Umdloti

Umdloti
Umdloti Show map of KwaZulu-Natal Umdloti Show map of South Africa Umdloti Show map of Africa  Umdloti shown within KwaZulu-Natal
Location within Durban  Umdloti
Coordinates: 29°40′S 31°07′E / 29.667°S 31.117°E / -29.667; 31.117Coordinates: 29°40′S 31°07′E / 29.667°S 31.117°E / -29.667; 31.117
Country	South Africa
Province	KwaZulu-Natal
Municipality	eThekwini
Area
• Total	1.59 km2 (0.61 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Total	1,778
• Density	1,100/km2 (2,900/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
• Black African	12.3%
• Coloured	2.2%
• Indian/Asian	8.5%
• White	76.7%
• Other	0.3%
First languages (2011)
• English	72.7%
• Afrikaans	14.3%
• Zulu	7.1%
• Xhosa	1.7%
• Other	4.2%

Umdloti, (also known as Umdloti Beach), is a small resort town on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast, South Africa that is situated at the mouth of the Mdloti River north of Durban and now forms part of eThekwini, the Greater Durban Metropolitan Municipality. The name Mdloti is the Zulu word for a species of wild tobacco that grows here.

Umdloti has a permanent population of around 3,000 people but can increase by as much as tenfold during the Christmas and Easter holiday season. Due to Umdloti's single access road from the M4/N2 interchanges, the topography, the fact that North and South Beach Roads are both cul-de-sac's and limited public parking, the repercussions of the seasonal holidaymaker influx results in traffic congestion and frequent gridlock, mainly at year-end.

Umdloti real estate consists of full title, free-standing homes, mainly on the South Beach and sectional title apartments, located mostly on North Beach. Much of the latter is owned by non-residents as holiday homes or rental properties.

Umdloti, although still a small, peaceful town is situated ten kilometers north of Umhlanga Rocks. It has two commercial centres, a Post Office and several restaurants. The town is split in two levels by an ancient, mature sand-dune, creating an upper and lower area of the town. A natural Rock pool by the beach creates a safe swimming area. Its southern boundary consists of natural, sub-tropical bush and sugar cane fields. To the north, the Umdloti River and estuary. To the West, it abuts natural bush and behind that, the Tongaat-Hulett Sugar's Bellamont Estate.

Umdloti is famous for dolphins that swim very close to the beach early morning and July to November is a good time for Whale watching when whales are often spotted from the beach.