SOUTH COAST Recorded as one of the most popular domestic holiday destinations in South Africa. Extend from the Umkomaas River just south of Durban to

Transcription

1 1 SOUTH COAST Recorded as one of the most popular domestic holiday destinations in South Africa. Extend from the Umkomaas River just south of Durban to Port Edward on the Eastern Cape border. The towns and villages here welcome visitors with open arms and wish for their return time and again. This is truly the land where the sun reigns supreme and dictates the actions of visitors and locals alike. When mist and rain chase them off the beaches and the sun hides away, they can stay indoors at the various entertainment centres to wait for the sun to smile on them once again. The coastline is characterised by golden beaches and inviting waves and the inland strip features thick subtropical growth and rolling hills covered in sugar cane and forestry plantations. The region is extremely tourism-conscious and a series of routes has been developed along the coastline to ensure that visitors do not miss out on any of the region s attractions. Detailed maps and brochures can be obtained from most accommodation and tourism venues in the towns.

2 2 UMKOMAAS Population: (On route N2 / R102) Altitude: 538m/1 765ft Developed in the 1860s as a port for the shipment of sugar. The port fell into disuse when the railway to Durban was completed. The town of Umkomaas is a popular holiday destination. Its is a corruption of the Zulu word Umkhomazi ( River of Cow Whales ), a name given to it by the Zulu king, Shaka, when he saw cow whales and calves basking at the river mouth. SCOTTBURGH Population: (On route N2 / R102) Altitude: 96m/315ft The safe and beautiful beach at Scottburgh, Scott Bay, makes this town an ideal tourist destination Surveyed in 1860 as the first township south of Durban. After the then Governor of Natal, John Scott. Attractions and activities Scotburgh Beach Crocworld Crocodile Farm TC Robertson Nature Reserve - Attained the much sought-after Blue Flag status for the 2002/2003 seasons. - Located about 4 km from the town. - Displays some traditional Zulu dancing. - Crocodiles are sold from here to other establishments and are therefore quite large with many crocodiles ranging in age. - Feeding times starts at 11:00. - Offers well-informed guiding tours through the vicinity. - Several other animals at the farm, including, monkeys and several rare South American animals are also on sight. - Approximately 80 species of indigenous trees have been identified in this park.

3 3 PENNINGTON Population: Altitude: (On route N2 /R102 approximately 25km east of Hibberdene.) It is a popular tourist destination. Established on the original estate of Richard Pennington. After Richard Pennington, an early resident who owned the estate. Claims to fame Lynton Hall (5* Guest House) and Botha s House (5* Guest House) - Hosts important persons such as: o Genl Smuts o Louis Botha o The Earl of Athlone o Princess Alice - In 1951, renovations and alterations was planned to be made to Lynton Hall to accommodates King George VI, his Queen, Princess Margaret and some of their staff after serious surgery, but unfortunately King George VI died a month before their planned take off. - (see the history of Lynton Hall and Botha s House under Historical sites and monuments) - Botha s House was formerly restricted as a holiday destination for Prime Ministers. - It is currently converted into an exclusive guesthouse open to the public. - A golf course was constructed at Botha s House called Umdoni Park for the use of the staff at the sugar mill on the estate and it is currently (June 2007) still in use although it is exclusively for the use of club members and residential guests at Botha s House and Lynton Hall. - Legend tells that in 1929, Sir Frank arranged an elaborate burial ceremony for his amputated limb at the twelfth hole. - A cottage near the beach on the premises of Botha s House was and is currently still reserved for the use of writers and artists. - It accommodated artists and writers in the past such as: o Roy Campbell o Laurens van der Post o Edward Rowarth Agriculture Centre of a large sugar cane and dairy-farming district.

4 4 PENNINGTON continue Historical sites and monuments Historical site and monuments - In 1852, Thomas and his brother Lewis Reynolds arrived in South Africa. - They were the youngest sons of a yeoman farmer in Devonshire who had been farming and milling sugar on the North Coast at Umhlali since In 1873 Lewis Reynolds bought the whole of the old Umzinto Company s mill at Sezela on the South Coast for The mill was in a very bad state. - Sir John Robinson, a reporter at the Natal Mercury and a future Prime Minister of Natal was quoted as saying, if this estate should fall into the right hands it can hardly fail to be prosperous. - The mill was renamed T Reynolds and Sons and was run by Lewis Reynolds two sons, Frank and Charles. Lynton Hall - In 1884, the architects Street-Wilson and Fyfe were assigned by Charles to design a house which would be called Lynton Hall. - The best site they decided to build the house was on top of the hill, one and a half miles from the sea at Pennington. - The site was chosen for the beneficiary of the views over the countryside and the cooling breezes from the Indian Ocean. - A tower was erected as part of the foyer of the house in order to spot cane fires but also to be utilized as a stronghold in the event of Zulu uprisings. - Charles was always afraid for such events and wanted to be prepared in advanced. - Huge water tanks were installed in the Tower Hall in order to provide water to withstand a siege. - As the house took a long time to be finished, Charles became very impatient with the railway which could only bring supplies as far as Isipingo, from where it were carried by ox-wagon down to the site. - He arranged for a vessel with all the necessary material to sail from Durban Harbour to Rocky Bay were it harbored while workers from the mill hauled the materials to the building site. (The wreck of the vessel can sometimes be seen after storms when the sand is washed away.) - The house was finally completed in In 1908, Charles was forced to resign from the Board of the company which was over the years renamed to Reynolds Bros. - The Natal Colonial Government issued an ultimatum warning due to the mistreating of his employees that unless he resigned from the Board they would stop all further allotment of indentured Indian labour.

