your area of interest. There can be few things as frustrating as planning an excursion only to end up spending all your time trying to find your way and the Durban / Umhlanga coastline area, thanks to its hills, does not always consist of square blocks or straight roads.

If in doubt, ask your accommodation host for advice. They know the region and are happy to have you benefit from that knowledge.

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