Explore Umdloti
Umdloti beach and the beachfront walkway, with rocks and the tidal pool area at low tide

Explore Umdloti

Your local guide to Umdloti, La Mercy and the coast between Umhlanga and Ballito: where to stay and eat, who to call, and what to do.

Photo: Umdloti beach by Ossewa, CC BY-SA 4.0

Stay Eat & drink Trades Building Activities Deliveries Spa Shops

Things to do in and around Umdloti

A small seaside village with a famous tidal pool, a river mouth, sunrise beaches and Umhlanga and Ballito on either side.

The dolphin sign of the Umdloti Coastal Conservancy at the village entrance
Village

The village & its tidal pool

Umdloti’s big tidal pool is one of the safest places to swim on the coast and great for snorkelling. The beachfront has cafes and restaurants a few steps from the sand.

Sunrise over the Indian Ocean on the sand between Umdloti and Umhlanga
Beaches

Sunrise on the beach

The beaches face due east. Be on the sand before six in summer for sunrise, dolphins and the fishing boats heading out.

The Mdloti River valley inland of Umdloti
Nature

The Mdloti River

The river meets the sea at the north end of the village. The estuary draws herons, kingfishers and waders, and the valley inland is green hill country.

Umhlanga beach and its red and white lighthouse
Day trips

Umhlanga Rocks

Ten minutes south: the lighthouse, the long promenade, Gateway shopping and plenty of restaurants.

The beachfront at Ballito on the Dolphin Coast
Day trips

Up the coast

La Mercy is next door, and Tongaat Beach, Westbrook, Zimbali and Ballito are a short drive north. King Shaka airport is about 15 minutes away.

Umdloti wildlife & conservation

Over 1,100 species have been recorded around Umdloti: oystercatchers and terns on the beach, bushbuck and blue duiker in the coastal bush, otters along the Mdloti River, and turtles and humpback whales offshore.

  • 14 animals to look out for, with where to find them
  • The full checklist of birds, mammals, reptiles, frogs, fish and butterflies
  • Threatened species recorded here, and how you can help
Explore the wildlife
African Oystercatcher Southern Bushbuck African Clawless Otter Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Local businesses

Real businesses from Umdloti, La Mercy and along the North Coast. Each one applied to be listed.

List your business

Guesthouses, restaurants, builders, handymen, spas, surf and dive schools: if you work in or around Umdloti, people here should be able to find you.

Free for founding businesses

Join now while we launch and your listing costs nothing.

  • Your own listing and business page
  • Call and WhatsApp buttons
  • Link to your website or Facebook page
  • We aim for 250+ views a month, and send you a monthly views report
  • Featured in our Monday newsletter, Umdloti Weekly
  1. Apply using the form
  2. We check it's a real, local business
  3. Go live, usually within 2 working days

Apply to be listed

Got a photo or logo? WhatsApp it to 082 751 1185 after you apply.

We only use your details to set up and manage your listing.

Supported by

Truck4U You call. We deliver. Ballito moving company with two 1.5 ton trucks: furniture removals, appliances, building materials and deliveries along the North Coast. Get a free quote Kids Love Reading Mystery stories with colouring pages and puzzles for ages 7 to 10. Free colouring pages to download. See the books

Explore more of the North Coast

Explore Tugela Mouth The Thukela river mouth, Mandeni and the quiet north end of the coast: river, wild beaches, fishing and history. Visit exploretugelamouth.co.za Explore Ballito The heart of the Dolphin Coast: tidal pools, the promenade, surfing, Salt Rock and Shaka’s Rock. Visit exploreballito.co.za

Contact us

A question about a listing, a correction, news for the newsletter or a tip about the area? Get in touch.

contact@exploretugelamouth.co.za WhatsApp 082 751 1185

Explore Umdloti is an independent local directory, part of the Explore network with Explore Tugela Mouth and Explore Ballito. Listings are paid adverts supplied by the businesses themselves.