Why it’s A Family Hotel…
Umnagazi is a slice of wild coast adventure in paradise. Once you venture down the last 10 km of single lane potholed road, you arrive at a waterfront oasis and can leave your cares (and your shoes!) behind. A complex of individual bungalows and villas in a variety of configurations and sizes are nestled in the hillside and along the shore of the river bank where it meets the ocean. There’s also a separate adults only section for honeymooners and adults wishing for a bit of privacy.
A small private ferry takes you across the river to picturesque sand dunes where you can go sand boarding and walk on the endless beach. A 15 minute stroll leads to you to explore otherworldly tide pools with excellent fishing. Ring the gong when you’re ready to return. Just watch out for the occasional cow pie from the local free range cattle!
The pool is a bit cold for swimming in April but there’s lots of fun to be had on the exciting jungle gym, trampoline and kids club. Supervised movies are shown each evening in the rec room so parents can linger over dinner. Nannies are also available (for an extra charge) for the little ones. The hotel offers many different activities from hikes to fishing to visiting the local community. But our favorite was just exploring the beach, sandboarding and walking around the beautiful grounds. We had a local dog join us on our beach adventures!
All inclusive dining, including three meals a day and afternoon teatime is a special treat. The chef buys local produce and everything is fresh and delicious. There’s also a children’s dining room open outside of meal times to feed young ones and offers a special early dinner nightly.
Bee Tip
Hire a boat and local guide (a “gillie”) for a private fishing trip into the head of the river – the best time to go is when the tide is changing and the fish are biting.
Sasha Tip
There are many chances to toast marshmallows including at the beach bonfire! I also loved seeing the African fish eagle on the sundowners cruise!
Find Out More
Find out more at https://www.umngazi.co.za