5 5 PENNINGTON continue Historical sites and monuments - He left South Africa and died in South America of reputedly stabbed wounds by a jealous husband. - His body was pickled in rum, sent home in a lead coffin and buried in the churchyard at Umzinto Lynton Hall - The ownership of the house, Lynton Hall was taken over by the Directors of the Company after Charles left. - Frank moved into Lynton Hall and eventually in 1919, bought it from the Company. - Frank seemed to be very different in personality than his brother Charles. o He had fought in the Anglo-Boer War with the NMR o Served on the Natal Legislative Council o Supported local works including the building of a school for the Indian Community at Esperanza. o He was knighted in Sir Frank enlarged Lynton Hall and laid out beautiful gardens. - He accommodated various important people. - Guest arriving from Durban was pick up at Umdoni Halt and taken up to the house. - With their departure, a personal trolley with a pump handle was used to take them back to the city. - In 1920, Sir Frank built a beach house for the Prime Minister, Louis Botha on a dune at beach front - Louis Botha died before the house was completed but his wife Annie used it until her death. - The house was then placed in a trust for the use of future Prime Ministers. - Sir Frank died in 1930 and is buried in the family cemetery at Lynton Hall. - His son Lewis, born in 1898 educated at Readley and Oxford. - He joined the Coldstream Guards and was wounded during the First World War in France. - He returned to South Africa and became General Smit s private secretary ( ) and served as MP for the South Coast (1930 to 1937). - Lewis married Eileen May and made further alterations to Lynton Hall. - With the outbreak of World War II, Lewis became ill and died after a routine march near Pietermaritzburg in 1940.

6 6 PENNINGTON continue Historical sites and monuments Lynton Hall - Later, Eileen May married a Scotsman Major Wallace who was stationed in Durban. - Together with her new husband and two children, Jane and Nicholas, she relocated to Aberdeenshire. - Lynton Hall then became abandoned. - In 1951 it was however chosen as ideal rehabilitation place for King George VI after serious surgery. - Alterations and renovations were planned to enlarge Lynton Hall to accommodate the King and his party, but unfortunately he died. - In 1959, Nicholas returned to live in Lynton Hall. - In 1963 he died in a car accident at Scotburgh. - After Nicholas death, his sister Jane and her family returned annually to Lynton Hall. - In 1970, Jane permanently relocated to Lynton Hall until her remarriage in She then passed the house on to her elder son Ronald Munro Ferguson and his family. - Currently, Lynton Hall serves as an exclusive, 5 Star Guest House which obtain several awards over the past years. HIBBERDENE Population: (On route N2) Altitude: - The first train travelers rode into town in 1901 aboard the rapidly expanding South Coast Railway. - Remained nameless until a decade later when the retired Postmaster-General Maxwell- Hibberd purchased a farm here.

7 7 PORT SHEPSTONE Population: Altitude:25m/92ft (On route N2) In the 1860s as it held promise as a port for coasters. The port fell into disuse when the railway line to Durban was completed. Become since a prime tourist destination because of its beautiful beaches. After Sir Theophilus Shepstone, the famous Diplomatic Agent to the Natal tribes people in the mid-nineteenth century. Claims to fame Largest town on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast Historical site and museum Port Shepstone Museum - Consist of a maritime theme. - Exhibits details of the history of the town. Attractions and activities Banana Express - It is a Steam Train and offers a journey starting at Port Shepstone, carry through several towns and beautiful surrounding countryside and ends at Izotsha.

8 8 ORIBI FLATS Population: Altitude: (On route N2) - Norwegian pioneers were the first people to farm this fertile terrain. - The topography of the area dictated complete isolation and the settlers tried, in vain, to persuade government officials to re-route the proposed railway line. - After the little antelope prevalent in the area at that time. Attractions and activities Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve - One of the most beautiful features of the area. - Protects the beautiful natural waterfalls and bizarre rock formations as well as the indigenous birds and animal life. HARDING Population: Altitude: 872m/2861ft (On route N2) Established in 1873 as an outpost on the troubled East Griqualand border and for Walter Harding, a judge of the Natal Supreme Court. Attractions and activities Weza- Ngele State Forest Nature Reserve - Home to enormous old trees as well as many small animals. - Offers various trials by foot, horseback or mountain bikes.

