Book online
From £4,234pp
Sat 9 May · 7 nightsLondon Heathrow2 adults, 1 child · 1 room
Engage collection
DurbanKwazulu-NatalSouth Africa
Oyster Box, Umhlanga Rocks
Our rating
TripadvisorBased on 6,874 reviews
Coastal charm
The waterfront Oyster Box is a place to see and be seen. It’s a favourite spot with locals that lunch a whole host of illustrious guests; their hall of fame showcases a who’s who of European and Zulu royalty, powerful politicians and stars of the silver screen and the sports field. There’s a real theme here when it comes to poolside décor; the candy cane colours of red and white of the sun beds and umbrellas are unmistakably inspired by the Umhlanga Lighthouse, a historic monument on this glorious stretch of coastline stretching north of Durban. Step out of the gate at the front of the hotel and head down to the waterfront promenade, a popular running and walking route for locals. Inside, the walls of the public spaces are art-gallery worthy with many striking pieces created by local artists.
Days begin in style here as you overlook the pool and ocean from the Ocean Terrace and sip on bottomless sparkling wine. Breakfast is a feast of anything from fresh fruit and yoghurt and freshly made waffles to succulent oysters. And the culinary wonders don’t end at breakfast. At lunch and dinner you can try the curry buffet; served in the Ocean Terrace, this Durban institution draws people from far and wide. There’ll be at least 11 different curries from mild to sublimely spicy, all created with herbs and spices that have been delicately balanced. Your meal will be completed by all the traditional trimmings such as chutneys, raitas, freshly baked naan breads, papadums and roti.
The rooms, suites and cabanas are wonderfully spacious and full of charm and calming décor. There are Classic Garden Facing Rooms, but we highly recommend upgrading to a Classic or Luxury Sea Facing Room for views of Umhlanga Beach where you can see people fishing from dawn until dusk, and families playing in the sand. On the ground floors, there are Sea Facing Cabanas which have terraces that lead straight out onto the perfectly kept gardens.
The Oyster Box is a nostalgic, charming hotel with a superb waterfront location.
Best for:
Family-friendlyBeachRetreatExperienceHoneymoonDesign & StyleCharmeLuxury travelFamily & ChildrenBody & SoulBeaches & Islands / Beach HolidaysRomance
Avg flight time7 hrs
Avg transfer timeThe Oyster Box is just a 15-minute drive from King Shaka International Airport in Durban
SettingCharme, Bed & Breakfast, Hotel
Coastal charm
Why our experts like it
We've done the exploring, asked the locals, made the mistakes, and found the gems... so you don't have to start from scratch! These are the bits we think you'll love the most. Think of it as travel advice from a friend who just got back and can't wait to tell you everything.
If you love French cuisine, look no further than La Belle Vie
An incredible way to kick off your Maldives holiday
“There's something pretty special about travelling by seaplane. The view from the sky is extraordinary - tiny specs of island and shades of blue that barely look real.”
Jeremy FisherKuoni Travel Expert
The iconic, mile-long sandbank
Perfect for isolated sunbathing, dramatic photoshoots, and watching breathtaking Maldivian sunsets.
Snorkelling and diving isn't the only way to catch sight of the underwater world
“If snorkelling and diving isn't for you, it's possible to catch a glimpse of the reef from a glass-bottomed boat instead.”
Sarah ShepherdKuoni Marketing Team
Kids club at Niva Kuramathi Maldives
Supervised activities through the day, so younger guests get their own adventure while you get a quiet hour by the water.
Coastal charm
We book this hotel the way you want it
This Maldives hotel is perfect on its own, but add Sri Lanka, Dubai or the Seychelles and it becomes something even better. Discover our multi-centre holidays and make paradise last longer.
