About this hotel
General information
The Oyster Box is KwaZulu-Natal’s classic seaside hotel and part of The Red Carnation Hotel Collection. It sits right above Umhlanga beach, facing the red-and-white lighthouse and a few steps from the warm Indian Ocean. The story of the site begins with a cottage built around 1863 as a landmark for passing ships; a tea garden opened here in 1952, became a restaurant and, from 1954, a hotel.
The interiors pair the nostalgia of an old-school resort with modern comfort: the black-and-white chequerboard floor of the Palm Court, more than a hundred paintings by twelve artists living and working in KwaZulu-Natal, bold murals and the Clock Library with its antique clocks and first editions. There are 86 rooms, suites and villas, two pools, a spa set in subtropical gardens and a private cinema. Guests come back for the celebrated curry buffet, afternoon tea in the Palm Court and the easy warmth of a team of some 500.
Location
The hotel stands on Lighthouse Road in Umhlanga, north of Durban, with direct access to the beach; Bronze Beach lies a few steps away and the Umhlanga Promenade runs for 3 km along the shore. Umhlanga Village centre and the Hawaan coastal dune forest are each a five-minute walk. Durban’s international airport is a 20-minute drive and Virginia Airport, used by private charters, about 10 minutes, with Durban and its sights close by; the hotel arranges transfers.
Spa
The spa is tucked into subtropical gardens a short walk from the ocean. It has six treatment rooms for single or couples’ treatments (four with rain showers), a traditional Middle Eastern hammam with a sensation shower, a plunge pool with heated jets overlooking the garden, a tranquillity lounge above the ponds, a mani-pedi lounge and separate changing rooms. Signature rituals draw on Asian and African traditions — hammam steam treatments, full-body massages with crystal-infused oils and treatments by Elemis, Tata Harper and Environ — and the Health Bar serves fresh juices, herbal teas and light dishes from the spa menu.
Sports & leisure
A 24-hour gym in the spa complex, for hotel guests and by booking, has treadmills, bikes, a cross-trainer, a Power Plate and free weights; private yoga and Pilates instructors can be arranged. Beyond that:
- Sports Buddies: a member of the team joins guests for running, walking, cycling, tennis, padel or pickleball, or golf (seven days’ notice)
- complimentary access, with transfers, to a nearby health club with fitness classes, squash and tennis courts and a 25-metre heated indoor pool
- golf at several Durban courses a short drive away, with tee times and equipment hire booked by the concierge
- a private cinema, a curry masterclass and a Chef’s Table evening in the kitchens
- Indian and Zulu cultural tours, half- or full-day wildlife outings and trips to the Drakensberg
For children
Younger guests get their own welcome: a kids’ VIP check-in, a beach bag with bucket, spade, inflatable ball and colouring book, and a wristband for treats such as a milkshake, soft-serve ice cream and a toffee apple. The Holiday Club runs supervised games and activities for children aged 4 to 13 daily from 10:00 to 19:00, the 24-seat cinema holds scheduled children’s screenings with popcorn, pool toys are handed out at the ocean-facing pool and beach picnics can be arranged. Babysitting is available with 24 hours’ notice.
Restaurants & bars
Food is much of the reason guests return — from a breakfast buffet with fresh oysters to dinners finished at the table.
- The Ocean Terrace — all-day dining above the ocean: seafood, Josper-grilled meats, wood-fired pizza and the famous curry buffet of at least 11 curries (dinner daily, lunch at weekends too)
- The Grill Room — fine dining that marries classic continental cooking with African produce, with gueridon service at the table and an adjoining vinotheque
- The Palm Court — daily afternoon tea from a sweet-and-savoury buffet, with a live pianist
- The Oyster Bar — oysters, caviar, sushi, brunch, cocktails and wines; beneath its glass ceiling sits the Wine Cellar for private dinners
- The Lighthouse Bar — a rooftop terrace with coastal views, light meals, cocktails such as the signature Umhlanga Sling, and live sport
- The Chukka Bar — a snug bar with polo memorabilia, single malts, specialist beers and cigars
- The Chef’s Table — a five-course dinner in the kitchens after a behind-the-scenes tour
- Clock Library — a residents-only room with lighthouse views for a quiet drink in a leather armchair
Swimming
The hotel opens directly onto Umhlanga beach. Its two pools are heated with surplus energy from the air-conditioning system and are open to residents from sunrise to sunset: the Sea-Facing Pool sits above the shore beside the lighthouse, looking out over the Indian Ocean, while the Garden Pool lies in the tropical gardens and is kept for guests aged 12 and over. The spa adds a plunge pool, and several categories have their own plunge pools.
Pets
Well-behaved pets are welcome in the hotel’s public areas, and the Superior Garden Villas are the pet-friendly rooms for overnight stays. There is a dedicated pet menu and pet services, with the terms set out in the hotel’s pet policy.
Rooms
The 86 rooms, suites and villas are each individually decorated with hand-picked furniture and South African artworks. Some face the ocean from balconies and terraces, others are set in the subtropical gardens, and the largest have their own plunge pools.
Air conditioning, complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi, luxury toiletries, fine linen and, in most categories, fresh fruit and flowers.
Garden Villa Loft
A garden-facing room with a four-poster bed and bespoke décor; it can be combined with a Superior Garden Villa to create a larger space for families or groups. For two adults and a child.
Classic Room
An elegant room in the quiet heart of the hotel, close to the garden pool, with a king bed. For two adults and a child.
Classic Sea Facing Room
A room with a balcony over Umhlanga beach and a king or twin beds. For two adults.
Luxury Sea Facing Room
A room with a private balcony looking towards the lighthouse and the coast, and a spacious bathroom with double vanities and a separate shower. King or twin beds, for two adults.
Junior Cabana
A sea-facing room on the lower ground level opening onto the lawn in front, with a four-poster king bed and a shower room. For two adults and a child.
Sea Facing Cabana
A lower-ground room with its own sea-view terrace, a four-poster bed and original African artworks. For two adults and a child.
Sea Facing Family Room
A room with a private balcony and two bedrooms — the main one and a children’s room with bunk beds (one of the five has a loft with twin beds instead). For two adults and two children aged 16 and under.
Luxury Sea Facing Suite
A suite with a separate bedroom, a lounge with its own television and a wide private balcony facing the ocean. For two adults and a child.
Deluxe Sea Facing Suite
A suite with a separate bedroom and lounge, a spacious terrace onto the hotel lawns, a private plunge pool and sea views. For two adults and a child.
Superior Garden Villa
A villa in the subtropical gardens with a lounge, a lavish bathroom, a quiet terrace and a private plunge pool; four of them connect to a Garden Villa Loft to make a two-bedroom space. Up to two adults and two children aged 12 and under; pets are welcome here.
Presidential Suite
A duplex with two bedrooms and marble bathrooms upstairs, a lounge, private bar, dining area for eight, baby grand piano, separate kitchen and in-suite lift; the terrace and private garden with a rim-flow plunge pool look out to sea, and butler service is included. For four adults, with a third mezzanine bedroom available on request.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.