Umbilo-Umhlatuzana River Park

About Umbilo-Umhlatuzana River Park

KwaZulu-Natal is a part of South Africa that enjoys temperate weather conditions for almost the entire year. The summers are hot and humid, while the winters are just cool enough to make it advisable to bring a long-sleeved top along, but nothing much warmer. It is largely for this reason that outdoor sports and activities are so popular here. The Umbilo-Umhlatuzana Park offers visitors and local residents a great getaway from the city, although being conveniently situated just a few minutes' drive from a host of facilities and amenities.

There are a number of routes from which to choose in the park. The Umbilo Canal to Carrington Heights route is two kilometres long and follows the course of the canal. This leads to two subsidiary trails. One is a 1.5 kilometre route that stretches between the Umbilo River and Beacon Park and takes less than an hour to complete. However, from the end of this route, walkers may choose to go further into Coedmore Park or even to Stainbank Nature Reserve's main gate, depending on the time available. The other option is a six kilometre one from Umbilo River to Roosfontein, which takes about three hours to complete and leads to the gorgeous Roosfontein Nature Reserve.

As walkers or runners pass the canals and river, they will likely see some of the lovely resident bird species as they search for their next meal, or simply enjoy the green surrounds.

There are basic barbecue and picnic facilities available here, as well as a playground for little ones. This means that families or groups of friends are able to make a day of it; enjoying a brisk walk, followed by refreshments and fun. A fair degree of fitness is required in order to complete the trails, and walkers should come prepare with comfortable shoes, plenty of water, and sunscreen. Please note that visitors should always visit Umbilo-Umhlatuzana in a group and not alone, and should keep vigilant watch on the trail for snakes.