District · KwaZulu-Natal Province
# Umkhanyakude District

Umkhanyakude District is a district or metropolitan municipality of South Africa in KwaZulu-Natal Province. It covers 13,855.4 km². Its main town is Mkuze. It is divided into 4 local municipalities. 149 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 1,350 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.
- 13,855 km²
- 4 local municipalities
- 1,350 mapped services

## Where is Umkhanyakude District?

Umkhanyakude District lies in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. It borders 2 other districts: Uthungulu District and Zululand District. By area it is the 29th largest of 52 districts in South Africa. It covers 14.7% of KwaZulu-Natal Province. The centre of Umkhanyakude District is about 463 km in a straight line from Pretoria, the capital. It is about 288 km from Pietermaritzburg, the main town of KwaZulu-Natal Province. The centre point is at 27.6618° S, 32.3308° E. Local names: DC27.

Source: South African Municipal Demarcation Board via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO).

## Things to see in and around Umkhanyakude District

OpenStreetMap lists 112 named sights in Umkhanyakude District: 43 viewpoints; 39 nature reserves; 14 attractions; 9 beachs; 3 zoos; 1 castle or fort; 1 ruins; 1 archaeological site; 1 cave.
- Cretaceous fossil beds exposed in rail cutting · archaeological site
- eMachobeni Royal Palace · castle or fort
- Bhekabantu Community Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Bhekula Community Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Bonamanzi Private Game Reserve · nature reserve
- Empembeni Community Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- False Bay Park · nature reserve
- Fazala Game Park · nature reserve
- Hlathikhulu Forest Reserve · nature reserve
- Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park · nature reserve
- Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park · nature reserve
- Kube Yini Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Kuleni Game Park · nature reserve
- Leopard Walk Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Mabaso Community Game Reserve · nature reserve
- Makasa Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Manguzi Forest Reserve · nature reserve
- Manyoni Private Game Reserve · nature reserve
- Mduna Royal Game Reserve · nature reserve
- Ndumu Game Reserve · nature reserve
- Ndumu Game Reserve · nature reserve
- Phinda Game Reserve · nature reserve
- Royal Thonga Safari Lodge · nature reserve
- Sileza Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Sordwana Bay National Park · nature reserve
- St. Lucia Game Reserve · nature reserve
- St. Lucia Park · nature reserve
- St. Lucia Wildreservaat · nature reserve
- Tembe Elephant Park · nature reserve
- Tembe Elephant Reserve · nature reserve

…and 82 more.

Source: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements.

Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed.

## Know before you go: Umkhanyakude District
- Time zone UTC+2, no daylight saving · Africa/Johannesburg
- Currency Rand (ZAR)
- Country calling code +27
- Languages Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Pedi, English, Tswana
- Plug types Type C, D · 230 V
- Driving side Left
- Postcode format 4 digits (####)

### Nearest airports
- Mkuze Airport (MZQ) · Mkuze 29 km
- Richards Bay Airport (RCB) · Richards Bay 122 km

### Nearest railway station

Bayala (Jozini), about 24 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 13.9 hours, sunrise around 04:49) and shortest in Jun (about 10.4 hours, sunrise around 06:38, sunset around 17:02).

Source: GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-03; OurAirports (public domain).

Airports with scheduled passenger flights; straight-line distances. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of each month in local standard time. Check entry and visa rules with official government sources before travelling.

## Local municipalities of Umkhanyakude District
| Local municipality | Area km² | Localities | Services |
| Big Five Hlabisa | 3,466 | 24 | 215 |
| Jozini | 3,442 | 56 | 429 |
| Mtubatuba | 1,970 | 31 | 398 |
| Umhlabuyalingana | 4,977 | 39 | 308 |

Source: South African Municipal Demarcation Board via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO); GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features; Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

