19th June 2026
LSM’S Emma Blunt Experiences The Oyster Box, South Africa
Arriving on a warm late afternoon, my friend and I stopped at the entrance without quite meaning to. Some hotels you walk straight into; this one makes you pause first.
EMMA BLUNT
Time Out
Located along Umhlanga’s beautiful coastline, just 20 minutes from King Shaka International Airport, The Oyster Box has grown from a humble seaside cottage in 1863 to a global icon in the Red Carnation Hotel Collection. Its individually styled rooms, lush tropical gardens, and legendary High Tea and Grill Room continue to draw guests from across the globe.
12th November 2025
12th November 2025
The Oyster Box Shines with 5-Star Premium Status and Purrrfect New Tribute
The 5-star grading is a first for KZN, making The Oyster Box the province’s only property to hold this elite status… and one of just 23 in the country. It’s yet another milestone for a hotel that’s long been synonymous with luxury hospitality for decades.
8th September 2025
Philisiwe Gumede Named First Black Woman to Lead The Oyster Box as General Manager
When Red Carnation Hotels tapped Philisiwe Gumede to become the new General Manager of The Oyster Box in Durban, South Africa, it was history in the making.
hertelier
For Gumede, who was born and raised in Umlazi, just outside Durban, the role is not only a personal triumph but also a powerful signal to the next generation of South African women in hospitality: yes, it is possible.
8th September 2025
Trip Reporter
What makes the Oyster Box so special is that it’s more than the sum of its parts. Yes, it has world-class rooms, food, and facilities. Yes, it has an unbeatable location and fascinating history. But above all, it has personality.
19th August 2025
19th August 2025
The Oyster Box - Durban's Luxury Coastal Icon
With just 86 rooms, suites, and villas, it offers a mix of styles to suit different moods. Garden-facing rooms open onto lush courtyards, sea-facing rooms have private balconies for uninterrupted ocean views, and the romantic sea-facing Cabanas put you so close to the shore you can hear the waves at night.
1st June 2025
Room Review: The Oyster Box - Luxurious Colonial Charm on South Africa’s Coast
Elegant, glamorous and luxurious, The Oyster Box is a five-star oasis just 15 minutes from Durban city centre.
The Post
It’s a sprawling, airy, beautiful space, full of high ceilings, terrazzo tiles, and plush red accents against white walls. The Oyster Box boasts an extensive private art collection, with a particular focus on local artists from the Zwakulu-Natal province, which is displayed throughout the hotel.
1st June 2025