Food & drink
Days begin in style here as you overlook the pool and ocean from the Ocean Terrace and sip on bottomless sparkling wine. Breakfast is a feast of anything from fresh fruit and yoghurt and freshly made waffles to succulent oysters. And the culinary wonders don’t end at breakfast. At lunch and dinner you can try the curry buffet; served in the Ocean Terrace, this Durban institution draws people from far and wide. There’ll be at least 11 different curries from mild to sublimely spicy, all created with herbs and spices that have been delicately balanced. Your meal will be completed by all the traditional trimmings such as chutneys, raitas, freshly baked naan breads, poppadum and roti.
There are three restaurants offering both casual and fine dining experiences. The Palm Court serves a wonderful high tea daily, whilst the Ocean Terrace offers al fresco dining and sumptuous seafood. Enjoy fine dining in the elegant Grill Room and sundowners or cocktails in The Lighthouse Bar with scintillating ocean views, the Oyster Bar, for the finest fresh oysters and the laid-back Chukka Bar.
At the Ocean Terrace's curry buffet, there’ll be at least 11 different curries from mild to sublimely spicy, all created with herbs and spices that have been delicately balanced. Your meal will be completed by all the traditional trimmings such as chutneys, raitas, freshly baked naan breads, papadums and roti.
The Ocean Terrace — Start your day at the breakfast buffet or select from the à la carte menus for lunch and dinner - all accompanied by ocean views. The Palm Court — The destination where High Tea is served every afternoon accompanied by the tunes from the resident pianist. The Grill Room — The hotel's fine dining experience is open for dinner with an impressive wine list to match. The Lighthouse Bar — Home to the Umhlanga Schling, a cocktail made from cane spirit, The Lighthouse Bar has an impressive rooftop terrace with coastal views. The Chukka Bar — Enjoy a drink in this polo-inspired bar. The Oyster Bar — Serving coffees, sushi and seafood lunche
Coastal charm
Things to do nearby
Curated experiences to help you do more, see more, or simply switch off while you're here.
Umhlanga Rocks
Experience Indian cuisine and culture at The Oyster Box
South Africa is known as a melting pot – in this region they’ve melted more into the pot than anyone else. When you eat an Indian dish, like masala for example, you are tasting a personal recipe. In Indian culture they have a saying, ‘no-one cooks as well as your mother,’ and that’s because it’s all down to personal preference. You mix and match from the raw ingredients – a pinch more garam masala; less of the fennel and so on. At Victoria Street Spice Market, each guest is given a dabba – a dish for collecting their own spices. In South Africa, Indian cuisine grew from three key ingredients: chilli, tomatoes and coriander – foods that suited the climate and could be grown, in secret, between the rows of cane on Natal’s sugar plantation. Dishes including the Durban lamb curry and a delicious prawn and chicken combination, evolved here. Across South Africa you’ll also find bunny chow, a meat stew inside a ‘bowl’ of bread, mielies (sweet corn) cooked on the grill and tossed in masala butter, samosas and chilli bites, a type of dumpling made from chickpea flour, spices and finely chopped chilli ground into butter. You will get to taste some of these snacks on this tour. Back at the hotel, the chef will talk through each dabba and recommend a dish to enhance those particular flavours. They will explain how to store and cook the ingredients and talk them through a recipe. The aim is for participants to be able to cook it at home and be reminded of their time in Durban.
Coastal charm
There is more than one way to do this trip
A match made in paradise
This hotel is perfect on its own, but add a second destination and it becomes something even better. Discover our multi-centre holidays and make paradise last longer.
What’s in the area
In the area
Where the hotel sits, and what is within reach of it.
Coastal charm
Trip ideas
You've come this far - and the world has more to offer. Why not pair Niva Kuramathi with another island, add a stopover in Dubai on the way for city lights and desert skies, or extend to Sri Lanka for tea, temples and safari? Below you'll find our recommendations for maximising your time away...
