Visual Hotel Review: The Oyster Box, South Africa
Arriving late in the evening, the attention to detail was obvious as I glanced around the lobby, taking mental snapshots of the art, décor and architecture I wanted to photograph during my stay.
Like stepping onto a film set, it felt timeless, charming, and so very welcoming, there’s even a resident cat, Skabenga, slinking around the halls.
Heading straight to bed after the 22-hour travel day from Australia, I settled into the plush pink pillow and set my alarm for sunrise. I didn’t want to miss a moment of what The Oyster Box’s location promised, after all, I could already hear the waves as I drifted to sleep.
Waking slowly to the alarm, my mind still thinking it was back at home, it took a moment to realise the glow appearing across framed art on the wall was filtering through from sunrise over the sea, in South Africa. As soon as I connected to where I’d woken up, I jumped out of bed, unzipped my camera bag and dashed onto the balcony, not even caring that anyone walking by may get a shock from the smiling zombie stumbling into the scene.
It’s mornings like this that produce those little thrills and moments of awe. When experiencing a new destination aligns with natural beauty, a sprinkle of history, culture and in this case, luxury.
Capturing sunrise as it rose behind Umhlanga Lighthouse, I alternated between using my 40-150mm zoom lens to get close to the sea patterns, and the 12-40mm to photograph sun stars peeking from behind the lighthouse. I also filmed some short video clips because I felt they’d do a better job of showcasing the slowly rolling swell, seabirds in flight, and atmosphere of a coastal city waking up.
A quick coffee from the in-room Nespresso machine, a little slap of makeup to look adjusted to the time zone and off I went to breakfast at the ocean terrace.
A day of exploring Durban’s culture, history and creative initiatives lay ahead.
The Location
Sitting above the Umhlanga beachfront, The Oyster Box overlooks the Umhlanga Lighthouse, a short 15-minute drive from the airport, and central Durban. Its location, views, and history make it one of the most revered hotels in South Africa, where the sea breezes flow through to the ornately curated spaces and elegantly orchestrated service.
The Little Luxuries
From the boldly coloured red and white deck chairs giving glamour vibes by the pool, to the antique interiors, artwork, staff, and spa treatments, this hotel knows how to deliver on luxury. It feels effortless actually. While this isn’t a note on the luxury fittings or experiences, to walk through to the pool, be warmly greeted by staff and have a conversation that’s friendly and personal, far from forced, is sometimes it’s a rarity in big hotels, but the balance here is beautifully upheld.
Wandering the hallways, the focus on fine art and Zulu heritage is obvious. With local artefacts, a curated collection of bold, colourful and historic pieces, not to mention the ceramic and mosaic mural masterpiece by Jane du Randt that was just outside my door, it’s like wandering through a gallery.
One special space reserved solely for guests is The Clock Library, filled with the kind of books you need a lifetime to browse slowly through, and a collection of antique clocks, ticking away in the flickering sunlight reflecting from the ocean outside. This room could be included in the photography opportunities section too, as I spent over an hour in here watching as the light danced across the space, illuminating the antique furnishings and heirlooms.
The Photography Opportunities
Sunrise from the ocean-view rooms at The Oyster Box is not to be missed. You can go back to sleep after if it’s too early but set that alarm, brew a coffee, and watch the warm glow transform and awaken the coastal city.
Rising to witness the rolling waves shift in colour as the sun rises into the sky is such a calming way to start the day. Pop on a zoom lens and get nice and close to the crashing waves, sea birds, and surfer silhouettes. With the lighthouse such a striking feature within the scene, you can shoot with an aperture of f/14 or above to create sun stars as it peeks from behind the colourful structure.
Be sure to wander the gardens, and explore the architecture and outdoor spaces of the hotel with your camera too. I found a number of little corners, subjects, and details to capture, there’s even the odd monkey too, despite the hotels’ best attempts to deter them with mist, they’re quite the characters!
While staying at The Oyster Box, we ventured out on safari at Tala Reserve, to the PheZulu Safari Park for dancing and cultural insights, and to a number of local initiatives and museums which I’ll share details about in ‘A Quick Guide to Photogenic Experiences in Durban’.
The Experiences
As a member of The Red Carnation Hotels and The Travel Corporation, the hotel is committed to protecting the environment and contributing to local causes and communities. One experience I was grateful to take part in was bringing school supplies and art equipment in my luggage, to donate to local school children. Knowing such a small token can make a world of difference to the education of little ones felt so special.
Their curated itineraries blend culture, community and wildlife, allowing you to opt between a 6-hour half day tour, or a 12-hour full day adventure to St Lucia, where the largest population of hippos are found.
We took the half-day option which included learning about Zulu culture and dance, sampling a shisha nyama platter, and a visit to Woza Moya, a community-led craft store and centre.
To finish up, I’ll circle back around to how the day started, with breakfast overlooking the sea. The buffet is fit for royalty with an array of fresh fruits and dishes, a condiment treasure chest to swoon over, a full menu with offerings like Oyster Mornay or an Indian Breakfast, plus cheese boards, pancake and waffle stations. Don’t even let me get started on the towered cakes I saw on display for the High Tea,
As with all visual hotel reviews, it’s time to let the photos do the rest of the talking!
*Please note, I was a guest of South African Tourism and Adventure World, this stay was part of a press trip itinerary, however all views, notes and experiences remain my own. Oh, and images, they’re all mine too 😊
For more information about The Oyster Box, visit their official website
Continue Reading:
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Behind the Lens: Rhino Notching in South Africa
Photographing South Africa’s Marine Five
Trunks, Treasures and the Jabulani Safari Experience
Hello! I’m the founder and photographer behind The Wandering Lens.
With 17+yrs experience as a professional travel and landscape photographer, all advice found on this site is from my personal experience on the road. I hope it’s useful for your own travels and would love to hear in the comments about your trips and experiences around the world.
