Umdoni Municipality

Umdoni Local Municipality is located under the Ugu District Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal Province. It is made up of 10 wards, most of which are rural areas. Umdoni Municipality covers the areas of: 'Amahlongwa; Amandawe; Umzinto; Ghandinagar; Shayamoya; Park Rynie; Scottburgh; Hazelwood; Asoka Heights; Malibu Heights; Pennington; Sezela; Ifafa; Bazley; Mtwalume; Malangeni and Esperanza.'

The municipality can be divided into three major land uses. These being: 'commercial agriculture; traditional authority areas or coastal urban nodes.' The coastline stretches approximately 40km. The town of Scottburgh is approximately 50km from the city of Durban and 65km from Port Shepstone.
The main economic sectors is: 'Commercial Agriculture'. The municipal council consists of 37 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation. Part of Vulamehlo Local Municipality was merged into Umdoni Local Municipality on 3 August 2016.

Umdoni Park
'Syzigium Cordatum' is the Latin name for the tree that makes this part of the KwaZulu-Natal, South Coast so special. The Zulus will tell you – "Woza hlala nami kwa-amanthe isihlahla Umdoni phansi"- Come and sit with me under the Umdoni tree!

Nearly 2.3 square kilometers in size and encompassing the Umdoni Park Golf Club, Umdoni Point which has a relatively private beach and tidal pool, Botha House and excellent trails through some of the most pristine coastal forest left on the KZN South Coast today. The Umdoni Park was the awe-inspiring vision of Sir Frank Reynolds. After he acquired the land in 1918, Sir Frank Reynolds set about drawing up the final papers that denoted the Umdoni Trust- a mandate that ensured the well being of this exquisite site!
To this day, this beautiful park is maintained in line with the vision initiated in 1918. That was for the public! It is a place where bird and wildlife abounds, where the coastal forest envelopes you as you venture deeper into the indigenous bush along the many well-maintained trails, where an 18 hole layout tests even the most seasoned golfer and where a luxury guesthouse, having entertained statesmen and past presidents alike, stands proudly overlooking the Indian Ocean…truly a: ("GIFT TO THE NATION" as one our late presidents would have said- Mr Nelson Mandela)

In The Umdoni municipality - "As you awake here in the morning, Wagtails whistle in excitement as they chase moths around on the lawn, the Purple Crested Turaco (Lourie) sends out its morning wake up call from the Flat Crown Tree and the distant call of the Trumpeter Hornbill echo’s across the valley." The real draw to Umdoni Park though, lies in these rare birds localised to this lush coastal forest! Fantastic walking trails take you through this 2.5 square kilometer site, with the possibility of seeing 230 different bird species. Birding enthusiasts have regularly noted their excitement when spotting the: Green Malkoha; the Narina Trogon and the Magpie Mannikin. "If you are lucky, the pair of nesting Crowned Eagles will be heard calling from their towering vantage points, a sighting of them being quite a humbling experience!"

There are over 20 kilometres of forest and beachfront hiking trails in Umdoni municipality, so bring along your walking shoes and enjoy trails that are over a hundred years old. ("All paths are clearly marked and well maintained and have a varying degree of difficulty to challenge even the seasoned hiker!") The 'Gorge Trail' takes you down into the Mkhumbane River Gorge where you’ll be met by steep inclines, boulders and waterfalls.
For the more relaxed walking experience, 'Molly’s Road' winds its way along the top of the ridge and brings you to the Otter Site, a stunning viewpoint punched out of the lush coastal bush.

Pennington and Umdoni enjoy a of lovely coastline with beach and rocky outcrops. Perfect for discovering rock pools and the fascinating creatures that depend on those pools for their survival, (as seen in the: PLACE IMAGE)   If you’re lucky, you may spot a pod or two of dolphins frolicking in the waves. The diving has been Rated amongst the top 10 dive sites in the world. Aliwal Shoal is a sandstone reef, five kilometres in length, featuring elaborate sandstone structures, pinnacles, gullies and caves. At a maximum depth of 28 meters, the abundance of sponges, anemones, hard corals and abundance of fish life will astound even the most experienced divers. (Choose from the many dive centres located in the Umkomaas, Scottburgh and Park Rynie areas. WARNING: These are adrenaline-filled excursions out to sea.)