No beach-loving tourist should miss Durban's most popular seaside suburb on the North Coast, Umhlanga Rocks (pronounced "um-shlung-ga"). Originally part of a sugar estate, Umhlanga means "the place of reeds" in Zulu and is named after the nearby

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No beach-loving tourist should miss Durban's most popular seaside suburb on the North Coast, Umhlanga Rocks (pronounced "um-shlung-ga"). Originally part of a sugar estate, Umhlanga means "the place of reeds" in Zulu and is named after the nearby Ohlanga River. It's about a half-hour drive north of Durban's city center, and you'll know you've arrived when you spot the landmark white-and-red lighthouse along the sandy beach. A selection of luxury hotels and apartments are found overlooking the sand here, including the Cabana Beach Hotel, the Beverly Hills Hotel, and the Umhlanga Sands Hotel. The beaches are patrolled for currents and sharks, and the area is a popular getaway for Durban city dwellers.

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