Manaba Beach

30°50′S 30°23′E / 30.833°S 30.383°E / -30.833; 30.383CountrySouth AfricaProvinceKwaZulu-NatalDistrictUguMunicipalityRay NkonyeniMain PlaceMargateArea • Total0.81 km² (0.31 sq mi)Population • Total372 • Density460/km² (1,200/sq mi)Racial makeup (2011) • Black African11.6% • Coloured3.8% • Indian/Asian0.8% • White83.5% • Other0.3%First languages (2011) • Afrikaans51.0% • English41.5% • Zulu3.6% • Other3.9%Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)Postal code (street)PO box

Manaba Beach is a small coastal town on the South Coast of the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, located approximately 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) north of the Margate CBD and 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) south of Port Shepstone. The name ‘Manaba’ translates to 'ease and relaxation' in the Zulu language.^[2]

Forming part of the adjacent coastal town of Margate, Manaba Beach is sandwiched between Margate North Beach to the south and Uvongo to the north. The coastline along Manaba Beach is generally rocky and is therefore not popular amongst tourists who wish to swim or bathe in the ocean.

Manaba Beach functions as one of the smaller economic centres of the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, characterised by a number of retail and hardware stores and motor repair centres lined along the main road, Marine Drive. Albany, one of South Africa’s largest bread producers is one of the notable employers in the area with a bakery located on Marine Drive.^[3]

Despite being largely being a residential and commercial centre, Manaba Beach is also a seaside resort area and has many self-catering holiday accommodation flats along the beach.^[4]

Lucien and Manaba Beach are the two main beaches situated within the vicinity of Manaba Beach. Lucien Beach is a Blue Flag beach on the northern end of Margate Main Beach. Further north of Lucien Beach, Manaba Beach is a swimming beach guarded by lifeguards on duty and also includes shark nets. There are also natural rock pools along the rocks between Lucien and Manaba beaches. Margate Main Beach, just south of Lucien Beach, is also within easy access for residents of Manaba Beach.

Manaba Beach is bisected by the R620 (Marine Drive) connecting Uvongo to the north with Margate to the south. The area is also reached via Seaslopes Avenue, which provides access to the R61 freeway (to Port Shepstone and Port Edward) and Izotsha Road (to Gamalakhe and Ramsgate) to the west.