## Villages and localities in Umkhanyakude District

Open gazetteers list 149 villages, towns and localities in Umkhanyakude District. The largest with a recorded population: Mtubatuba (33,182), Kgwaripe (11,519), Manguzi (5,534), eMkhuze (5,288), Hluhluwe (4,588) and Hlabisa (2,958). Settlements here lie between about 2 m and 722 m above sea level (median 84 m).
- Bhokweni
- Bhukubhukwini
- Bushlands
- Cape Vidal
- Charters Creek
- Dokolwani
- Dukuduku
- Elgin
- Embadleni
- Emngcelen
- Emoyeni
- Enkovukeni
- Esibhoweni
- Fanie's Island Camp
- Godeni
- Godlogodlwane
- Golweni
- Hilltop Camp
- Hlabisa
- Hlalanathi
- Hluhluwe
- Ingwavuma
- Inyamane
- Jozini
- Kgwaripe
- Khula
- Kosi
- Kosi Bay Rest Camp
- Kuludake
- Kwa-Zuluvuka
- KwaDinabanye
- KwaJobe
- KwaJozana
- KwaMayakazi
- KwaMbonia
- KwaMjiji
- KwaMlamula
- KwaMnyaisa
- KwaMsane
- KwaMshaya
- KwaMthole
- KwaNibela
- KwaNompondo
- KwaNonjinjikazi
- KwaQunwane
- KwaShiya
- KwaSonto
- KwaZamazama
- Kwashukela
- Lansdown
- Lulwane
- Lundini
- Mabhokisini
- Mabibi
- Machobeni
- Madonela
- Majozini
- Makakatana
- Makhowe
- Mamfene
- Manguzi
- Mangwenya
- Mantuma Camp
- Manyiseni
- Manzibomvu
- Maphelana
- Maphelane
- Mbangweni
- Mbazwana
- Mbodla
- Mboza
- Mengu
- Mfongosi
- Mjindi
- Mkuze
- Mlambangwenya
- Mnqobokazi
- Monzi
- Mpkakathini
- Mpukunyoni
- Mseleni
- Mtojeni
- Mtonjeni
- Mtuba Ridge
- Mtubatuba
- Muntulu Bush Lodge
- Munyu
- Munywaneni Bush Lodge
- Myeki
- Nagana
- Ndabeni
- Ndumo
- Ndumo Wilderness Camp
- Ngazini
- Nhlambeni
- Nkonjane
- Nkwambane
- Nkwambosi
- Nondabuya
- Nongoma
- Nordale
- Ntabayengwe
- Ntabayezulu
- Ntweni
- Nyalazi River
- Ohlalwini
- Ophansi
- Ophondweni
- Phapheni
- Phelandaba
- Posto Fronteiriço da Ponto do Ouro
- Randgate
- Ranger
- Rhino Ridge Lodge
- River View
- Rocktail Bay
- Rocktail Beach Camp
- Saint Lucia
- Sarabub
- Shemula
- Sihangwane
- Sihlangwini
- Sihlenga
- Sivivaneni
- Siweni
- Sodwana Bay
- Somerset
- Somkele
- Somkhele
- St. Lucia
- Sungulwane
- Swelela
- Thembalethu
- Thengani
- Thombothi
- Tshongwe
- Ubombo
- Vergelee
- Yengweni
- Zamokwake
- Zidonini
- eMachobeni
- eMangwasha
- eManyuka
- eMkhuze
- eThandizwe
- eVelabusha
- eZindongeni
- uMkhumbikazana

Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features; © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements.

## Landscape and landmarks of Umkhanyakude District

Named natural and historic features inside Umkhanyakude District, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

76 rivers and streams; 56 lakes; 1 reservoir or tank.
- Bakabaka Pan
- Banzi
- Bhangazi
- Bhangazi
- Bumbe
- Dakela
- False Bay
- Gezisa
- Gqoyeni
- Gwegwede
- Hlazane
- Hluhluwe Dam
- Hotwe
- Ibundwe Pan
- Inyubulana Pan
- Jejane
- Khangazeni
- Khumaleni
- Kosi River
- Kosimeer
- KuLuthwili
- KuMpungwini
- KuShengeza
- KuShokwe

…and 109 more.

### Coast and islands

12 headlands; 6 bays; 4 islands; 1 lagoon.
- Bird Island
- Black Rock Point
- Boteler Point
- Charters Creek
- Dead Tree Bay
- Dog Point
- Fanieseiland
- Gobey’s Point
- Hully Point
- Jesser Point
- Kosibaai
- Lane Island
- Leven Point
- Lister’s Point
- Makakatana Point
- Makakatanabaai
- Mfolozi
- Mitchell Island
- Picnic Point
- Saint Lucia Bay
- Sandy Point
- Sodwana Bay
- Tonn’s Point

### Hills and mountains

114 hills; 57 mountains; 2 valleys.
- eMombeni · 699 m
- KwaLiweni · 680 m
- Ngweni · 680 m
- KwaMankenke · 673 m
- Mthonjeni · 667 m
- Ngangatu · 665 m
- Nhlwathi · 662 m
- Mpembeni · 653 m
- Sitezi · 650 m
- KwaHlabisa · 632 m
- Dukumbane · 626 m
- Bombolo · 623 m
- Bhokweni · 617 m
- Yangeni · 613 m
- Mtwadlana · 601 m
- Ngxongwana · 597 m
- Sipongo · 596 m
- Sihlangwini · 595 m
- KwaSeme · 589 m
- Nkonjane · 589 m
- Lumbe · 587 m
- Mbewu · 584 m
- Magugu · 562 m
- Mfithi · 558 m

…and 149 more.

