Really easy paddle out, waves are pretty fast and can be hollow enough to land you a little head dip if the conditions are right. Sharks aren’t a massive issue, as long as the shark nets are up (you can tell if they are up or not by looking for orange floating buoys on the horizon. No real dangers here, just watch out for getting too close to the rocks on the point, and watch out for fisherman (even when walking on the beach).
The wave is a mixup of a fast and sometimes decently hollow point break that runs along the rocks (only really surfable during dead-low tide), there is a right-gander beach break that breaks in front of the lifeguard area (this is the most commonly surfed section) and finally there is a really hollow and sometimes quite heavy break that breaks more towards the Pumula Beach Hotel side. The last break is a good option if you want to try your luck at getting lefts, if the right breaks are too busy, or if you fancy some heavier (and more hollow) waves on your own!
Umzumbe is usually only crowded when the school holidays are on, and sometimes on weekends if the swell is good. Localism isn’t really an issue, as there are plenty of waves in different areas and hardly any cause for trouble. Don’t let the rural atmosphere of Umzumbe fool you. While it is beautiful, and the people are all very nice.. petty theft can be an issue - so don’t leave anything valuable unattended.
Your nearest quality surf shops can be found in Port Shepstone and Margate (there may be others that I am not fully aware of).
This is South Africa's Suck Rock. The wave looks almost exactly the same as the one in Oz at times but more rights. Heavy short ride, tuck in race it and bust an air. More for bodyboarders.
The sewerage plant in the car park doesnt smell to good when the offshore is blowing.This spot holds up on the SW wind whcih can be the prevalent wind here for days on end. The wave breaks off the side of the reef and there are some nice sections to it. Have some reasonable lefts.A chill spot with an easy paddle off the side of the rocks with a rip to help . Do take off from the side wall area and the paddle will be easier .
The beach is also used by the local Skiboat club as a launch site who are some of the most arrogant and obnoxious boneheads this side of Pofadder. Be careful when surfing in this area for beerbops in boats!
If its blowing East, you'll have more fun playing in traffic....If you like barrels (ones which are often hard to make it out of) then this spot is for you.Dont leave valuables in your cab....
A little slab of a shorebreak right, that can run into a little shorebreak slab. The bay next door, next to a tiny river mouth, gets a really fun shorebreak too.The true potential of this spot is in a peaky little swell with some size,good conditions. The reef to the right is so perfect to ride in the mornings. Also, once the swell gets fairly big and organised, i've seen the reef setup on the outside look like a hawaii training ground, no shit, barely makeable, heaving shallow pits. So empty, no crowds, loads of potential if you stay in the area and find a morning where the swell is peaking.
