🙂 My hometown – Home is definitely where the heart is. Umhlanga and Oyster Box Hotel. Memories.
🙁 Always homesick after I leave…
Love the Oyster Box!
The porters wear pith helmets, even in the summer heat, at this South African institution. But with its friendly ambience, and zeal for Durban cuisine and KwaZulu art, in all their colour and spice, it is more quirky than imposing grande dame. The hotel is poised on the Umhlanga beachfront, where the Indian Ocean froths and scuds against the coastal rocks and a red-and-white lighthouse that flickers at night to welcome ships sailing into Durban’s harbour. Its surrounding beaches, such as Umdloti and La Lucia, are great for dolphin watching, surfing and diving. Downtown Durban is a 20-minute drive, while the airport is 17 minutes away by car.
Colonial at first whiff, the lobby features whirling palace staircases, liquescent marble floors, and the slurred whirring of ceiling fans. But the public areas beyond are a confection of colour: red-and-white candy-striped textiles, roses curled around chandeliers (pinched from the Savoy in London), arrangements of anthurium flowers, and Mediterranean tapestries woven with dusky threads.
2023:
2021:
VERY excited as it had been touch and go whether we would come off RED and be allowed back to SA. Good old AMEX Companionship Vouchers came in handy with hugely discounted flights!
Missed this place due to Covid … so good to be back and to catch up with friends and blessed to be able to work from here! We arrived in Jhb – first flight in since Covid – Never ever seen the airport arrivals ‘queue’ like this!!
Transferred for our flight to Durbs and onwards to our fav hotel there. The only challenge working was that the vervets kept trying to steal my sugar and drinks when I tried to work on the balcony, so I had to relocate indoors! We enjoyed a spectacular thunderstorm over the Indian Ocean on our last night!
The Ladell’s were also staying at the OB so we enjoyed a swim with them and joined them for the The Carols by Candlelight which unfortunately was a real disappointment and not at all what we had expected 🙁
We hosted our usual get together with dear friends. Good to see Skabenga the cat is doing well! We certainly did not think it would be the last time that we would see Duncan. 🙁
2018:
What a special stay! Celebrating my 50th with dearest friends in Durbs…. so blessed.
We enjoyed a late dinner with Russell and Lee and went back to our room to listen to music with some drinks but the neighbours complained – which was just as well as we had to be up at 5h00 for our flight to Upington and had the hangovers from hell!
A few special peeps no longer with us 🙁
2012:
Durban UnderSea Club – members Only
DUC as it is locally known, is
is a family orientated, social activities club for people that have an interest in the ocean and its beaches. The Clubhouse currently serves as a “home” to several sports, where water sport participants can meet and arrange sporting activities as well socialize and entertain guests. Always a great night out with old friends at DUC … a nostalgic reflection as too many lost too soon….
My nearest and dearest …
Durban beach front has changed alot since the 80s!
Ante Shark Measure Board
The Anti Shark Measure Board was as interesting as ever. This organisation implements shark control measures including nets on popular swimming beaches. Sharks caught in the nets are dissected for public interest. When I was younger I have seen stomach contents containing various interesting items including small fish and car keys! Feeling the texture of the sharks skin is interesting – feels like teeth as Shark skin is covered by tiny flat V-shaped scales, called dermal denticles, that are more like teeth than fish scales. These denticles decrease drag and turbulence, allowing the shark to swim faster and more quietly.
The Durban Aquarium or uShaka Seaworld is also a big draw.
We did an enjoyable cruise around Durban Harbour. In the Durban port you will see ships and many interesting activities that take place in South Africa’s busiest port. Once out the port you will enter into the Indian Ocean and witness the skyline views of Durban City. Take in some fresh air, soak up the outdoors, enjoy the views, listen to some good music, relax, have fun and spend time with your family and friends, enjoy a sunset cruise. An outdoor activity for all.
Umdloti
eMdloti, is a small resort village 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. There are a number of great restaurants on the promenade.
We stayed in an excellent and reasonably priced apartment on the beach with swimming pool, two bedrooms and wi-fi.
SANDBAR
Sandbar is on the beach with great cocktails and a great tapas type menu.
BEL PUNTO
Bel Punto is a fantastic seafood restaurant in the heart of Umdloti. It is a modern, casual chic Restaurant. It is a family run authentic Italian Restaurant (owned by Italians) specialising in Seafood, Steaks, Poultry, Game and Italian Specialties. DIVINE! It was so good that we went back the next day for lunch! The Saldannah Bay Oysters are the best!
MANTA CAFE
Manta Cafe is perfect for a great breakfast but also for lunch, dinner or drinks!
