This quintessential drink can be made from tequila or whiskey, around since the mid 1800’s. The earliest version of this drink contained simply, water, sugar, bitters and booze. Now the drink has morphed and allowed its self to keep up with the times and still be as popular as it was in its inception. INGREDIENTS…
If you’re a regular at hosting parties and dinners, this one is a crowd favourite and had to be on our list. It gained popularity when Dale DeGroff got one into the hands of Madonna at the Rainbow Room, after then it was the drink everyone wanted to be seen sipping on. It’s a drink…
On the 31 October 2017; we had great delight in welcoming the 6th Classic Safari Challenge Rally. The 28 day safari started in Cape Town on the 9 October 2017 and went as far as the Okavango Swamps! It was a wonderful opportunity to immerse oneself in the automotive history as vintage cars arrived from…
Winners of the Annual Professional Beauty Awards and the Industry Awards were announced on 3 September at a cocktail event held as part of the Professional Beauty Johannesburg Expo at Gallagher Convention Centre. The Professional Beauty Awards were judged by a panel of industry experts who posed as ‘mystery guests’ and visited each of the…
Umngazi is delighted to announce their recent win at the Diners Club Winelist Awards. It is a prestigious confirmation that Umngazi has a fine and well thought-out wine list that compliments the menu. The symbiotic joy of well-matched food and wine is important to us. We congratulate the other winners and participants – see full…
We had great fun in warmly welcoming the participants of the 18th Imana Wild Ride at the end of July. The ride started at Morgan Bay and ended at Umngazi. Besides celebrating its’ eighteenth year; the race also celebrated a decade of giving back to the people of the beautiful region through providing improved educational…
We thank Chris Whitfield from Bicycling Magazine for participating and writing the following article about his Pondo experience – read the full article here: http://www.bicycling.co.za/race-news/wild-coasts-best-mtb-stage-race/ Highlights from the article: “There are three factors that set the event apart from others: the first being the amazing part of the world in which it is located. The…
At this time of the year; Umngazi guests are greeted to the sight of the Humpback Whales (The most commonly seen whale species off the Wild Coast) These whales feed in Antarctic icy waters during the Summer and visit our shores during their annual migration to warmer waters during June to late November/early December; to…
The 13th annual Les Nouvelles Esthetiques Spa Awards hosted by Les Nouvelles Esthetiques South Africa in association with Les Nouvelles Esthetiques Paris, was held on Sunday the 25th June 2017, at the prestigious Maslow Hotel, Sandton. Johannesburg. The Les Nouvelles Esthetiques Spa Awards Gala Dinner evening was filled with excitement and glamour as some…
“There are mountain bike stage races aplenty in South Africa, all offering something different to the mountain bike enthusiast. From Wines2Whales in the Western Cape to the Berg & Bush in KwaZulu-Natal, mountain bikers are able to pick and choose from numerous events that suit their respective styles and skill levels. Not exactly new to…
Enter the 2017 Grindrod Bank Umngazi Pondo Pedal before 31st March 2017 and you could WIN one of two amazing prizes: A day trip for 2 people to Umngazi, leaving from and returning to Durban’s Virginia Airport on Umngazi’s private plane, valued at R12 000! OR An exclusive Ntabeni Suite room upgrade at Umngazi valued…
We would like to thank all of our guests who have taken the time to share their Umngazi experiences on TripAdvisor. We are firm believers in the transparency of online guest reviews, which challenges us every day to deliver exceptional service and incredible guest experiences. Without your reviews, the following awards would not have been…
The biggest Christmas cracker pull was done by 1,478 people at an event organised by Honda Japan at Tochigi Proving Ground, Tochigi, Japan, on 18 October 2009. Now that would be a lot of bangs! “Silent Night” is the most recorded Christmas song in history, with over 733 different versions copyrighted since 1978. Nearly 60…
