Thanks to the original farm owner, surveyor Thure Lilliecrona carefully laid out the borough of Uvongo in garden village style, making it one of the most picturesque along this section of the KwaZulu-Natal Province south coast.
Uvongo, a distorted Zulu word indirectly translated as the place of rushing water, has a magnificent sloping beach situated in a cove overlooked by a 23m waterfall where the contents of the iVungu River spills over into a 27m deep pool that meets the lagoon during high tide.
The area is thick with evergreen coastal vegetation and the climate is mostly warm, even during the winter months. Visitors are able to swim in the warm Indian Ocean practically throughout the year.
Uvongo Beach is popular with families, secure in the knowledge that the shallow lagoon provides safe swimming for their children and the beach offers fun in the sun for adults, expected of a desirable seaside vacation.
Top 6 reasons to visit Uvongo
1. Spend chill time on the Uvongo beach, swimming and soaking up the sun. For those interested in water sports, neighbouring St Michaels-on-sea has good surfing waves and the lagoon is an excellent spot for windsurfing.
2. Hike the footpath mapped out alongside the waterfall to reach the 28ha iVungu River Nature Reserve. Trails lead through riverine forest up against the river banks with plentiful birdlife in the canopy and on the river. Be on the lookout for the pretty purple-banded sunbird.
3. The Uvongo pier is a popular fishing spot for shad, bream, blacktail and other sea fish. There are a number of angling stores nearby to hire fishing gear, ask your host for details.
4. Feeling a bit frazzled after too much sun? Take yourself off to the Vizage Spa to treat your body to some personal care at the hands of professionals.
5. Peruse the Uvongo Flea Market, held every weekend, where patrons can purchase anything from fresh fruit and mouth-watering food creations to toys and plants.
6. Take a walk through Butterfly Valley in Ramsgate to see the many butterflies on display. The venue is a breeding centre for butterflies and also has reptiles, spiders and other creatures to view. See if you can find the spiny leaf insects amongst the foliage.
Transport
The nearest international airport is Durban’s King Shaka International Airport, 168km from Uvongo. The Margate Airport is only 7km away and flights arrive from OR Tambo International in Johannesburg approximately 4 times a week. Several car rental agencies are based at Margate and at the airports or you could order a vehicle online. There are a few taxi companies operating in Margate.
Did you know?
Many local old-timer tribesmen fear the Uvongo pool below the waterfall, believing that a river monster lurks in the deep.
Visitors to Uvongo occasionally jump the 23m distance from the top of the waterfall into the pool below. The jump is done completely blind, as it’s not possible to see the pool below. Do not attempt a jump, it’s dangerous and could result in injury or death! Rather visit the Oribi Gorge nearby, where a few adrenalin-pumping activities in a controller environment are offered.
