A born leader, Kim Davidson joined the Natal Rugby Union (The Sharks) in its heyday, but in 2001 she decided to join her mom, Debbie, in business. She was the person who shrewdly identified a gap in the hospitality sector for a boutique establishment in Umhlanga. Possessing a natural charm and steely resolve meant that Kim was the obvious person to drive the enormous task of setting up and managing the entire operational side of Teremok, as well as taking care of the publicity, communications and marketing.

It is fate that bought us to Teremok, an expansive Umhlanga holiday home turned boutique lodge and spa. Over four decades, it had overflowed with three generations of the Vladykin family which began in pre-revolution Russia, included a lifelong fairy tale romance and, finally, came to rest with us – a mother and two daughters. But it was serendipity, that marvelously unpredictable force, that allowed us to weave our own tale. Flippantly dubbed the Trilogy, we delighted in taking on the title as we are indeed three related but different creative works. Discovering this soulful property allowed us, being discerning and sometimes demanding travelers, to embrace our idiosyncrasies as we relished creating an urban hideaway with extreme attention to detail. Teremok encapsulates everything that we wished to find at the end of a journey. And so began our story … once upon a wish.

Originally known as Umhlanga Rocks, we prefer to say that Umhalnga Rocks! Starting off as a quiet holiday village where everyone knew everyone (and this is where the Davidsons grew up), it has become the new business hub of Durban with most big businesses relocating north, and new business being attracted. Besides the business growth in the old sugar cane fields, there has also been huge residential and retail development with Umhlanga being home to the biggest shopping centre in the Southern Hemisphere, Gateway. The beaches are amazing, with the iconic lighthouse residing over the promenade, and the village has expanded to offer a strip of world-class restaurants and pubs. Only 20km from Durban itself, Umhlanga is certainly the place to be!