Uvongo is a seaside resort in the
KwaZulu-Natal South Coast
KwaZulu-Natal South Coast (better known as the KZN South Coast or just the South Coast) is a region on the southern coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It stretches from Scottburgh in the north to Port Edward in the south and Harding in the ...
at the mouth of the
Vungu River in
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal (, also referred to as KZN and known as "the garden province") is a province of South Africa that was created in 1994 when the Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu ("Place of the Zulu" in Zulu) and Natal Province were merged. It is locate ...
,
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
. Uvongo is the largest upmarket residential area on the lower South Coast. The Vungu River has a waterfall that flows into a small gorge near the mouth. The town is named after the Vungu River,
which is derived from the
Zulu word that describes the sound of a waterfall or the wind in a gorge.
Uvongo beach lost its "Blue Flag" title due to storms damaging it in April 2007 but has managed to regain a clean and prestigious beach front. Uvongo still remains the playground of the rich, with multimillion rand properties in the area. Uvongo is one of South Africa's favourite holiday destinations and attracts local and foreign tourists.
Infrastructure
Roads
Uvongo has access to one highway, the
R61 freeway (future
N2 Wild Coast Toll Route
The N2 is a national route in South Africa that runs from Cape Town through George, Gqeberha, East London, Mthatha and Durban to Ermelo. It is the main highway along the Indian Ocean coast of the country. Its current length of makes it the ...
) which runs past Uvongo, bypassing the small town to the west. The freeway links the town to
Port Shepstone
Port Shepstone is a large town situated on the mouth of the Mzimkhulu River, the largest river on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast of South Africa. It is located halfway between Hibberdene and Margate and is positioned 120 km south of Durban. ...
and Durban in the north-east and
Southbroom
Southbroom is a coastal village in Ugu District Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. It is located 143 km south-west of Durban, and 213 km south of Pietermaritzburg.
The village was officially founded in 1933, an ...
and
Port Edward in the south-west. Access to Uvongo from the R61/N2 is obtained through the ''Seaslopes Avenue'' interchange (Exit 33), south of the area.
The
R620 (Marine Drive) runs along the coast linking Uvongo to
Shelly Beach and Port Shepstone in the north-east and Margate,
Ramsgate
Ramsgate is a seaside resort, seaside town in the district of Thanet District, Thanet in east Kent, England. It was one of the great English seaside towns of the 19th century. In 2001 it had a population of about 40,000. In 2011, according to t ...
,
Southbroom
Southbroom is a coastal village in Ugu District Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. It is located 143 km south-west of Durban, and 213 km south of Pietermaritzburg.
The village was officially founded in 1933, an ...
and Port Edward (via the R61) in the south-west. The R620 can also be used as an alternative route to Shelly Beach, Port Shepstone, Durban and
Kokstad
Kokstad is a town in the Harry Gwala District Municipality of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. Kokstad is named after the Griqua chief Adam Kok III who settled here in 1863. Kokstad is the capital town of the East Griqualand region, as it i ...
(via the
R102 in Port Shepstone) for motorists avoiding the Izotsha Ramp Plaza in Shelly Beach and the Oribi Toll Plaza in Port Shepstone.
'Seaslopes Avenue'/'Wingate Avenue' is a small secondary road which starts at the intersection with the R620, between Uvongo and Manaba Beach links Uvongo to the R61/N2, Margate Country Club and the Gayridge agricultural holdings in the south-west.
See also
*
Black December
Black December refers to at least nine shark attacks on humans causing six deaths that occurred along the coast of Natal Province in the Union of South Africa, from December 18, 1957 to April 5, 1958.
Perfect storm
In December 1957 several key fac ...
*
St Michael's-on-Sea
St Michael's-on-Sea (popularly known as St Michael's or St Mikes) is a small seaside village located on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, between Uvongo and Shelly Beach.
Geography
St Micheal's-on-Sea is situated at the mouth o ...
*
KwaZulu-Natal South Coast
KwaZulu-Natal South Coast (better known as the KZN South Coast or just the South Coast) is a region on the southern coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It stretches from Scottburgh in the north to Port Edward in the south and Harding in the ...
References
Populated places in the Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality
Populated coastal places in South Africa
KwaZulu-Natal South Coast
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