Car & Van Hire - uMhlanga

Car rental in uMhlanga is a great way to get around, exploring one of the trendiest of the Durban suburbs. With beautiful nature, great places to eat and lots of fun activities to try, uMhlanga is never boring. Many visitors like to start at the beach, right in the middle of town. Take a stroll along the promenade at uMhlanga Beach, which stretches for 2.5 km. The water here is suitable for both surfing and swimming and is not too cold, thanks to the warm Indian Ocean currents.

If you prefer to go snorkelling or diving, try La Lucia Beach. The water here is beautifully clear, and in its depths, you can admire impressive coral reefs and brightly coloured fish. This beach is a lot quieter than uMhlanga Beach and is a great place to go to get off the beaten track.

To pick up the best produce, head to uMhlanga Farmers Market. This market is open every Wednesday from 10:00 to 13:00 and showcases the very best of local farms and producers. Pick up farm-fresh fruit and veg to cook for yourself, or indulge in some tasty treats that have already been prepared for you. There are also artisanal cheeses, home-baked cakes and locally-reared meat. It's a great place to try South African favourites like biltong and boerewors!

With car or van rental in uMhlanga, you can also see some of the best of South Africa's nature. The uMhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve is truly breathtaking, with its long hiking trail that winds through lush greenery. Within the reserve, you'll be able to explore the remarkable Hawaan Forest, the last dry coastal dune forest in the world. Watch out for the local wildlife, which includes small antelope-like duikers and bushbucks, many different birds and even African rock pythons! Don't panic if you happen to see one of these huge snakes, as they are not venomous and usually leave humans alone.

The whole family will have a great day out at WavePark Gateway, uMhlanga's very own water park. There are three separate areas just for kids, starting with the Toddlers' Zone, where the youngest children can splash about peacefully. The other two children's zones see rides with gradually increasing intensity. Of course, there are also large water slides for older thrill-seekers, including the jaw-dropping 180 m Supertubes. With something for everyone, you can easily spend a full day here.

The Durban area has far less traffic than Johannesburg or Cape Town, but you might still want to avoid peak hours. Rush hour is between 06:00 and 08:30 and again from 15:30 to 17:30. Traffic generally flows from uMhlanga towards Durban in the mornings, as many people commute into the city, then back again in the afternoons. You can expect some more traffic coming into uMhlanga at weekends or on public holidays, as it is a popular spot for day-trippers and holiday-makers.

In South Africa, traffic lights are known as "robots", a word you'll probably hear if you ask for directions. Power outages mean that robots are often not working. In this case, junctions should be treated as a 4-way stop. At a 4-way stop in South Africa, cars coming from the right have the right of way. You should also be aware that if you are turning right at a traffic light, you must always give priority to oncoming traffic, regardless of what colour the light is.

There are several options for parking in the uMhlanga area. If you park at a shopping centre, such as uMhlanga Arch, you’ll often find handy bonuses such as the first hour free. On-street parking can be a bit harder to find. It’s generally safer and more convenient to choose a large car park. Don’t be surprised if you are approached by one of the parking attendants in orange jackets, offering to look after your car. These people work unofficially in exchange for tips.

If you want to take a road trip into rural parts of South Africa, you will need to be prepared for bad road conditions. Watch out for potholes on the roads. Take care when driving around animals, and do not honk your horn at them - it may make them angry! You can either wait for them to pass or drive very carefully around them. Animals may become skittish if you choose the second option, so always take things slowly and cautiously. Don’t drive at night, as most wild animals are at their most active after dark. Roads in the countryside are often poorly lit, so you may not see a creature trying to cross until it’s too late.