Umngazi Hotel & Spa

Umngazi Hotel & Spa Wild Coast is a 69-room thatched resort on the banks of the Umngazi River in Pondoland, Eastern Cape. Rooms sit in indigenous gardens; some face the ocean, others the river. Lower-, middle-, and upper-bank couple units open onto private decks with ocean views. Family units pair a main bedroom with a nursery that holds bunk beds. Four honeymoon suites occupy separate positions away from the main lodge. Ntabeni luxury suites on the hillside beside the spa hold 180-degree ocean views and access to the Emlonyeni private lounge and pool deck. All rooms include fans, tea and coffee facilities, fridges, and safes. The main dining room serves three meals daily; a separate children's dining room caters to guests 12 and under. Saturday evenings feature a seafood buffet with carvery, shellfish, and local fish. Basil's Bar overlooks the river. The spa sits on the hillside with coastal views and offers Africology and Dermalogica facials, full-body massages, wraps, and manicure services. Guided hikes include the 11-kilometre trail to Second Beach in Port St Johns, the Sugar Loaf route along the coast, and the Umngazana mangrove walk with canoe return. Sunset cruises depart up the river. You can hear the African fish eagle from the deck. Rock and surf angling, river fishing, and kayak hire operate from the slipway.