# uPhongolo Municipality, Zululand District – Population

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/zululand/uphongolo/

Local municipality · Zululand District 

# uPhongolo

uPhongolo is a local municipality of South Africa in Zululand District, KwaZulu-Natal Province. It had an estimated **127,241 people** in 2020 on 3,110 km² (about 41 per km²). 35 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 201 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 127,241people (2020)
- 3,110km²
- 201mapped services
- 671 mtypical elevation

## How many people live in uPhongolo?

uPhongolo had an estimated **127,241 people** in 2020 — 16.2% of Zululand District, 81st of 190 local municipalities. There are 1,124 women for every 1,000 men (below the Zululand District figure of 1,150). Spread over 3,110 km², that is about **41 people per km²**, 92nd of 190 local municipalities.

39.1% of people are children under 15 and 4.9% are 65 or older; the median age is about 20 years (it is 20 across Zululand District). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 79 children and older people.

0–4 ****15,777**

5–9 ****16,943**

10–14 ****17,081**

15–19 ****14,290**

20–24 ****11,071**

25–29 ****10,006**

30–34 ****9,005**

35–39 ****7,047**

40–44 ****5,286**

45–49 ****4,173**

50–54 ****3,967**

55–59 ****3,421**

60–64 ****2,919**

65–69 ****2,159**

70–74 ****1,902**

75–79 ****1,125**

80+ ****1,069**

Source: [Statistics South Africa 2016 Community Survey Population via OCHA HDX, population 2020 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-zaf).

## Where is uPhongolo?

uPhongolo lies in [Zululand District](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/zululand/), [KwaZulu-Natal Province](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/), [South Africa](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/). It borders 5 other local municipalities: [Abaqulusi](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/zululand/abaqulusi/), [Jozini](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/umkhanyakude/jozini/), [Mkhondo](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/mpumalanga/gert-sibande/mkhondo/), [Nongoma](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/zululand/nongoma/) and [eDumbe](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/zululand/edumbe/). By area it is the 130th largest of 213 local municipalities in South Africa. It covers 21.0% of [Zululand District](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/zululand/). The centre of uPhongolo is about 403 km in a straight line from Pretoria, the capital. It is about 93 km from Ulundi, the main town of Zululand District. The centre point is at 27.5402° S, 31.7082° E. Local names: KZN262 .

Source: [South African Municipal Demarcation Board via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-zaf).

## Things to see in and around uPhongolo

OpenStreetMap lists 18 named sights in uPhongolo: 16 nature reserves; 1 viewpoint; 1 attraction.

- Belvedere Game Farm · nature reserve
- Goss Game Farm · nature reserve
- Harloo Game Reserve · nature reserve
- Itala Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Ithala Game Reserve · nature reserve
- Kwa Zulu Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Mkuze Falls Private Game Reserve · nature reserve
- Mpeti Game Reserve · nature reserve
- Phongola Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Pongola Game Reserve (Dubula Section) · nature reserve
- Pongola Game Reserve (Leeukop Section) · nature reserve
- Pongola Game Reserve (Mpalane Section) · nature reserve
- Pongolapoort Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Shayamoya · nature reserve
- Sitilo Game Reserve · nature reserve
- Somkhanda Game Reserve · nature reserve
- Ngulumbeni Loop Viewpoint · viewpoint
- Ostrich nest · attraction

Source: [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

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

## Know before you go: uPhongolo

- Time zoneUTC+2, no daylight saving · Africa/Johannesburg
- CurrencyRand (ZAR)
- Country calling code+27
- LanguagesZulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Pedi, English, Tswana
- Plug typesType C, D · 230 V
- Driving sideLeft
- Postcode format4 digits (####)

### Nearest airports

- Mkuze Airport (MZQ) · Mkuze34 km
- King Mswati III International Airport (SHO) · Mpaka131 km

### Nearest railway station

Leeuspoor (uPhongolo), about 24 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 13.9 hours, sunrise around 04:52) and shortest in Jun (about 10.4 hours, sunrise around 06:40, sunset around 17:05).

Source: [GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0)](https://www.geonames.org/); [Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-03](https://www.wikidata.org/); [OurAirports (public domain)](https://ourairports.com/data/).

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.

## Villages and localities in uPhongolo

Open gazetteers list **35 villages, towns and localities** in uPhongolo. The largest with a recorded population: Ncotshane (19,562) and Pongola (1,680). Settlements here lie between about 189 m and 984 m above sea level (median 671 m).

- Altona
- Bambanandi
- Bennezar
- Bethel
- Dlomodlomo
- Dwarsrand
- Golela
- Izitende
- Khiphunyawo
- KwaDumenkungwini
- KwaLiba
- KwaMlimisi
- KwaNkomfe
- Kwanyawoshane
- Magudu
- Majuba Outpost
- Mangengenene
- Masango Homestead
- Mbekakanye
- Mhlangeni Bush Lodge
- Ncotshane
- Ngotshe
- Ntshondwe Camp
- Ouderdom
- Pongola
- Thalu Field Office
- Uithoek
- Vusumuzi
- Zaohele
- eMboloba
- eMvelazitha
- eNdalini
- eSidakeni
- eSivule
- oGodlwayo

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

## Landscape and landmarks of uPhongolo

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

### Water

25 rivers and streams.

- KwaMzacane
- KwaNgubo
- Mambane
- Manzimhlophe
- Mbizane
- Mbizane
- Mhlozi
- Mhulumbela
- Mkaya
- Mkhaya
- Mntikini
- Mnya
- Mtebeni
- Mvunyane
- Ncenbengu
- Ngatshana Spruit
- Nootjane
- Rietspruit
- Sipandlule
- Siphandlule
- Thalu
- Tunwane
- uMboloba
- uMkhuzwa

…and 1 more.

### Hills and mountains

45 hills; 18 mountains; 3 mountain passes.

- KwaMkhatshwa · 1,093 m
- Mqongo · 1,071 m
- Mkwakweni · 1,068 m
- Ngotshe · 1,065 m
- Nkoneni · 1,049 m
- Sinqeni · 1,034 m
- KuNtanyana · 1,029 m
- KwaSilevu · 972 m
- Mabomvu · 961 m
- KuSibhedlu · 957 m
- Gwebu · 952 m
- KuGongoka · 915 m
- KwaVundla · 904 m
- KwaGabela · 886 m
- Sihlelwana · 872 m
- Godlwayo · 850 m
- KuGedle · 829 m
- KwaDlangebe · 827 m
- Mahlalela · 822 m
- KwaNyawoshane · 816 m
- Phondwane · 806 m
- Mathanga · 801 m
- Nxala · 799 m
- Rondekop · 796 m

…and 42 more.

### Forests and nature

1 nature reserve; 1 wildlife reserve.

- Golela Bush
- Ithala Game Reserve

### Getting around

7 airfields; 2 railway stations.

- Bosveld
- Candover
- Chichester
- Golela
- Leeuwspoor
- Magut
- Pongola
- Poort
- Zeekoevlei

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

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

## Weather in uPhongolo and the best time to visit

Using the climate of Zululand District, the warmest month is Jan (average 23 °C) and the coolest is Jul (14 °C), after allowing for this place being about 179 m lower than the climate reference point (about 6.5 °C per 1,000 m). About 819 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Jan (127 mm) and the driest Jul (17 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 23 127 

Feb 23 105 

Mar 22 86 

Apr 20 48 

May 17 18 

Jun 15 18 

Jul 14 17 

Aug 17 24 

Sep 19 49 

Oct 20 87 

Nov 22 118 

Dec 23 122 

Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/).

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from uPhongolo

Need Nearest mapped Distance 

Hospital Magudu Hospital · uPhongolo 5.3 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-27.53302&mlon=31.65466#map=17/-27.53302/31.65466) 

Bank FNB · uPhongolo 20 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-27.37830&mlon=31.61646#map=17/-27.37830/31.61646) 

ATM Capitec Bank ATM · uPhongolo 20 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-27.38315&mlon=31.61975#map=17/-27.38315/31.61975) 

Petrol pump Engen · uPhongolo 20 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-27.37902&mlon=31.61578#map=17/-27.37902/31.61578) 

Hotel Makongo Hills · uPhongolo 5.8 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-27.52956&mlon=31.65013#map=17/-27.52956/31.65013) 

Mall Junk Shopping Centre · uPhongolo 20 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-27.37791&mlon=31.61371#map=17/-27.37791/31.61371) 

School Bonakusile · uPhongolo 6.3 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-27.53690&mlon=31.64438#map=17/-27.53690/31.64438) 

Police station Magudu Police Station · uPhongolo 5.9 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-27.54582&mlon=31.64851#map=17/-27.54582/31.64851) 

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

Straight-line distance from the centre of the division, within 40 km.

## Hospitals, banks and other services in uPhongolo

Places mapped inside uPhongolo in open map data, by type.

- Hospitals3
- Banks12
- ATMs4
- Petrol pumps8
- Hotels30
- Shopping malls2
- Schools122
- Pharmacies4
- Restaurants14
- Police stations2

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

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

## Other local municipalities in Zululand District

- Abaqulusi
- Nongoma
- Ulundi
- eDumbe

## Quick answers

- Where is uPhongolo?In Zululand District, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa
- What is the population of uPhongolo?127,241 (2020 estimate)
- What is the median age in uPhongolo?About 20 years (2020 estimate)
- What is the population density of uPhongolo?About 41 people per km²
- What borders uPhongolo?Abaqulusi, Jozini, Mkhondo, Nongoma and eDumbe
- What is there to see in uPhongolo?Belvedere Game Farm, Goss Game Farm, Harloo Game Reserve, Itala Nature Reserve
- What time zone is uPhongolo in?UTC+2
- What currency is used in uPhongolo?Rand (ZAR)
- What language is spoken in uPhongolo?Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in uPhongolo?35 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of uPhongolo?Settlements lie between 189 m and 984 m
- What is the highest point in uPhongolo?KwaMkhatshwa (1,093 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit uPhongolo?February to November
- Where is the nearest hospital to uPhongolo?Magudu Hospital, about 5.3 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest bank to uPhongolo?FNB, about 20 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest ATM to uPhongolo?Capitec Bank ATM, about 20 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest petrol pump to uPhongolo?Engen, about 20 km from the centre
- How many hospitals are in uPhongolo?3 mapped
- How many banks are in uPhongolo?12 mapped
- How many ATMs are in uPhongolo?4 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in uPhongolo?8 mapped
- What is the P-code of uPhongolo?ZA5262 (OCHA common operational dataset)