Accommodation in Margate
Margate has a compact accommodation market, with 7 properties available across the area starting from R960 per night. The dominant option here is self-catering, which accounts for six of the listings and suits how most visitors actually use Margate. Families and groups tend to come for several nights rather than a quick overnight, and having a kitchen means picking up fresh produce locally and managing your own meals, which keeps costs manageable over a longer stay.
At the more affordable end, self-catering cottages and flats provide the essentials: a functional kitchen, lounge space, and reasonable proximity to the shore. These work well for visitors who plan to spend their days outdoors and simply need a comfortable base to return to. Within this category there is some range in size and configuration, from modest units suited to couples to larger properties that can handle extended families without everyone getting underfoot.
The single apartment listing offers a more contained option for visitors who prefer a smaller footprint. Apartments here typically sit closer to the town centre, which makes walking to the beachfront strip and local restaurants easier.
What Margate lacks is international hotel brands or resort complexes. Properties are almost entirely owner-operated, which has a practical upside: you are generally communicating with someone who knows the area well and can give useful advice on local access, conditions, and parking. That personal element is worth something, particularly for first-time visitors. One thing worth checking before confirming any booking is the actual distance to the beach. The difference between a five-minute and a twenty-minute walk feels minor on a map but becomes relevant when you are carrying chairs, coolers, and swim gear every day.
Things to Do in Margate
The beach is the central activity in Margate, and the main beach delivers the kind of swimming conditions the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast is known for: warm water, consistent surf, and a long sandy stretch with enough space to avoid feeling crowded outside of peak school holidays. Lifeguards are on duty during the summer season, which makes the main beach a practical choice for families with young children.
The Margate Pier is worth a visit for fishing or simply watching the sea. Anglers target a variety of species that move through these waters, and even without a rod it is a good spot to watch dolphins, which pass close to shore with some regularity, particularly in the mornings.
For something beyond the beach itself, the drive to Uvongo takes about ten minutes and brings you to one of the more distinctive natural features on this stretch of coastline. The Uvongo River drops over a cliff into a sheltered lagoon before reaching the sea. The waterfall is accessible via a footpath, and the lagoon is calm enough for children to paddle in safely.
Back along the Margate shoreline, walking paths run through coastal dune vegetation and offer easy-grade routes for most fitness levels. These paths are good for birdwatching, and during the winter months from July onward, humpback whales are often visible offshore as they migrate north along the coast. Binoculars are useful here.
For practical shopping or a sit-down meal in an air-conditioned space, the South Coast Mall a few kilometres inland has a supermarket, retail shops, and several restaurant options with a focus on local and regional food.
Best Time to Visit Margate
Margate sits on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast in a subtropical climate zone, which means summers are hot and humid and winters are mild rather than cold.
The peak period runs from mid-December through January, coinciding with South Africa's main school holiday break. Temperatures reach 30°C or more, afternoon thunderstorms are common but typically brief, and the ocean is at its warmest. This is the busiest and most expensive time to visit, and the beachfront becomes considerably more lively. Booking well in advance is necessary if you want to visit during this window.
The shoulder months of March to May and September to October offer a reasonable middle ground. Conditions remain warm, the ocean stays swimmable, crowds thin out noticeably, and accommodation availability improves. For visitors with schedule flexibility, this is probably the most comfortable time.
Winter, from June through August, brings average daytime temperatures around 20 to 22°C, which is warm by most standards. Rain is infrequent and the skies tend to be clearer than in summer. The ocean cools somewhat, making extended swims less appealing, but this is the prime season for whale watching, with humpbacks regularly spotted close to shore on their northward migration.
Getting to Margate
Margate lies about 120 kilometres south of Durban along the N2 highway. By car, the drive takes roughly 90 minutes under normal traffic conditions. The N2 passes through Port Shepstone before you turn off toward the coast, and signage on the route is generally clear. Be aware that this stretch of the N2 can back up significantly during the December holidays and over Easter weekends, so building extra time into your journey is advisable.
Two airport options exist depending on where you are travelling from. Margate Airport handles scheduled flights from Johannesburg on selected routes, and being a small regional facility it has limited capacity. Seats sell out during peak periods, so booking early is important. King Shaka International Airport outside Durban is the larger alternative, with more frequent flights from across the country and better rental car availability. From King Shaka, the drive south to Margate takes around 90 minutes.
Once in Margate, a car is necessary to get the most out of the area. Minibus taxis operate between Port Shepstone and Margate, but frequency is limited and the service does not cover the smaller coastal villages. Reaching nearby beaches, reserves, or the surrounding towns independently requires your own transport. If you are flying into Durban, arranging a rental car at the airport is the most straightforward option.
Margate and Surrounding Areas
The towns and beaches close to Margate each have a distinct character, and a stay of several days gives you time to explore most of them.
Southbroom, 7 kilometres to the south, has a noticeably different pace to Margate. The beach here is quieter, and the area is well known for a clifftop golf course with views over the sea. Southbroom attracts a crowd that tends to be less interested in the busier beachfront scene and more drawn to a slower, greener setting.
Shelly Beach, 8 kilometres away, functions primarily as the commercial hub of the South Coast. Large supermarkets, pharmacies, a hospital, and retail chains are concentrated here. Residents of surrounding areas come to Shelly Beach for practical errands, and visitors often do the same for weekly shopping during longer stays.
Marina Beach, 10 kilometres from Margate, is a small and low-key settlement built around a protected beach that is particularly well suited to young children. There is almost no retail infrastructure, which is exactly the point for visitors seeking a quiet stretch of sand with minimal distraction.
Trafalgar, at 13 kilometres, sits at the mouth of the Mpenjati River and borders a nature reserve. Bird watching and short riverside walks are the main draws, and the beach here is less trafficked than the main Margate strand.
Oslo Beach, also 13 kilometres out, is undeveloped and draws mostly locals rather than tourists. It makes an easy detour if you are already heading south on the coast road.
Port Shepstone, 16 kilometres to the north, is the regional administrative and commercial centre. It has the district hospital, a broader range of shops and services, and the main transport connections for anyone arriving without a car.
Planning Your Stay
Timing your booking is the most critical practical decision for a Margate trip. December and January accommodation fills months in advance, and properties at popular price points often disappear first. If your dates are fixed for peak season, start looking at least two to three months ahead. For visits outside school holidays, a few weeks is generally sufficient, though longer notice still gives you better choice.
When comparing properties, check a map before committing rather than relying solely on descriptions of beach proximity. Some listings described as near the beach involve a more significant walk than the wording suggests. Also confirm whether offstreet parking is available, as this matters if you are arriving with bikes, boards, or a car full of gear. Ask about what linen and towels are provided, as arrangements vary between properties.
Noise is worth factoring in. The main beachfront area in Margate can be lively on summer evenings, and properties directly on the strip reflect that. If you are travelling with young children or prefer quieter nights, a property set one or two blocks back is a better fit.
Most properties are independently managed, so direct communication with the owner before booking often clarifies things more quickly and specifically than relying on platform messaging alone. Asking about current conditions, parking arrangements, and any local access issues is straightforward when you are dealing with someone on the ground.
