Scottburgh

Scottburgh is a coastal town on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, about 65 km south of Durban. It was founded in 1860 and named after Sir John Scott, the Lieutenant-Governor of Natal. It is the oldest formally established town on the South Coast and one of the most popular holiday destinations in the region.

Scottburgh has a long sandy beach protected by shark nets, a large tidal pool, and the adjacent Mpambanyoni River lagoon. The town is also the seat of the uMdoni Local Municipality. The surrounding area is covered in sugar cane fields and coastal bush. The climate is subtropical with warm weather throughout the year.

By Plane

King Shaka International Airport (DUR) is 75 km north (about 1 hour's drive).

By Train

Scottburgh is served by the Metrorail commuter line from Durban, with limited passenger service.

By Car / Road

From Durban, take the N2 south to the Scottburgh exit. The drive takes about 50 minutes. The R102 coastal road also connects Scottburgh to Durban and the South Coast. Minibus taxis and buses run frequently.

The town centre and beach are walkable. A car is useful for exploring the South Coast. Minibus taxis connect Scottburgh to Park Rynie, Umzinto, and Pennington.

• Scottburgh Beach — a Blue Flag beach with shark nets, a tidal pool, and a pier

• Mpambanyoni River Nature Reserve — a small reserve on the lagoon with walking trails and birdwatching

• uMdoni Park — a coastal forest park on the northern bank of the lagoon

• Crocworld Conservation Centre (6 km south) — a crocodile and reptile park with over 10,000 Nile crocodiles

• Pennington (8 km south) — a quieter beach village with a golf course

• Swimming in the shark-net-protected beach or tidal pool

• Walking the uMdoni Park trails through coastal forest

• Visiting Crocworld to see crocodile feeding shows and a large collection of birds of prey

• Surfing at the Scottburgh point break

• Deep-sea fishing charters from the nearby harbour

Scottburgh has several restaurants along the beach road, including seafood grill houses, Indian restaurants, and fast-food outlets. The Crocworld Centre has a cafe. The area is known for its fresh seafood and Indian curry.

Tap water is safe. The beachfront bars and hotel lounges serve beer and wine. The Crocworld Centre has a licensed bar.

• Budget: Scottburgh Caravan Park and Seaforth Holiday Resort (R200–400 per person)
• Mid-range: The Scottburgh Beach Lodge and The Cutty Sark Hotel (R600–1,200 per night)
• Upscale: The uMdoni Park Hotel and smaller beachfront guest houses (R1,200–2,000 per night)

Scottburgh has supermarkets, a SPAR, and a small shopping centre. The Scottburgh Mall has retail stores and a cinema. For larger shopping, Galleria Mall in Durban is 50 km north.

• Pennington (8 km south) — secluded beach village with a golf course
• Port Shepstone (55 km south) — South Coast centre with the Oribi Gorge
• Umzinto (15 km inland) — historic sugar cane farming town
• Durban (65 km north) — the province's largest city with the Golden Mile and uShaka Marine World
• Crocworld (6 km south) — one of the largest crocodile collections in South Africa