Port Shepstone

Port Shepstone is the largest town on KwaZulu Natals South C

Port Shepstone was founded in 1867 when marble was discovered nearby and is named after Sir Theophilus Shepstone of the Natal government of the 1880s. William Bazley built the Port Shepstone harbour and the first coaster entered the harbour on the May 8, 1880. In 1882 a party of 246 Norwegian immigrants settled here and played a large part in the development of the area. After the opening of the railway to Durban in 1901 the harbor fell in disuse and eventually the river silted up again making it impossible to use. The 27,000 candela lighthouse still stands at the mouth of the Mzimkulu River.

Port Shepstone is the regional capital of the Kwazulu Natal South Coast. It’s population reflects a diverse culture and instills a uniqueness that makes this bustling town refreshingly different. The properity of the town is built on key industries such as lime, cement, sugar, textiles, sweet manufacturing, tea, coffee and much more. Situated 120 km south of Durban, this coastal resort is situated at the mouth of the mighty Mzimkulu River, the largest river on the Kwazulu Natal south coast, and offers safe bathing, surfing, fishing, an 18 hole golf course, bowling greens and tennis. Incidentally, Port Shepstone used to be the major holiday destination at the turn of the century, due to the temperate climate being 2°c cooler than Durban. The greater Port Shepstone area stretches along 20 km of unspoilt beaches from Sunwich Port in the north, containing Anerley, Southport, Sea Park and Umtentweni, to Oslo Beach in the south. Inland suburbs are Protea Park, White City, Marburg, Merlewood and Albersville. Port Shepstone is not without it’s history and historical monuments. The town was named after Sir Theophilus Shepstone, the South African statesman well known for his handling of native affairs in the early days of Natal.

GENERAL INFORMATION

How to get there

Durban 120 km, Johannesburg 700 km, Kokstad 150 km, Margate 15 km

Average Rainfall – Approximately 1000 mm per year

Average Temperatures – Summer 32°c; Winter 22°c

Banks – Absa (ATM’s 4), Fnb (ATM’s 3), