The South Coast - Paradise of the Zulu Kingdom

Historical & Cultural Attractions

Albersville Community Church:
Port Shepstone
It is a church built in 1959 by the late Thomas Sayers and the late Rev. Paul Haage and members.
Telephone: (039) 682 0361

Alfred County Annexation site
Izingolweni
32 kms south-east of Harding, at Salute Hill in Maci reserve not far from the Umtamvuna river. The cairn marks the place where Alfred county was incorporated into Natal on new years day 1866. The area had for years been known as no-mans-land. The ceremony was attended by Adam Kok and a number of local chiefs, who watched as a twenty- one gun salute was fired. The site is a national monument.

Assisi Convent
Port Shepstone
45km north west of Port Shepstone it is a mission/convent. There is also a hospital and a school. The convent was built on 8 December 1922. It was named in the honor of St. Francis from Italy. The hospital was built in 1959 and was given the same name as the convent. This convent is a declared heritage site. Contact Sister Pacis
Telephone: (039) 6959104

Batstone's Drift
Port Shepstone
A few kilometres up the Umzimkhulu River, 100 metres inland from the freeway bridge. Near the present-day low causeway, 50m inland off the freeway, is where Batstone operated his pont on the Umzimkhulu River. The drift itself is much older. Contact Port Shepstone Publicity
Telephone: (039) 6822455/(039) 688 2195

Bazleys Harbour Works
Port Shepstone
At the mouth of the Umzimkhulu River, on the south bank the harbour wall was built in the 1880's to allow access to the Umzimkhulu river for small coasters.
Contact telephone: (039) 688 2195


Bilamhlolo River
Ramsgate
After an apparent misunderstanding in 1831 over cattle ,some of Dingane's warriors are alleged to have killed members of the family of the early trader Fynn near the mouth of this river. The river Bilamhlolo means 'the amazing boiler'. It has recreational uses.


Contemporary Arts and Art Therapy
A KZN registered tourism establishment
Telephone:(039)3166288/0845865351 Francis
Fax:(039)3166288
E-Mail:dupierry@gmx.net

Enxolobeni C.P.School
Port Shepstone
The school is built on the area which used to be the American Board Mission. The heritage site mission house is still in the area and there is also a graveyard of the Americans who used to live in the mission.

Fynn's Grave
Port Shepstone
Sugarbush cutting, approx 10 kms inland from Port Shepstone near the Boboyi River. Frank Fynn was the brother of Henry Francis Fynn. William Bazley erected the simple tombstone after Frank Fynn'sdeath. Henry Francis Fynn's precious diary was buried with Frank Fynn. The grave is in a thicket 500 metres west of the water works at sugarbush cutting.
Contact:Penny
Telephone: (039)688 2195

German Church
Port Shepstone
Marburg /Izotsha, inland from Port Shepstone the church was built by by early German immigrants. Contact telephone: (039) 6870314

Green Point/Clansthal Lighthouse
Clansthal
At Clansthal, between Scottburgh and Umkomaas it is also known as the Clansthal Lighthouse. It serves to warn shipping of the presence of the Aliwal Shoal four kms offshore. The building is a national monument

Isandlundlu / Tragedy Hill
Port Edward
Near the beach at Port Edward Shaka's warriors are said to have killed a party of Mpondos here in 1828. Others maintain that the Fynn family was attacked during the 1830's.

Kniesel's Castle
Port Shepstone
24 Reynolds Street, Port Shepstone an impressive 19th century dwelling remaining in Port Shepstone. It is a declared heritage site.
Telephone:(039)688 2195

Kwanobhodwe/Kwalembe Tourist House
Umzinto
Kwalembe
It is a house made for tourists passing in the area. It is in a quiet area near Umkomaas River. The house has toilets, sinks, etc. There is a good site of the Umkomaas River and surrounding mountains.
Contact Nkosi P. Bele
Telephone: 082 820 3632

Marburg
Port Shepstone
3 kms inland from Port Shepstone two hundred and forty six Norwegians settled here in 1882 and concentrated on farming as well as trades. German settlers also made their contibution. The present Marburg commonage is a site also used by Shaka and his Impis during their Mpondoland raid of 1828.

