DIRECTIONS & MAPS
Umngazi Hotel & Spa is a unique beach hotel and spa located on the Wild Coast of South Africa, 20kms south of Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape. We have guests who visit us from around the country and are often asked for the best route to take when driving.
We have put together detailed directions from Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town to help you navigate your way. Important Notes to remember before departing for your trip to Umngazi Hotel & Spa
It is important to note that the last 10km road leading to Umngazi Hotel & Spa is not always in the best condition. We ask you to please take it slowly and drive carefully on this final stretch, where you will soon be able to relax and unwind in paradise.
Flagstaff Detour We recommend taking the detour around the Flagstaff town centre to avoid any unnecessary delays. As you head down the hill on the R61 towards Flagstaff take the right turn before the Flagstaff Shoprite. Follow the road and take the first left. At the top of the road, turn right. Continue on this road until you reach the T-junction with the R61. Turn right and continue on the R61.
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Mthatha We would strongly advise that you do not get distracted by anyone trying to suggest alternative routes in Mthatha. Download a map of our suggested route below.
When driving from Johannesburg, Umngazi Hotel & Spa is 882km away and should take 12 hours to reach.
Take the N3 towards Durban.
Stay on the N3 until you approach Howick, and then take exit 99 for R617 toward Underberg/Howick.
Turn right onto the Boston Rd/R617 and follow the R617, which will continue straight on to the N2.
You will then take a left turn onto the R394 and continue onto the R61, which will lead you through the towns of Flagstaff and Lusikisiki towards Port St Johns. (Don’t forget the Flagstaff detour)
After crossing the Umzimvubu River bridge, turn right, and continue for the next 10km until the Umngazi turn-off.
A guest also advised on an alternative route from Johannesburg
On our last two visits we have travelled from Johannesburg via Bloemfontein with an overnight stop in Maclear. The following morning, we travelled through Mthatha and arrived in time for lunch at the hotel. The journey took a little longer with an additional night on the road however was far more relaxing.
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If you are travelling from Durban, you can expect your drive to take about 6 hours over 390km. The conditions of these roads vary and it’s best to take it easy and keep a keen eye out for potholes, unmarked speedbumps, cattle, donkeys, taxis and people.
Take the N2 from Durban to Port Shepstone.
From the toll, continue to Port Edward, Bizana, Flagstaff, Lusikisiki and Port St Johns on the R61. (Don’t forget the Flagstaff detour)
The drive to Umngazi Hotel & Spa from Cape Town is approximately 1348 km and will take about 16 hours.
Take the N2 East, which runs all the way through to Mthatha.
Recent travellers have strongly recommended turning off the N2 50km passed Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) onto the R72, at Nanaga, and travelling via Alexandria and Port Alfred to East London, where you will re-join the N2.
This route is extremely pleasant and scenic and has considerably less traffic than the other option via Grahamstown.
Once in Mthatha, continue straight into town along Mandela Boulevard, turning left into Madeira Street/N2, before eventually turning right onto the R61 towards Port St Johns. Central Mthatha can be heavily congested at certain times of the day.
Should you want to avoid the congestion in central Mthatha, you can make use of the following easy detour:
Enter straight into Mthatha on the N2/Nelson Mandela Dr and instead of turning left onto Madeira/N2 (one way), continue straight over Madeira and turn right into Sprigg Street (one way).
At the junction of Errol Spring and Tutor Ndamase Ave (traffic lights), turn left into Tutor Ndamase/Tembu.
After a couple of hundred meters turn left into Northwood 6th Ave, which becomes Bernard Schultz Drive. Please be aware of speed bumps.
Continue straight until the traffic light junction with R61 where you will turn right towards Port St Johns.
Follow this road to the marked Umngazi Hotel & Spa resort turn-off.
Please note:
**We would strongly advise that you do not get distracted by anyone trying to suggest alternative routes in Mthatha.**
We hope that you find these directions easy to follow. Paradise awaits on the other side of your road trip, and we are thrilled to be able to host you.
An award-winning, unique, beach hotel and spa on the Wild Coast of South Africa.
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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