The South Coast - Paradise of the Zulu Kingdom

South Coast Towns

zoom Source: ARWORKS

Umkomaas

In 1864, locale of the present-day town was the southernmost point of a Colonial-declared 'Zulu Reserve' with little European contact beyond missionary activity and even less development of infrastructure by its administrators. When the province's first-ever train pulled out of Durban Station on- 22nd February 1897 - its indicator read 'Umkomaas' and the South Coast would never be the same again. The district Post Office was next to arrive, followed - in 1901 - by the first trading store - and official declaration of the town a year later. The enthusiasm of Durban's settler population for train travel made Umkomaas a popular getaway, and this picturesque spot soon become an early 'resort' .

Widenham and Clansthal are popular resorts in the vicinity of Umkomaas.

Scottburgh

Although coastal trading was already doomed, the town's career as a port was not entirely ruined by the railway's arrival. In January 1899, a Durban-based syndicate sailed eight custom-built fishing boats to Scottburgh. The first of these foundered within a week, but the rest of the fleet prospered...inspiring a rush of entrepreneurs to seek their fortunes in these abundant fishing grounds. Larger-scale commercial ventures eventually put these hardy individuals out of business, except for the ferrying of recreational fishermen.

Park Rynie and Umzimto are former villages, which are now form part of the Greater Scottburgh area. Dududu & Execution Rock

Pennington

This area developed with the railway's arrival in early 1900, followed 15 years later by construction of a rudimentary whaling station at its northern extreme. As with many South Coast settlements, its name was derived from a land surveyor s fond memory of the 'Old Country' and much criticised by certain historians and newspaper commentators of the day, who believed all these frontier districts should retain their traditional Zulu names.

Umdoni Park & Golf Course,Ocean View,Kelso,Sezela,Bazely Beach,Ifafa, Elysium and Mtwalume are popular resorts in the Pennington area

zoom Scottburgh at the turn of the 20th Century

Hibberdene

The rapidly extending South Coast Railway first passed through here in 1901, but the embryonic village was without a name until a decade later, when retired Postmaster-General of Natal, Mr Maxwell- Hibberd, bought a farm here. A trading store and hotel followed soon after... and another holiday resort was born.

Port Shepstone

A fondly recalled tale is the town's 'population explosion' in August 1882, when 246 Norwegians arrived aboard the Lapland. Anchoring at night off what appeared to be a 'dark and uninviting shore', these selected immigrants were soon cheered by the sight of lantern-waving locals. The irrepressible William Bazely ignited five charges of dynamite in celebration, and the ship replied with some rockets and an impromptu music concert. An enormous bonfire was soon blazing on the beach...swelling the crowd and fuelling high spirits on both sides of the surf line. With sunrise came an end to the Norwegians' jollification. A high sea prevented their ship from entering the river mouth and, in small groups, they were hauled ashore by hand on a warp- connected lighter. Now wet, sea-sick and thoroughly disenchanted, these bedraggled individuals were greeted by a sight for which they were even less prepared - a welcoming party of 500 Zulu warriors 'in full feathers and war-paint'. The Norwegians were reportedly more alarmed than amused. The following are important resorts that are part of the Port Shepstone area:
Mzumbe
Sunwich Port
Bendigo
Southport
Umtentweni

zoom The entrance to the Port Shepstone Harbour in 1897.

Harding

Easier access to the abundant natural resources of this area meant increased prosperity and by early 1882 the village boasted a hotel in addition to its three trading stores and four private homes. Colonial attempts to establish law and order in this so-called 'No- Man's Land' soon prompted construction of a barracks for 25 Natal Mounted Policemen and quarters for a district magistrate.

Oribi Flats

Named after the sprightly little antelope that witnessed their arrival, Norwegian settlers were the first to farm this fertile plateau. Completely isolated by the area's topography, they tried persuading government officials to re-route the proposed inland railway to meet their needs - with no success. Undeterred, these expatriates from the frozen north set about building a road by hand...eventually coercing a subsidy from government, then 'tricking' the authorities into fully financing a more functional, wider road.

