2025-09 uMhlanga & Cabana Beach Resort

Overview, trip report, images, and reviews from our visit to Cabana Beach Resort.

uMhlanga & Cabana Beach Resort: September 2025

Overview

Cabana Beach Resort is one of our favourite places to stay, and this was our fourth visit. We made an RCI timeshare exchange as usual to secure a well-appointed studio apartment.

The journey there and back went smoothly, even though we did encounter a few delays due to roadworks near Pietermaritzburg. We made customary pit stops at Harrismith Wimpy (Bergview) and The Windmills, on our way down and back.

The weather was decent throughout our stay.

From previous visits, I knew that there would be plenty of opportunities for various types of photography, which I was excited about.

Cabana Beach Resort – Our home base

Cabana Beach Resort is one of South Africa’s most loved family-friendly beachfront resorts. Positioned on a stretch of beautiful uMhlanga coastline, the resort’s selection of self-catering apartments has space for two to eight guests and are equipped with everything you need for a holiday in the sun.

Whether you book a last-minute holiday or join our timeshare programme, Cabana Beach Resort’s apartments offer great value and excellent amenities. Relax in one of the two resort pools, perfect your serve on the squash or tennis courts, look your best at our beauty salon, dine at Wimpy, stay connected with uncapped WiFi, and enjoy the beach on our doorstep.

Apartments are en-suite, equipped with air-conditioning, and fitted with a full kitchen for easy self-catering. Choose from one-bedroom beach-view apartments to the spacious luxury of our Penthouse apartment with its large private terrace. The classic Mediterranean-inspired décor is comfortable and relaxed, perfectly suited to the laidback uMhlanga lifestyle.

Daily Activities

Most of our mornings were filled with photography, rising early to capture the stunning sunrise views at various locations.

Our photography locations were mainly:

  • uMhlanga Promenade
  • Whalebone Pier
  • uMhlanga Lighthouse
  • uMhlanga beaches

General Travel Observations

uMhlanga

‘Umhlanga’ is Zulu and means ‘place of the reeds’. It is so named because of the profusion of reeds on the banks of the Ohlange River that flows just north of Umhlanga.  The area was part of an ancient coastal dune forest system, which today still provides sanctuary for small wildlife. Why stay in Umhlanga? Well, Umhlanga is perfectly situated on the east coast of South Africa, just north of the vibrant port city of Durban. It’s only ten minutes south of King Shaka International Airport. It faces the warm waters of the Indian Ocean and has the best South African accommodation, with superb self-catering apartments, luxury hotels, lodges, and B&Bs. Its beautiful coastline attracts visitors from around the world.

Restaurants:

  • Surf Riders Café: At Surf Riders Café, we use the freshest locally sourced ingredients to bring you what we proudly call “JUST GOOD CHOW!” – our motto and our mission. We take pride in both our food and service, ensuring every guest enjoys great quality, warm hospitality, and a truly outstanding experience. Our menu offers a wide variety – from all-day breakfasts, wood-fired pizzas, and gourmet burgers to an in-store speciality menu featuring fresh seafood and grilled meats. We focus on freshness, seasonality, and authenticity, constantly evolving our menu based on what’s in season and available.
  • Wimpy: Wimpy is a South African favourite for casual dining, and welcomes guests for breakfast, lunch, and laid-back family dinners. With its relaxed surfer style and affordable family-friendly dining, you’ll love their famous breakfast, great coffee, burgers, wraps, and sandwiches.

Shopping Malls & Shopping Centres

The award-winning Oceans Mall offers the ultimate luxury shopping experience. Nestled close to breathtaking ocean vistas, this shopping haven is a true masterpiece, capturing the essence of modern architecture and marine-inspired elements.

Safety

As with any travel destination, normal safety precautions should be taken to avoid falling victim to crime. Visitors should be mindful of their surroundings and take normal precautions against petty crime.

Overall Impression

We highly recommend Salt Rock and Petite Provence, both of which are worth a visit. As of now, our preferred holiday towns on the KZN North Coast are as follows:

  1. Umhlanga
  2. Salt Rock
  3. St Lucia

Research resources

Gallery

20250830_160718