The village of Port Edward on the Umtamvuna River is the southernmost beachside resort in KwaZulu-Natal. Port Edward is popular for swimming, fishing and boating, and the estuary is navigable far upstream, making it ideal for ski-boats.

The lush Caribbean Estates on the north bank is rated as one of the country’s top timeshare resorts.

Between 1976 and 1994 the land south of the Umtamvuna River Bridge fell within the homeland known as Transkei. At that time, gambling was illegal under South African law and a casino resort, the Wild Coast Sun, was built her to lure visitors form Durban and the South Coast. Today, it overlooks an unspoilt coastline covered in dense forest and grassland. A challenging golf course stretches from the banks of the river to the shores of the lagoon.