Empangeni is a town in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. It is approximately 160 kilometres north of Durban, situated in hilly country side of the Uthungulu District, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It overlooks a flat coastal plain and the major harbour town of Richards Bay only 15 kilometres away. The City of uMhlathuze was formed by joining the towns of Empangeni and Richards Bay together. Transportation to other places in South Africa is provided by the N2 freeway that runs through the town.

The climate is sub-tropical with an average temperature of 28.4°C in summer and 14.5°C in Winter. Empangeni's population is 16,500.

In 1851, the Norwegian Missionary Society established a mission station on the banks of the eMpangeni river . The river was named after the profusion of Mpange trees (Treema guineensis) growing along its banks. The mission was later moved to Eshowe, 61 kilometres north-west. In 1894 a magistracy was established. The Zululand Railway reached the town in January 1903 and linked the area to Durban and Eshowe. The government planted eucalyptus trees in 1905 as part of an experimental timber plantation. The plantation was a success and led to a large scale planting along the coastal belt. In 1906 Empangeni became a village. Rapid expansion began when a sugar mill was erected at Felixton. The establishment of the Empangeni Sugar Mill set the area on the road to rapid development. Empangeni was officially proclaimed as a township on 15 January 1931 and declared a borough on 13 October 1960.