5 Day Surf and Stay at Umzumbe Surf Camp in Ugu, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Learn to Surf Camp in South Africa
Umzumbe also is known as 'stiebel rocks' is a right-hand point break suitable to surfers of all experience levels. This package is designed for the person hungry for surf and prefers a fully self-catering accommodation. Whether you are a complete beginner or looking to advance to the next level, this five-day course of surfing with room and self-catering provisions is the perfect way to spend time on the beach and work toward your goals in the water. There are cool people to hang out with if you want to socialize but the camp is quiet and it's never too busy. It's the perfect environment to relax.
Meet the instructors
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Highlights
- One-on-one instruction
- Judging and catching waves
- Beginner to advanced surfboards
- Professional instruction from our surf instructor
- Self-catering (the surf house does not sell or serve food)
- 4 nights' accommodation
- 4 surf lessons or guiding
- Surfboard rental is available with additonal cost
Skill level
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Types
4 days with instruction in English
Accommodation
You will be staying at Umzumbe Surf Camp. The house has 4 bedrooms, an open-plan common area with lounge, dining area and kitchen, all with a sea view. There are 2 bathrooms and one shower and a bathtub inside the house that are shared amongst all. There are two airy outdoor showers to rinse off in, with hot water taps and a cool sea breeze. The outdoor lounge is very welcoming, hugged with couches and pillows for leisurely reading or afternoon siestas. The outside deck and patio were designed for nothing but chilling in the sunbathing lounge chairs, picnic tables, hammocks, or swings under the fig tree.
The Surf Camp property has 2 luxury yet rustic bungalows with kitchens, baths, and outside showers. The property has seen generations of fun in the sun, beach holidays, parties, and honeymoons. There could be nothing better than to share that with more friends and family for many years to come.
The rooms are serviced daily, beds are made with white linens and new towels.
Staff
Umzumbe Surf House has five staff members. The surf instructor and manager lives on the property and is responsible for locking up the house, helping guests whenever needed, and taking care of the dogs. Two cleaning ladies who service the house daily are always happy and willing to assist you with anything you need from 7 a.m. to - 4 p.m. The gardener works every Monday and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Kitchen
The Kitchen is a shared, self-catering, and fully equipped communal kitchen. They do not offer food or beverages of any kind.
There are some food shops in town and plenty of fridge space inside their seaside self-service kitchen. The kitchen is fully equipped with most necessities. There is an ice machine for cold drinks.
Baths and Washrooms
All baths and toilets are shared amongst the house, but serviced daily and kept impeccably clean. There are two toilets inside the Main House; a bathtub, one shower inside the main house and two outdoor showers. Each bungalow has its own ensuite with an outdoor shower.
Parking
There is off-street, secure parking, and private access to Umzumbe beach.
Laundry
Laundry service is available for 50 ZAR per load and is washed, dried, and folded.
Common Spaces
There is ample space to hang out around the house; inside the common areas or on the outside lounge, the big yoga deck, patio chairs, hammocks, or lawn.
Beach Access
The beach is literally a few steps from the back door, just a short stumble and you are on Umzumbe's golden sand, open to your very own private section of the beach, which is perfect for snorkeling and swimming in the tidal pools.
Camping
The Surf House allows a select few camping tents inside the garden. There are no camping "sites", no electrical or water hookups. Campers are welcome to use the common areas of the main house: kitchen, washrooms/showers, and lounges.
Pets
The Surf House has two lovely dogs and three cats who are, without a doubt, the most popular. They are very friendly with adults, children, and other dogs. However, Umzumbe Surf House regret as they cannot allow any additional pets as guests.
Program
Your first morning you will hit the beach to go over the basics and fundamentals of your board, where to stand, how to pop up, and getting to know the surf spot. Your coach will take you to the water and position you into the foamy section of small waves while you practice basic techniques.
Take the rest of the day to kick back and relax, read, browse the web, take a long walk on the beach or drive into town.
Umzumbe Surf House does not give refunds on surf lessons in the packages if lessons are not taken for any reason. This could be due to you not wanting to, guest injury, bad weather, or unsafe surfing conditions. You must realize that injury, weather, and sea conditions are out of their control.
Optional add on: surfboard rental and yoga lessons.
Instructors
Rich Walters
Rich grew up in Durban, but spent his weekends and holidays on the South Coast, crawling around his families Surf House. Lucky enough to score epic surf for most of his life, surfing is now everything to Rich. When he isn't surfing around South Africa with guests or showing them Africa's bush life, he is teaching surf lessons and running his surf camp.
