Family cottage in Umzumbe, right on the beach

Set RIGHT on the beachfront in a hectare of magnificent dune forest, just 100 km south of Durban, our comfortable cottage is a magical getaway for nature lovers & families. This simple, spacious cottage sleeps 12 adults and 2 children, and is a place for deep relaxation. The peaceful village of Umzumbe is a jewel of the KwaZulu Natal Coast, and a prime surfing & angling spot, with quiet, clean beaches stretching north and south, accessed via our private gated path. Come & relax with us! This laid-back beachfront cottage is ideal for families with kids. The furnishings are washable and child-proof, the floors are designed for sandy feet, and all the bedrooms have comfortable beds and ceiling fans. A large, shady veranda faces the sea and bush, equipped with a 12-seater table, armchairs, cushioned benches, a comfy day bed, a coffee table, and two sun loungers. Close to the veranda, under milkwood trees, there's a secluded braai area with a fire pit and camping chairs. In the main cottage, there are three bedrooms (one with a double bed, and two with twin single beds). Two of the bedrooms have their own basins. A stylish new architect-designed family bedroom (sleeping two adults in a queen-size bed and two children in a bunk bed) has recently been added to the cottage. Opening off this wing, with a separate door leading to a secure courtyard, there’s another family 'dorm' bedroom with a double bed and two single beds. There are three bathrooms in the cottage, two of which are wheelchair-friendly. The bathroom in the main cottage has a bath and a walk-in shower, and there is a separate loo. In the back wing, there is a new bathroom with a loo and walk-in shower. The third, smallest bathroom has a shower and loo, and opens onto a courtyard. The compact kitchen is well equipped. There's a brand-new stove with five gas burners and a huge electric oven. The kitchen also has a double sink, microwave oven, kettle, toaster, blender, Nespresso machine, coffee plunger and fire extinguisher, plus all utensils, baking dishes, glassware & cutlery. In the adjacent scullery, there's a fridge and freezer, a separate wine fridge, a dishwasher, a washing machine, an iron and an ironing board. The spacious open-plan lounge has a two-seater couch and three comfortable day beds, perfect for napping and reading in peace, plus a big wooden coffee table. The adjacent dining room seats six - ideal for card games with the kids! Because Umzumbe is all about being unplugged, there is no TV or WiFi (though you'll have good cellphone reception on the veranda). We've stocked our bookshelves with great holiday reads, including award-winning fiction, thrillers, classics, and magical books for kids, tweens and young adults. If you're a nature lover, have a look at the glass-fronted case in the dining room for books about the ocean, bush and birds. You'll find board games in the big dresser in the living room, and outdoor equipment includes hammocks, boogy boards, a boulle set, umbrellas and a lifesaving buoy. Our expert housekeeper Miriam Radebe is available in the mornings to wash dishes, clean up, make beds, and do personal laundry, at an additional cost - please enquire when you book. There are no shops in Umzumbe, but at Hibberdene, 5 km north, there's a Spar, a small Pick n Pay, liquor store, garages, pharmacy and ATMs. The property has very good security, with an electric gate, burglar bars, beams, and an alarm linked to a local security company. A large water reserve tank and pump ensure a constant supply of fresh water. And there is always plenty to do and see in Umzumbe. If you'd like to learn how to surf, enquire about lessons right next door, at our cousins' property Umzumbe Surf Camp. A little further afield, about 20 km inland from Port Shepstone, there’s the spectacular Oribi Gorge. For day trips, we recommend the superb Lake Eland Game Reserve, which offers game drives, zip-lining and a suspension bridge. Golfers can tee off at three different coastal courses not too far from Umzumbe: the Port Shepstone Country Club, Umdonipark Golf Course in Pennington, and Southbroom Golf Course. You have access to all areas of the property, apart from one bedroom which is not currently available to guests at present, but will be available from 30 June (Phone number hidden by Airbnb) onwards. The cottage is managed by our Umzumbe agent, Max Engelhardt, who will let you in, answer questions and attend to any maintenance issues. Max speaks English, Afrikaans and German. As your host, I am available on email, cell phone and (Hidden by Airbnb) during daylight hours. Umzumbe has two bush-fringed bays, long scallops of clean sand with swimming gullies and intriguing rock pools for kids. Shark nets protect the main beach, awarded international Blue Flag status, which is a magnet for surfers and body-boarders, watched over by in-season lifeguards. Umzumbe is a nature-lover’s paradise. Dolphins are often seen playing in the big breakers and, in the spring months, whales can be spotted as they swim into the bay. In the small cove below, we sometimes see the hunting turtles coming up for air. Bird life in the bush ranges from sunbirds and Natal robins to tinker barbets and purple-crested loeries. If you are lucky, you may spot elusive blue duikers (mpiti) grazing in the glade. On shore, you might see black oyster catchers, pied kingfishers and woolly-necked storks. Umzumbe is 90 minutes' drive south, on a good freeway, from Durban's King Shaka International Airport, and 90 km south of central Durban. There is a reliable shuttle bus service to and from the airport (please enquire when you book). There are lovely walks through the small village as well north along the beach to the river mouth, and south to Stebel Rocks, a famous angling spot on this coast. PLEASE NOTE: Due to Covid-19, all guests are required to agree in writing (via email) to an indemnity/waiver, and also to our House Rules, before they check in.