Margate is a coastal resort town located in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, approximately 20 kilometres southwest of Port Shepstone and 127 kilometres southwest of Durban. The town sits along the Indian Ocean coastline in the region's southern stretches.
The Nkhongweni River flows into the sea at Margate. According to local tradition, the river's name, meaning "place of entreaty," derives from the area's original inhabitants, who were reportedly so inhospitable that travellers would have to beg for shelter and provisions. As a coastal resort destination, Margate serves as a recreational hub for visitors to the KwaZulu-Natal coast.