Scottburgh is a bay situated on the South Bank of the Mpambanyoni River, a short river that culminates in a lagoon. It is one of the best geographic examples of a bay on the South African coast. Mpambanyoni mouth has fluctuated in surface area and volume dramatically over the years, largely due to the frequent droughts, occasional cyclones, and other extreme weather conditions that can affect KwaZulu-Natal.
Scottburgh can be separated into neighbourhoods: Scottburgh Central (north), Scottburgh South, Freeland Park (which is situated on the north side of the Mpambanyoni River).