Our sustainability program continues to progress as we implemented our own solar farm. South Africa is “well endowed” in terms of it’s solar resource as we have one of the highest average solar irradiance levels in the world. The site was carefully selected to ensure that the photovoltaic (PV) panels perform as close to their specified capacity…
Tell us more about the Umngazi refurbishment? The recent refurbishment was a great success. It was born of the need to completely renovate and upgrade the main kitchen, which necessitated closing down the hotel for 6 weeks in May/June. It was therefore decided to use this time prudently and upgrade as many bungalows as possible,…
Umngazi Hotel & Spa (formerly Umngazi River Bungalows and Spa) re-opened on 23 June 2016 after a five-week refurbishment on South Africa’s Wild Coast. Upgrades included a rebuilt kitchen, refurbished dining room, tennis court, and swimming pool, with 25 of the resort’s 69 bungalows receiving upgraded bathrooms. This marked the first time the family-orientated resort…
Umngazi River Bungalows and Spa has been honoured in TripAdvisor 2016 Travellers’ Choice Award, ‘Top Hotels’, South Africa. We are thrilled to be included in the TOP 10, Top Hotels category for South Africa. Winning TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence Award for several years now as well as being included in to TripAdvisors inaugural Hall of…
Did You Know? Mandela Day was born after Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday celebrations in London’s Hyde Park in 2008 where he said “It is time for new hands to lift the burdens. It is in your hands now.” It was decided that there could be nothing more fitting than to celebrate his birthday with a…
Did You Know? Mngazana Estuary is located close to Umngazi and is an estuary of national importance and contains the third largest mangrove forest in South Africa, covering approximately 118ha. Many traditional medicines are made from mangroves, including those for treating skin disorders, headaches, rheumatism, snake bite, ulcers and many more. The sap from the…
What makes a working mother and average athlete decide to take on a massive physical and mental challenge to run, cycle and kayak the perimeter of South Africa, covering 6772 kilometres in less than five months? Meet Kim van Kets; the most inspirational lady born and raised in rural Eastern Cape… “Hello to all the…
Meet Sondaga Reuben Sepataka, an innovator at Hand Crafted Paper, creator of the new Umngazi room folders, wine lists, cocktail folders, and our very own arts and crafts hero. Reuben was born in 1958 and is married to Linah. The inspiring couple’s home language and culture in Northern Sotho and the two live in their…
An article entitled ‘High five for Family Holidays’ was recently published on Do It Now, an online guide for any adventure seeking South African. The magazine encourages people all over our fine country to get involved in more sport, lifestyle activities and just generally fun stuff. They promote events that go far beyond the realms…
Umngazi Hotel & Spa (formerly Umngazi River Bungalows) was named a 2015 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice winner in two categories: Top Hotels – South Africa and Bargain Hotels – South Africa. The award recognises the top 1% of hotels on TripAdvisor, based on reviews and opinions from millions of travellers, and was earned thanks to guest…
Straight from the Hotelier’s mouth! Wayne Coetzer, the General Manager of the Oyster Box Hotel in Umhlanga was asked what his favourite vacation place outside KZN was and this was his answer… “In South Africa: Umngazi River Bungalows is hard to beat with two boys. Easy access for Virginia Airport, delicious food and great fishing!”…
Umngazi Hotel & Spa (formerly Umngazi River Bungalows and Spa) has been named one of the best holiday resorts in South Africa, set on the untouched Wild Coast — one of Southern Africa’s most spectacular and least-crowded regions. The resort is a family favourite for its combination of peaceful, nature-focused escape and full holiday-resort facilities,…
A man with heart and sole – Paul Ucheck A terrifying reality for many, Cancer is the number one killer in the world – more people die from Cancer than HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis combined. It is for this reason that Paul Ucheck, a inspiring man that Umngazi was ever so privileged to recently meet…
Email: requests@umngazi.co.za Tel No: 047-564 1115/6/8/9
Wild Coast, Eastern Cape, South Africa
GPS COORDINATES: S 31 36.680 E 29 25.938