For those who are not familiar with Umdloti, it is a small beach resort town, between Ballito and Umhlanga on the KwaZulu- Natal North Coast. It is quite a small but very pretty, as you don’t only have the ocean but also natural forest around you.
Accommodation:
We stayed at the Perna Perna Resort…the main deciding factor was that it is on the beach front, so you have a beautiful ocean view and can easily walk to the beach. There is nothing wow about the units, they are comfortable, slightly old fashioned and functional. The units have everything one would need to stay for a few days or weeks.
Perna Perna also has a range of activities and amenities, such as a spa, children’s play area, pool, and a games room. Really they have a little something for everyone if you are wanting to spend your holiday that way.
The only thing you have to make sure to do is keep your windows closed, as the monkeys are a huge problem and climb into the units and steal food and just wreak havoc! Other than that, it is very pleasant and we enjoyed our stay…again…the view is amazing and waking up to the sound of rolling waves is magical.
Lounge and dining room of Perna Perna flat – Unit 17 (taken with my iPhone)
Things to do in Umdloti
Umdloti Beach:
There is a nice long beach, which is great for walks. You can swim but there are no active life guards, so it at your own risk, and the sea feels quite rough so not good for little kids.
However, there is a natural rock pool next to the life guard house (not that you would know what it is as it’s so run down) which is great for a little dip and perfect for kids, as the water is gentle and the waves small. If you go about three-quarters into the rock pool, you will see a few fishes. There is nothing to worry about, the rock pool is about waist deep for the average adult the whole way.
Restaurants:
There are three restaurants in the Umdloti Center, which is on the right as you drive into town on South Beach Road. There is Mundo Vida, Bel Punto and Bush Tavern.
They are all next to eachother and offer fantastic food. Bel Punto has more of an Italian influence while Mundo Vida has a little bit of a French Bistro feel with Asian fushion in some dishes. And the Bush Tavern is a traditional pub…with good pub grub.
At Mundo Vida, I recommend the Strawberry Daiquiri and creamy garlic mussels to start. The garlic sauce is one of the best I have had, it is silky and the perfect balance of cream and garlic…yum!
At Bel Punto, I recommend trying any of their pizza’s. The base that they make is just one of the best, it is thin, crisp and delicious. It is almost flaky, which sounds strange but is just perfect.
At Bush Tavern, their Dom Pedro is one of the best I have ever tasted…so if you go for nothing else…go for one of them. I am not sure if it is the fact that it is like a double thick milkshake or what it is…but it is delicious! The food is good…not gourmet but really good.
The view from Perna Perna – A ship on the horizon, outside Unit 17
Overal, that is all there is in this small town but really do you need any more, other than a beautiful view and good food…for me it is like a little piece of heaven and we enjoyed every minute of it. With Umhlanga and Ballito being so close, it is very easy to spend the day at either of these towns, and they are filled with their own attractions. For a list of things to do in these towns, visit Umhlanga Tourism or Ballito Online.
