Umhlanga Rocks Tourist Attractions
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Umhlanga Rocks (pronounced Umshlanga) has many comfortable hotels, a variety of restaurants and large shopping centers. With long sandy beaches interrupted by stretches of rocky coast and protected by shark nets, Umhlanga Rocks is a popular but not unduly crowded bathing resort.
Natal Sharks Board
The facility offers a surround-sound multi-media presentation with special effects, shark dissections and a display hall with a large variety of lifelike replicas of sharks, fish and rays, including an 892kg/1,960lb great white shark.Visitors who want to know more about sharks should look in at the Natal Sharks Board, a research institute established in 1964 on a hill 2km/1.25mi west of Umhlanga Rocks. As a result of its work the 250km/155mi long coast between Port Edward in the south and Zinkwazi in the north has now more than 400 nets protecting bathers against sharks.
Gateway World
Apart from the 370 stores included in the Gateway World mall is a variety of sporting and entertainment attractions including 18 movie theaters (including IMAX), the world's highest indoor climbing rock, and a 4,000sq m/43,000sq ft skateboard park.
Wave House (Royal Palace of Youth Culture)
The Wave House is a youth-oriented 4,000 sq m/43,000 sq ft skate-board park with multiple skating areas. A simulated surf pool called the Flow Rider is included along with a live music stage featuring popular performers. Wave House is located in Gateway World, the largest mall in the southern hemisphere.
Umhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve
Immediately north of Umhlanga Rocks is the Umhlanga Lagoon Nature Reserve, area 26ha/60ac. Various trails run through this area of wooded dunes with their rich bird life.