Shelly Beach

The name Shelly Beach is derived from the shells that proliferate the area. Thanks to the Protea Banks Reef which runs some 7 kilometers off shore, the collectors find the exquisite miniature 'Pink Lady' shells, along with other Indo. Pacific and Temperate coast species, on the beach.

Shelly Beach is home to the well known Sonny Evans Small Craft Harbor. Sonny Evans, in the early 1970's formed the ski boat club and along with other locals, cleared the area to the north of the tidal pool to make for a safe launching area. Today this harbour is the focal point from which many and varied ocean activities take place. Deep-sea fishing, whale and dolphin viewing, sardine viewing (in season), pleasure trips and scuba diving to the world renowned Protea Banks, all emanate from this harbour.

Shelly Beach boasts of two large shopping complexes, namely the Shelly Centre and the South Coast Mall. The Shelly Centre has 114 shops of varied nature, cinema's, restaurants, etc. The South Coast Mall at the entrance to Shelly Beach has many large franchise stores and some great restaurants. Alongside Shelly Beach is the well known St Michael's beach, it is from this beach that many of the local and national surf competitions are held.

Margate

The land surveyor involved obviously hankered after the holidays of his youth at the bustling seaside resort in Kent...for in 1921 very little was happening in this Margate when he changed its name from Inkongweni. The land had been purchased by Hugh Balance, who recognised its tourist potential, but could persuade only one fellow- investor to share his dream. Publicity was needed, and in 1922 millions of newspaper readers around the globe suddenly 'discovered' Margate when Balance wrote to the world s press about the beached remains of a 'mammoth', hairy and bloodless monster he had witnessed being killed by two whales in a titanic struggle just beyond the breakers. A spring tide removed the evidence before a flurry of scientific enquiry could descend on the town and quite possibly ruin the author s credibility. Our Margate was now highlighted on every atlas, though, and has never looked back. Dubious marketing ploys have been discouraged ever since! The Greater Margate area includes the following former villages:
St Michaels-on-Sea
Uvongo
Ramsgate

zoom "From the past" - Ramsgate

Southbroom

The local Zulu population had long referred to the promontory here as 'Ntsaba' , and when Alfred Eyles built a wattle-and- daub mission nearby he Anglicized it to The Lookout . When he bought the area, however, he changed the name to Southbroom, after his Southbroom Hall family home in Wiltshire. Land surveyors, pleased to find a reminder of the 'Old Country' , retained the name when officially declaring a town on the site in 1933.

Marina Beach,San Lameer and Trafalgar are important resorts in the Southbroom area.

Port Edward and Munster

The first 'holiday cottage' was a shack built among the sand dunes in the early days by transport rider Edward Stafford. Unaware of their motility, however, he was surprised and dismayed to see his fine creation swallowed up.

This area was subjected to several name changes as property was bought and sold, but the practice came to an end in 1952 when the town of Port Edward was ceremoniously dedicated to the then Prince of Wales.

The Umtamvuna River had so often flooded and destroyed the crops of the Zulu that they named it 'Reaper of Full Mouths'. They believed its waters despised the impure of heart as much as the ocean detested sinners...and anyone trying to ford the river without first confessing their sins would surely drown. Moreover, its deep pools were haunted by sprites and evil spirits, while its banks - and - the seashore witnessed the moonlit dancing of supernatural creatures who left terrifying tracks for humans to discover as the sun rose above the ocean horizon.

zoom Fishermen on one of Port Edward's famous beaches.

The Greater Port Edward area includes the following resorts:
Banners Rest
The Old Point
Caribbean Estates
The Estuary

The Greater Munster area includes the following resorts:
Leisure Bay
Glenmore South
Glenmore North (Glenmore Beach)
Palm Beach

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