Uvongo is a seaside resort town situated along the R620 Regional Route and at the mouth of the Vungu River on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa, approximately 4 km north of Margate.
The town is named after the Vungu River, which flows through the area. The river’s name is derived from the Zulu word that describes the sound of a waterfall or the wind in a gorge.
Uvongo forms part of the Greater Margate area in the Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality, which is part of the Ugu District Municipality.
Uvongo is the largest upmarket residential area on the Lower South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal.
Geography
Uvongo is situated between the coastal towns of St Michael’s-on-Sea and Shelly Beach to the north, and Manaba Beach and Margate to the south.
Situated south of the Mhlangeni River, it is also bisected by the Vungu River, which forms the 23-metre Uvongo Falls above the lagoon that flows into a small gorge at the river mouth.
The Greater Uvongo area consists of three suburbs: Uvongo Proper, inland from the coast; Uvongo Beach, along the coastline north of the Vungu River; and Beacon Rocks, situated south of the river.
Map
Tourism
Uvongo Beach lost its “Blue Flag” title due to storms damaging it in April 2007, but has managed to regain a clean and prestigious beachfront. Despite this, Uvongo remains the playground of the rich, with multimillion rand properties in the area.
Uvongo is one of South Africa’s favourite holiday destinations and attracts local and foreign tourists.
Industries
The Uvongo industrial area, situated west of the R61 Provincial Route, is the second-largest industrial area on the Lower South Coast after Marburg in Port Shepstone. It hosts a variety of small to medium local businesses, with the Natal Portland Cement (NPC) Quarry being the most notable economic activity. The area is primarily accessed via Quarry Road, off Wingate Road, near opposite the R61/Margate/Uvongo interchange.
Roads
Uvongo is bisected by the R620 Regional Route (Marine Drive) connecting Shelly Beach to the north and Margate to the south.
Situated just off the R61 highway (future N2 Wild Coast Toll Route) between Port Shepstone to the north and Port Edward to the south, Uvongo is also accessible via Knoxgore Road from Gamalakhe in the north-west and Seaslopes Avenue, which provides direct access to the R61.
