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Spot · tier 3 · South Africa

Umhlanga Beach

Umhlanga (uMhlanga Rocks) is an upmarket beach town just north of Durban with a lifeguard-patrolled beach and promenade; its rockier, punchier conditions compared to the Golden Mile make it a spot favoured by more experienced local kiters, taught locally by operators such as Learn 2 Kitesurf Durban.

Umhlanga Lighthouse, the iconic landmark right on the beach
Umhlanga Lighthouse, the iconic landmark right on the beach — Chris Bloom from Durban, South Africa / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
little egret photographed on the beach at Umhlanga, close and on-sand
little egret photographed on the beach at Umhlanga, close and on-sand — Alandmanson / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
closest generic Umhlanga shot at 113m
closest generic Umhlanga shot at 113m — landagent / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Wind

best months
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec
  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
season notesBest surf/wind conditions align with a SE swell and NW offshore wind; winter (notably June) sees the most consistent clean conditions per surf forecasting data.
qualitythermal

Water

typewaves
temp summer c23-25
temp winter c19-21
wetsuitboardshorts/shorty most of the year

Levels

beginnerno
intermediateyes
advancedyes
notesBeach and reef sections with rockier, punchier conditions than Durban's main Golden Mile beaches suit riders beyond beginner level

Launch & crowd

vibePopular upmarket beach town with promenade, lighthouse and Whalebone Pier

Hazards

Travel basics

airportDUR - King Shaka International Airport
getting thereAbout 6 km / 15 minutes from King Shaka International Airport

Sources: surf-forecast.com · en.wikipedia.org