Location
The surf camp is located in Umzumbe, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
There is nothing to walk to in town other than the beach. There are no stores, nothing. So Umzumbe Surf House recommend that you come in a rental car. If you come with a shuttle, you need to understand that Umzumbe is a very quiet town with no village and nothing within walking distance. Taxis to town are not available every day, so this needs to be discussed in advance.
Features
Activities
- Surfing
General
- Garden
- Kitchen
- Lounge
- Yoga deck
Services
- Laundry
- Parking lot
- Wedding
- Wireless internet
Food
All meals are self-catered. Please bring your own groceries since there are no stores within walking distance of the house. The surf house communal kitchen has ample fridge space for your groceries. Fully equipped, the kitchen is stocked with all the necessary cooking utensils, stove, microwave, kettle, and crockery to whip up a smashing meal. Dinners are often spent over the fire, as many guests get together to have a 'South African braai' (aka BBQ) where all of the guests grill and eat together. But you are welcome to head out for meals as well.
If you arrive with no groceries, there may be but there also may not be a shuttle available to take you to the store every day. It is important that Umzumbe Surf House knows ahead of time if you are coming by shuttle and if you will require a ride to the store so that they can organize it for you in advance.
Things to do (optional)
There is much to do along the South Coast! Here is a list of the most popular attractions from Umzumbe Surf House's guests and staff:
The Oribi Gorge
The Oribi Gorge is one of the most popular site-seeing and adventure destinations on the South Coast. You can drive through the park, walk, hike, picnic, bungy-swing, abseiling; with so much to do as well as a restaurant, you can spend the entire day in the beautiful reserve, only 30 minutes from the beach.
Lake Eland Game Reserve
Lake Eland Game Reserve is a nature reserve with a variety of facilities and activities to choose from, such as game drives, horse rides, walking and cycling trails, paintball, the challenging 4x4 track, and a thrilling walk across their 80 meters suspension bridge, a children's playground, everyone will have a fun-filled day.
Yoga
Book Yoga sessions under the fig tree with basking sea views.
Golf
Golf is another one of the South Coast's main attractions. San Lameer Golf Estate is one of the most sought-after courses, an 18 hole professional course and only 20 minutes drive away. Hibberdene Golf Course is only 5 minutes away, a 9 hole Par 3 course, ranging from 55 meters to 125 meters.
African Township Day Tour
Safe reliable fun sightseeing tours of the rural hinterland and off the beaten track areas surrounding Umzumbe. The day trips are designed to benefit all parties involved.
Wild 5 Adventures
If adrenaline is what you're after, Wild 5 has bungy jumping, zip lines, white water rafting, abseiling, slides, a suspension bridge, and paintball all located at The Oribi Gorge.
Other Local Attractions
- The Waffle House Restaurant
- Mac Banana Farms
- African Dive Adventures
- Pure Venum Snake Park
- Riverbend Crocodile Farm
- Splash Water World
- Beaver Creek Coffee Farm
- The Cellar Boutique Restaurant
- The Outlook Post
- Uvongo Flea Market
- Burlesque Cafe Restaurant
- South Coast Shopping Mall
- Shelly Beach Shopping Center
Spa treatments
Mobile massage on request
What's included
- 4 nights' accommodation
- 4 surf lessons
What's not included
- Meals
- Drinks
- Transport
- Flights
- Optional add on: surfboard rental and yoga lessons
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Transfer not provided
King Shaka International Airport
126 km away from your destination
Driving directions from Durban
- Take the N2 South toward Port Shepstone
- Take Exit 72 , Go Left to Rt 102 to Hibberdene
- After Hibberdene, Go over the Umzumbe River Bridge
- Turn right after the bridge at the Umzumbe/Pumula Hotel Sign
- Take your first Left toward the Pumula Hotel
- Take your second Left onto Green Lane (Across from Pumula Woods)
- It is important that you take your first right. There is a post sign in the road to Umzumbe Surf House
- Go down the 2-tack hill, over the rail way tracks and toward the right
- The house has a long wooden fence and black driveway gate.
- Hoot or beep the car´s horn at the gate and someone will let you in
- You can park straight ahead facing toward the deck or toward the right
Driving directions from Margate
- Take the R102 North toward Hibberdene
- Drive 30 kilometers (approximately 26 minutes)
- Turn right at the sign for Folly Fields Nursery & Umzumbe.
- Continue along Station Road, go past The Rock Bottom Pub (on your left)
- Make your next right onto Green Lane (you will see a Church at the corner)
- Umzumbe Surf House
- Go down the 2-tack hill, over the railway tracks, and toward the right
- The house has a long wooden fence and black driveway gate.
- Hoot or beep the car´s horn at the gate and someone will let you in
- You can park straight ahead facing toward the deck or toward the right
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 50% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.
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