Umkomaas Guest House, Umkomaas

South Coast Getaway

Umkomaas was named after the original Zulu name of our uMkhomazi River, which when translated means the “place of cow whales”. It is said that they were witnessed during winter gathering in groups up the lagoon, spending time in what was then a much deeper tidal system.

In our present-day, the landscape has changed dramatically, but some of that original beauty still exists around our small town. The river silted up steadily over the 20th century ending what must have been biodiversity second to none. We imagine it must have been a nursery for sharks and fish of all kinds. Today life still makes do with what it can. We have two resident pairs of fish eagles that often fly majestically high over the lagoon calling at random. Giant kingfishers patrol the coastline soon after sunrise on their daily fishing trips. Pied and malachite kingfishers are also noisy residents, their high pitched calls can be heard for miles echoing over the water.

What makes us unique is the over lap of the ocean environment and the Aliwal Shoal, famous for its sharks, the lagoon ecosystem, and the coastal belt of indigenous bush which harbours a diverse ecosystem in its own.