Guides β€Ί South Africa β€Ί Mthatha (Umtata)
City guide

Mthatha (Umtata)

Mthatha, alternatively rendered Umtata, is the main city of the King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality in Eastern Cape province of South Africa and the capital of OR Tambo District Municipality. The city has an airport, previously known as the K.

Type City

Why go

  • City in Eastern Cape, South Africa.
  • Served by K. D. Matanzima Airport (UTT).

History

Mthatha, alternatively rendered Umtata, is the main city of the King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality in Eastern Cape province of South Africa and the capital of OR Tambo District Municipality. The city has an airport, previously known as the K. D. Matanzima Airport after former leader Kaiser Matanzima. Mthatha derives its name from the nearby Mthatha River which was named after the sneezewood (umtati) trees, famous for their wood and medicinal properties.

Airports

K. D. Matanzima Airport (UTT) 12 km to the centre
Mthatha, EC, ZA β€” Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron β€” plan for the weather on the day. ✈ 1 airline (South African Airways) Β· direct flights to 1 destination incl. Johannesburg (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths β€” 1 airline, 1 direct destination

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data β€” they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor | Outdoor
Port St Johns Airport (JOH) 70 km to the centre
Port St Johns, EC, ZA β€” Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron β€” plan for the weather on the day.
Indoor | Outdoor
Koffee Bay Airport 55 km to the centre
Koffee Bay, EC, ZA
Outdoor
Ugie Airport 68 km to the centre
Ugie, EC, ZA
Outdoor
Maclear Airport 70 km to the centre
Nqanqarhu (Maclear), EC, ZA
Outdoor
Idutywa Airport 72 km to the centre
Idutywa, EC, ZA
Outdoor

Where things are

Full geo-intelligence in Better Mapping β†’
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping base map Β© OSM

Photographs

When to go

Tourist season
October – March

The warmer, longer-day half of the southern-hemisphere year.

Shoulder season
April – May, September

Milder and quieter, with better value.

Worth avoiding
June – August

The southern winter β€” check local conditions before travelling.

Getting there & around

Getting there. The nearest airport on record is K. D. Matanzima Airport (UTT); 9 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: UTT has direct flights to 1 destination on 1 airline (incl. Johannesburg).

Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Mthatha (Umtata). Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.

Coaches & shuttles

Intercity coach