A luxurious suburb of Umhlanga in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa, Mount Edgecombe is practically a green island of well-laid out estates and freestanding properties. Named after the Earl of Mount Edgecumbe, a British Baron, Mount Edgecombe oozes prosperity and many of the sophisticated properties, built on a grand scale, sell for vast sums of money.

This suburb has a country club, two large estates – each with their own championship golf course, community centre and picturesque lakes – and the area is a registered conservancy. Small mammals and reptiles roam freely through the estates.

Mount Edgecombe is close to the Umhlanga shopping malls and nightlife, to popular schools and churches, the renowned KwaZulu-Natal swimming beaches and the national N2 highway runs along the northern, eastern and southern border of Mount Edgecombe.

Top 6 reasons to visit Mount Edgecombe

1. Mount Edgecombe has two exceptional golf courses, one is of USGA standard, the other extremely challenging. Visitors are welcome anytime, however, both courses are closed on Mondays.

2. Hire a bicycle to head down to the popular Umhlanga Rocks Beach. Ride along the boardwalk until a good swimming spot catches your eye. The spectacular beaches along this section of the coastline are protected by shark nets and patrolled by lifeguards.

3. The Gateway Theatre of Shopping is more than just shopping, it’s a complete entertainment centre. Apart from more than 250 retail outlets, the centre has several movie theatres, 10 confectionaries, over 35 restaurants, a hotel, theatre, wave house, skate park and mini golf. Have your car washed while you enjoy your visit.

4. Chance your luck at the Sibaya Casino, KwaZulu-Natal’s premier gaming venue. The resort regularly hosts comedy festivals and live international acts. There is a day spa and restaurant on the premises.

5. The surfing waves are consistent around Umhlanga Beach, attracting surfers from all parts of the province. Hire a board to attempt the reef breaks, best surfed during an offshore wind.

6. Try the local’s favourite dish called a Bunny Chow. The restaurant that regularly wins awards for their offerings is Bunny Hugging (yes, that’s the restaurant name) in Mount Edgecombe. Ignore the fact that the restaurant is located at a fuelling station, thousands visit here every month to order a takeaway.

Transport

The nearest airport is King Shaka International Airport, 18km from Mount Edgecombe. There are many car rental agencies in Durban city centre and at King Shaka airport to hire a vehicle, or you could order a vehicle online. Several shuttle service companies are based in Durban and the airport for travel to and from Mount Edgecombe. Uber also operates in Durban.

Did you know?

Bluebottles are common along the Indian Ocean coastline. These blue translucent ‘bubbles’ have a thin tail that can extend 10m from the body and carries stinging cells. Standing on the tail leaves a painful sting which can last for some time. A solution is to rub the flesh of a sour fig – often found growing on nearby dunes – on the affected area to alleviate the pain.

A Stone Age shell midden was discovered at the Mhlanga River mouth, north-east of Mount Edgecombe, an indication of the length of time humans have inhabited this area.