9 9 EAST GRIQUALAND REGION The early story of Matatiele and its surroundings, however, is a rollicking yarn of outlaws, racketeers, gunrunners and cattle rustlers who ran the show around this frontier town for many years. Kokstad tells the story of South Africa's own 'great march' - by Adam Kok and his Griqua followers from the southern Free State across the Drakensberg to the 'promised land' of East Griqualand. KOKSTAD Population: Altitude: 1300m /4265ft East Griqualand Region (On route N2 approximately 117km west from Port Shepstone and on route R56 with conjunction with the N2 at Stafford s Post approximately 174 km south of Pietermaritzburg.) Situated on the southern slopes of Mount Currie (2 224 m) part of the great Drakensberg Range. Forms the capital of the region historically known as Griqualand East. In the late 1850s when a section of the Griqua people, those around Philippolis in the southern Free State, lost most of their land as a result of various harassing situations between Britain and the new Free State Republic north of the Orange. No man s land between the Transkei and Natal was offered as compensation. In 1863, Adam Kok III sold his land to the Free State Government. About Griquas, led by Adam Kok III, set off on their march to the promised land about 400 km away to the east and crosses the Drakensberg. They took their worldly possessions of about 300 ox-wagons, together with head of livestock. Finally they crossed the escarpment into 'NoMan's-Land' by way of a pass, which they called Ongeluksnek ( accident col ) due to one of their leaders who was killed there while out on an eland hunt. On arrival they built a huge laager on the southern slopes of a tall mountain, which they called Mount Currie. The laager serves for about 10 years as the Griquas residence. In 1871 the Reverend William Dower of the London Missionary Society agreed to live and work among them. He suggested that they moved down to a more suitable site for a permanent settlement. The new settlement was then duly laid out on the banks of the Mzintlava River and called Kokstad. Every male Griqua over the age of 18 was awarded a ha farm. With mountainous terrain and harsh winters against them, they started selling their land to white people.

10 10 KOKSTAD continue East Griqualand Region In 1874 'No-Man's-Land' became Griqualand East when Britain annexed the Griqua 'republic' to the Cape Colony. Kokstad became the administrative centre for a new district, Mount Currie Adam Kok was relieved of his duties as chief and died in By that time the Griquas has exchanging more than half the 600 farms originally allocated to them. It serves as a garrison stronghold during the Basotho 'gun war' in when a detachment of the Cape Mounted Rifles was stationed there for some extra protection. In 1881 an African-American opened the first hotel and also started the town's first newspaper, the Kokstad Advertiser. In gained municipal status on 5 April Oak trees were planted along broad streets lined by furrows to irrigate the gardens. Water was derived from various local streams and the Crystal Springs on Mount Currie. Currently serves as a branch railway terminus from Franklin in junction for the line from Pietermaritzburg. d in honour of Adam Kok III. Mount Currie was named in honour of Sir Walter Currie, commander of the Frontier Armed and Mounted Police. Agriculture Cattle ranching, dairy products Breeding of polo and other horses. Well watered area. Various streams, including the Mzintlava River, are well stocked with trout. Historical sites and monuments Ornamen tal Cast Iron Bandstand and memorial Kokstad Museum Located in the grounds of the town hall. Dedicated to the men of the Cape Mounted Rifles who defended the residents of Kokstad against uprisings by both Griqua and Nguni groups. It was donated to the town council in 1912 by the engineers who designed the Kokstad water scheme. Located in the building originally houses the town library. Built in Exhibits the history of the Griqua people.

11 11 MARGATE Population: Altitude: 49m/161ft (On route N2) A popular holiday town since The town and its surrounding villages combine to form one large coastal holiday resort Main town of the area. After a coastal town in England.

12 12 SOUTHBROOM Population: (On route R61) Altitude: 54ft/177ft - Initially known to the Zulu population as Ntsaba. - d by Alfred Eyles The Lookout when he built a wattle and daub mission nearby. - After Alfred Eyles bought the area he officially called it Southbroom, in memory of his family home in Wiltshire, England. - The name was retained when it received town status in PORT EDWARD Population: Altitude: (On route R61) This holiday town includes the village of Palm Beach ally named Kennington after TK (Ken) Pringle, the original owner of the area. Experienced many name changes as the property changed hands. Renamed in honour of King Edward VII of Britain. Historical site and monuments Tragedy Hill - Place where Henry Fynn s (one of Natal s first white settlers) family were murdered in 1831, after the Zulu s mistakenly believed that they had stolen their cattle