### Forests and nature

11 forests; 10 forest reserves; 4 wildlife reserves; 4 parks; 2 nature reserves.
- Cape Vidal State Forest
- Dukuduku Plantasie
- Dukuduku State Forest
- Eastern Shores State Forest
- Estuary Plantation
- False Bay Park
- Fanie’s Plantation
- Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Park
- ISimangaliso Wetland Park
- Lukwowane Forest
- Makaheli Forest
- Manzengwenya
- Mapongo Forest
- Meersig Plantation
- Mhlatuze Staatsbos
- Mkuze Game Reserve
- Mpathe Plantation
- Ndabeni Forest
- Ndumu Game Reserve
- Nyalazi Plantation
- Nyalazi Staatsbos
- Phinda Private Game Reserve
- Saint Lucia Park
- Saint Lucia Park

…and 7 more.

### Estates

5 estates.
- Mabaso Plantation
- Majiji Plantation
- Manzengwenya Plantation
- Mbazwana Plantation
- Singombisa Plantation

### Getting around

12 airfields; 2 railway stations; 1 airport; 1 bridge.
- Hluhluwe
- Hluhluwe Airport
- Ingwavuma
- KwaMakheti Pont
- Mantuma
- Manzengwenya Air Strip
- Mkuze
- Monzi
- Mtuba
- Mtubatuba
- Prozesky
- Riverview
- Ronald Shay
- Uba
- Ubizane
- Zulu Inyala Airport

Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features.

Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate.

## Weather in Umkhanyakude District and the best time to visit

In Umkhanyakude District, the warmest month is Feb (average 26 °C) and the coolest is Jul (19 °C). About 835 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Jan (141 mm) and the driest Jun (19 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are February to November.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
| Month | Average °C | Rain mm |
| Jan | 26 | 141 |
| Feb | 26 | 101 |
| Mar | 25 | 95 |
| Apr | 23 | 61 |
| May | 21 | 27 |
| Jun | 19 | 19 |
| Jul | 19 | 19 |
| Aug | 20 | 20 |
| Sep | 22 | 43 |
| Oct | 23 | 66 |
| Nov | 24 | 115 |
| Dec | 25 | 129 |

Source: NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29.

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Umkhanyakude District

Places mapped inside Umkhanyakude District in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations.
- Hospitals 29
- Banks 58
- ATMs 25
- Petrol pumps 43
- Hotels 208
- Shopping malls 5
- Schools 825
- Colleges and universities 1
- Pharmacies 14
- Restaurants 125
- Police stations 15
- Dental clinics 2

Source: Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown.

## Quick answers
- Where is Umkhanyakude District? In KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa
- What borders Umkhanyakude District? Uthungulu District and Zululand District
- What is there to see in Umkhanyakude District? Amazibu Hide, Bavuloma Waterhole, Bekapanzi Pan, Bhekabantu Community Nature Reserve
- What time zone is Umkhanyakude District in? UTC+2
- What currency is used in Umkhanyakude District? Rand (ZAR)
- What language is spoken in Umkhanyakude District? Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Umkhanyakude District? 149 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Umkhanyakude District? Settlements lie between 2 m and 722 m
- How many reservoirs and tanks are in Umkhanyakude District? 1 named in GeoNames
- What is the highest point in Umkhanyakude District? eMombeni (699 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Umkhanyakude District? February to November
- How many hospitals are in Umkhanyakude District? 29 mapped
- How many banks are in Umkhanyakude District? 58 mapped
- How many ATMs are in Umkhanyakude District? 25 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Umkhanyakude District? 43 mapped
- What is the P-code of Umkhanyakude District? ZA527 (OCHA common operational dataset)

At a glance
- Type: District
- Area: 13,855.4 km²
- P-code: ZA527
- Province: KwaZulu-Natal Province
- Main town: Mkuze

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Canonical: https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/umkhanyakude/ · Updated 2026-11-03 · Data: national censuses and statistics offices (sources named in each section); © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL); Overture Maps; GeoNames; NASA POWER.