Book online
From £4,234pp
Sat 9 May · 7 nightsLondon Heathrow2 adults, 1 child · 1 room
Book online
From £4,234pp
Sat 9 May · 7 nightsLondon Heathrow2 adults, 1 child · 1 room
Book online
From £4,234pp
Sat 9 May · 7 nightsLondon Heathrow2 adults, 1 child · 1 room
Book online
From £4,234pp
Sat 9 May · 7 nightsLondon Heathrow2 adults, 1 child · 1 room
Book online
From £4,234pp
Sat 9 May · 7 nightsLondon Heathrow2 adults, 1 child · 1 room
Book online
From £4,234pp
Sat 9 May · 7 nightsLondon Heathrow2 adults, 1 child · 1 room
Book online
From £4,234pp
Sat 9 May · 7 nightsLondon Heathrow2 adults, 1 child · 1 room
When to visit
When to visit
Temperature and rainfall through the year.
| Measurement | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average temp | 28°C | 28°C | 29°C | 30°C | 30°C | 29°C | 29°C | 29°C | 28°C | 28°C | 28°C | 28°C |
| Average rainfall | 110mm | 60mm | 75mm | 125mm | 220mm | 175mm | 150mm | 175mm | 200mm | 195mm | 210mm | 215mm |
| Average price | £4,746pp | £4,992pp | £4,149pp | £4,222pp | £4,827pp | £4,835pp | £5,104pp | £5,176pp | £5,176pp | £5,129pp | £3,958pp | £3,958pp |
Coastal charm
Current offers
Savings worth having on the departures we think are worth taking. Every offer below applies to this hotel — check each one for the dates and conditions that come with it.
Save up to £300pp
Based on selected departures in September 2026
Save up to 25% when you book by 6th July
Based on selected departures in September 2026
Save up to 35% + complimentary meal upgrade
Based on 20th July 2026 departure
Free half-board upgrade
Based on selected departures in October 2026
Stay 7 nights, pay for 6
Based on selected departures in November 2026
Save up to £200pp on honeymoons
Based on selected departures in January 2027
Complimentary spa treatment for two
Based on stays of 7 nights or more
Free kids' places
Based on selected departures in August 2026
Build your holiday
Choose your dates, your room and where you fly from. Prices update as you go.
Your holiday so far
Flying from
Can't see your airport of choice?Enquire now
Prices are per person, based on two sharing. Your Personal Travel Expert confirms the final price.
May 2026
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June 2026
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You can upgrade your transfers and flight class when booking (subject to availability).
Local taxes & fees apply upon arrival.
Who's going?
2 adults, 1 child
Duration
7 nights + travel
Departure airport & date
Sat 9 May 2026London Gatwick
Board basis
Speak to an expert | Available until 8pm0800 298 5034
Great offers on Niva Kuramathi Maldives
Escape to Niva Kuramathi and enjoy exclusive savings on your Maldives getaway.
View offersHave you considered a multi-centre?
Maldives pairs really well with other destinations, from Dubai to Sri Lanka.
View multi-centresGood to know
- Includes flights, baggage, and private transfers to and from your hotel
- Total flight time ~ 7 hrs
- Total transfer time ~ 2 hrs
- Overnight in Malé may apply (subject to flights & transfers)
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit the Maldives?
British passport holders are issued a free 30-day visitor visa on arrival. You'll need a passport valid for the duration of your stay, a confirmed onward ticket and proof of your accommodation booking.
When is the best time to visit the Maldives?
November to April is the dry season, with the most reliable sunshine and calmest seas. May to October brings shorter rain showers, lower prices and better surf.
What currency is used in the Maldives, and do I need cash?
The local currency is the Maldivian rufiyaa, but resorts price and bill in US dollars and take major cards. Most guests never need cash — a small amount is handy for tipping.
Is the Maldives good for honeymoons outside peak season?
Yes. Off-peak brings noticeably lower rates and quieter islands, and rain tends to come in short bursts rather than all day. Many resorts add honeymoon extras during these months.
What activities are there for older kids and teens in the Maldives?
Most resorts run watersports centres with windsurfing, kayaking and paddleboarding, plus PADI dive courses from around age ten. Snorkelling safaris, sandbank trips and night fishing all suit older children.
Niva Kuramathi Maldives reviews
Guest reviews
Tripadvisor reviews will appear here once the feed is connected.
Coastal charm
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