Route 2 · Uncover Traditions

Family-run Italian pizzeria on the banks of the Umtentweni River in Sea Park, with deck seating overlooking the lawn and water.

Self-catering rooms with garden views, a short walk from Umzumbe beach and close to surfing, hiking and whale-watching spots.

Life-sized dinosaur displays line jungle pathways at this family attraction in Melville, Port Shepstone, with a fossil sand pit and jungle gym.

Contemporary Zulu cooking and a full bar in Umtentweni, where a meal can start with traditional sorghum beer or amahewu.

Seafood restaurant and takeaway in Hibberdene serving fish and chips, prawns, mussels and calamari.

Riverside seafood restaurant on the Umzimkulu River at Port Shepstone's Spillers Waterfront, with a market-style deck and pizza counter.

Handmade Italian-style gelato, bubble waffles and bubble tea at a family-run coffee shop in Sea Park, Port Shepstone.

Weddings, conferences and self-catering stays hosted in coastal dune forest at Elysium, a short walk from the beach.

All-inclusive beachfront hotel at Umzumbe with heated pools and water sports, and dolphins and whales to look out for offshore.

Neighbouring restaurants at Umtentweni's Spar centre: Schooners for seafood platters and pub meals, Jaxx for all-day breakfasts, burgers and wood-fired pizzas.

Studios, bungalows, cottages and houses for self-catering stays fifty metres from the beach at Mtwalume, all with sea views.

Bed and breakfast resort at Elysium on the South Coast, with sea-facing rooms, a swimming pool and an on-site Halaal restaurant.

A self-catering beach house between Sea Park and Southport, with sea views from every room and a path straight down to the shore.

A non-profit network based in Port Shepstone, promoting recycling, organic food gardening and coastal conservation across the South Coast.

Flame-grilled chicken, burgers and chips to take away or have delivered, from the Tiago's branch in Port Shepstone.

Self-catering double-storey chalets on a forested hillside above the Indian Ocean at Umzumbe, with two pools and braai facilities.

Surf school and beachside lodging at Umzumbe, offering surf lessons and surf retreats.

Garden restaurant at Umdlalo Lodge in Umtentweni, serving fresh seafood, sourdough pizzas and South Coast cooking with a full bar.

Beachfront wellness retreat at Elysium offering sound baths, meditation journeys and guided retreat programmes for rest and reflection.

Melville-based life coach guiding clients through one-on-one sessions, retreats and online courses built around mindful decision-making.

Fish and chips takeaway in Sea Park, between Southport and Umtentweni, with prawns, calamari and line fish caught by the owner.

Family-friendly beach at Hibberdene, lifeguarded and netted for safe swimming, with the Jolly Roger's slides and putt-putt on the sand.

Guided kayak trips and rentals on the Umzimkulu River from Spillers Wharf in Port Shepstone, with single and double kayaks and stand up paddleboards.

Rural adventure outfit at KwaQwabe near Umzumbe, running quad bike trails, paintball, camping and hikes up Ntanyeni Mountain.

Community heritage centre near Umzumbe, recounting Zulu history and the 1906 poll tax uprising through dance, stick fighting and craft demonstrations.

Shopping centre on the R102 into Port Shepstone, anchored by a Pick n Pay, banks, takeaways and everyday retail stores.

Laid out in 1912 between the Umzimkulu River and the sea, this course at Port Shepstone puts water hazards into play on the back nine.

Black and white cast iron lighthouse at the Umzimkulu River mouth, marking Port Shepstone since 1905 and a favourite lookout for whales offshore.

Beachfront museum in Port Shepstone, opened in 2018, tracing the harbour's history through shipwreck displays and maritime artefacts.

Beach at Southport with a gently sloping tidal pool, shark nets and a shaded picnic area behind the sand.

Contemporary fusion cooking from a regularly changing menu at this intimate restaurant within Honeywood in Sea Park.

Massages, facials and body treatments at this forest-set day spa within Honeywood Lodge in Sea Park, using natural, vegan-friendly products.

Upmarket guest lodge near Umtentweni's main beach, with eight en-suite rooms, Zizi's restaurant and bar, and function space for weddings and conferences.

A tennis club in Umtentweni with six all-weather courts, three floodlit, a practice wall and coaching for all ages.

Community-built viewing deck at Umtentweni overlooking the sea, a seasonal lookout for migrating whales and dolphins.

Leisurely boat cruises on the Umzimkulu River from Spillers Wharf in Port Shepstone, passing birdlife including African fish eagles along the banks.

Beach at Umzumbe, between Hibberdene and Pumula, with lifeguards and shark nets for safe swimming, fishing and birdwatching.