Margate Municipal Art Museum
Margate
Viking road, Margate
Contact: Craig
Telephone:(039) 312 8392

Mpambanyoni River
Scottburgh
North part of Scottburgh. The name means 'confuser of birds' because the huge reed beds and meandering course makes it hard for the birds to find their nests. This is but one example of the marvellous Zulu names in the area, such as Umkomaas, Sezela, Amanzimtoti, Mzumbe, Umzinto, Umbogintwini.

Ndongeni ka Xoki's Grave
Port Shepstone
On the north bank of the Mzimkhulu River, on the farm Ndongeni, 15 kms upstream from the mouth the grave is on the farm Ndongeni, near the convergence of the Umzimkhulu and Umzimkhulwana Rivers. Ndongeni accompanied Dick King on his famous ride in 1842, as far as Mgazi in Pondoland. Ndongeni was given a farm here after the event.
Contact telephone: (039) 6870314/ (039)688 2195

Norwegian Church
Port Shepstone
In the vicinity of the Marburg Common, Port Shepstone built by early Norwegian immigrants, most of whom arrived in the area during the 1880's.
Contact telephone: (039) 6870314


Paddock Station
Paddock
Paddock, approx. 20 kms inland from Port Shepstone Paddock Station (building) is a national monument.

Park Rynie
Park Rynie
A small whaling station was developed here in the 1900's. Its remains are sometimes still visible, depending on the beach sand. The town was named after Mrs Rynie Hoffman.


Port Shepstone Lighthouse
Port Shepstone
500 metres south of the mouth of the Mzimkhulu River the lighthouse, made of iron, was cast in Britain and shipped to Natal in the 1890's. Initially it stood at green point to warn of the Aliwal Shoal, but was later brought to Port Shepstone. It is a national monument. Contact telephone: (039) 6870314

Port Shepstone Maritime Museum
Port Shepstone
Athlone Drive, near the Alfred County Railways (Banana Express) Station. Fascinating aspects of the sea, shipwrecks and the old harbour are the major features of this museum.
Contact: Penny
Telephone: (039) 688 2195


Riverbend Art Gallery
A KZN registered tourism establishment
Art Gallery
Telephone:(039)3166204
Fax:(039)3166204
E-Mail:hkelly@iafrica.com

Sezela River, South Coast
Sezela
Sezela River mouth. A great crocodile known as Sezela was killed here in 1828 on Shaka's orders. For years it had terrorised a local tribe, the Malangeni.

Shaka's Bush
Port Shepstone
Marburg Common, Port Shepstone. Near Bates's Service Station. Here in 1828, in the area of the Marburg Common, is the place where Shaka stayed with Henry Francis Fynn during his great raid on the Mpondos.
Contact: Penny
Telephone:(039) 688 2195

St Helen's Rock
Port Shepstone
10 kms upriver from the mouth of the Umzimkulu the rock is on the Umzimkulu River; about ten kilometres from its mouth. This rock was a favourite picnic spot for the early settlers in the area, and was named after Miss Helen Sinclair during the 1880's. Sinclair's father owned the first sugar mill erected at Port Shepstone.
Telephone:(039) 688 2195

St John (San Joao) Shipwreck
Port Edward
Port Edward Rocks, 300 metres south of the bathing beach. The Portuguese ship (St John) was wrecked close to Port Edward in 1552. This is the earliest known shipwreck on the KZN Coast. Most of the four hundred and eighty survivors died while attempting to make their way to Delagoa Bay.
Telephone: (039) 688 2195

Turton Halt Railway Station
Hibberdene
28km north of Port Shepstone it is a railway station, but it was closed down. There is also a fishing spot on the other side as the station is near the beach.

Umdoni Park, South Coast
Pennington
The sugar magnate, Sir Frank Reynolds, built a seaside residence here for the South African Prime Ministers, as a token of his admiration for Louis Botha.

Umkomaas, South Coast
Umkomaas
Umkomaas River mouth. The name derives from shaka watching cow whales giving birth to their calves at the mouth of the Umkomaas River. It means 'place of cow whales'.

Umzimkulu Breakwater
Port Shepstone
Mr William Bazley began work on the Breakwater in 1880, employed by the Aiken brothers. Rock was removed and a wall built to facilitate access to the river by small coasters. The Natal Parliament took over financing the project. The opening of the railway halted further work , of which little remains.
Telephone: (039) 688 2195

Umzumbe Morrison Post
Hibberdene
38km north east of Port Shepstone it is the first mission built by the Americans in the area. It was a mission of the American Board for 36 years. Remains of the building of the mission are still there. This building is a declared heritage site.<br

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