Darren Maule, East Coast Radio DJ, and Chris Knutsen, SA surfing legend, tell us about their neighbourhood.
Umhlanga – a live, work and play area – is recognised as a thriving and vibrant part of KwaZulu-Natal. The area continues to attract the young and ambitious, growing families as well as the affluent and wealthy. You will find some of Durban’s finest properties in this area – from new developments like the The Pearls of Umhlanga, to a mix of mansions, large family homes, and complexes and apartments. This area continues to grow through property developments and road upgrades. From Umhlanga you can easily access the major highways such as the N2 and M4. Just a few minutes away from King Shaka International Airport, Umhlanga is also close to some of KZN’s best surfing and golfing spots. Umhlanga is home to Netcare Umhlanga Hospital, Gateway Theatre of Shopping, SMG Umhlanga, Porsche Centre Umhlanga and some of KZN’s top schools. This area is also home to many well-known South Africans, such as East Coast Radio presenter and comedian Darren Maule, as well as South African surfing legend Chris Knutsen.
For Chris his home is a great investment and holds many special memories as it is the area where he grew up. As someone who loves the outdoors, Chris’s favourite home feature is his sun lounge. With Umhlanga offering so much, Chris shares some of his favourite things to do and places to visit. “I enjoy going to Durban Surf for coffee, Afro’s for lunch and Mo-Zam-Bik for dinner. My Sundays are normally spent with my family, and I especially like to go surfing with my son,” says Chris. “There is so much to do in and around Umhlanga and KwaZulu-Natal. My ideal spots to enjoy the outdoors and nature is by going on off-road mountain bike trails, exploring the Berg and visiting the Wild Coast.”
For Darren, living in Umhlanga is about the convenience. “Apart from the fact that it is literally five minutes from work (carbon footprint!), I chose my home for its high ceilings and big rooms – essential for a 1,96m person. It is secure, modern, spacious, minimalist, clean and I can see the sea!” says Darren. “My balcony is a great spot to enjoy nature, for birds and mosquitoes. A few metres further I can watch monkeys and field mice, and a few metres further are the blue bottles and crabs!” Umhlanga offers so much when it comes to food. “For coffee, I enjoy going to any one of the myriad coffee shops and/or restaurants in the Village. The curry buffet at The Oyster Box is one of my favourites for lunch, and for dinner I really enjoy driving down to Florida Road and having a tasty, healthy meal at Thirteen East Coast Eatery. My Sundays are spent doing nothing more than watching copious amounts of sport on TV,” says Darren.
Best in food:
- Little Havana
- The Oyster Box
- Mo-Zam-Bik
- Olive and Oil
- The Chefs Table
Things to do:
- Indulge in some retail therapy, dine, entertain the kids and enjoy a theatre show at Gateway Theatre of Shopping.
- Enjoy Durban’s warm weather at Umhlanga Beach.
- Go for a picnic at Chris Saunders Park.
- Explore the outdoors on the Umhlanga Lagoon hiking trail.
- Have a day of adventure on the 4x4 tracks at Gateway Theatre of Shopping.
Top schools:
- Umhlanga Pre-Primary School
- Atholton Primary School
- Umhlanga College
- Hamptons Primary School
Buying in Umhlanga
The monthly bond repayment to purchase a typical property in Umhlanga, namely a two-bedroom apartment with the median asking price of R2,175m, is R21,715 per month over 20 years at prime of 10,5% with no deposit.
This article originally appeared in Neighbourhood, Sunday Times.
Take a spectacular trip through Umhlanga here:
