DESTINATION
It's not every day that you discover a campsite in the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast for a first-time visit. This is particularly true for us at Drive & Camp, as over the years we've checked out nearly every one of the resorts along this popular coastline.
It was therefore an unexpected experience to pitch our tent at Mtwalumi and River Valley. Not only was it our first time at both resorts; they are also places we can wholeheartedly recommend.
Mtwalumi is near Mtwalume, about 90 km south of Durban, and shares its name with the river that flows into the sea on its northern side. The campsite is perched on a hill, 450 m from the river mouth as the crow flies. Moreover, Mtwalume's beach is just 100 m along.
River Valley is equidistant from the beach as Mtwalumi, but this beach is less accessible. That doesn't matter, though, because you camp on the northern tip of Pennington and its beaches.
What makes River Valley so special is the campsite itself. It's one of the neatest campsites we've ever seen and makes you want to settle there full-time.
MTWALUMI Family friendly
According to Wikipedia, the isiZulu word “mtwalume” (as the town's name is spelled) refers to the upright trees growing along the river – the resort's name ends with an “i” and not an “e”, though.
The river originates 85 km from here. There's a lovely fenced playground for children, the swimming pool is also fenced, and there are several different types of stands to choose from. During our visit, the weather was stormy, and the wind blew stronger than 60 km/h.
You might think you'll find no shelter, as the campsite is on high ground, but there are quite a few trees
