Umhlanga is an affluent residential, commercial and resort town north of Durban on the coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The name means "Place of Reeds" in Zulu, one of the many languages spoken in the country.
It is bordered by Durban North to the south and the suburb of Mt Edgecombe further inland.
It is well known for the Gateway Theatre of Shopping which is the largest shopping mall in the southern hemisphere. It also has the tallest skyscraper in KwaZulu-Natal named Pearl Sky which is under construction (as of 2016). There are two beaches - Bronze Beach and Main Beach both of which are patrolled by life guards throughout the day. Umhlanga is one of the fastest growing cities in South Africa
- Gateway shopping centre
- Pearl Sky
- Bronze beach
- Main beach
The Borough of Umhlanga was formed on 1 August 1972 through the amalgamation of Umhlanga Rocks, a seaside resort town, and the suburb of La Lucia.
In the 1980's, development expanded inland. The city is expanding into areas previously covered by the Hawaan forest to the north which is the natural habitat of many creatures such as vervet monkeys that often venture into the city in search of food from unsuspecting tourists.
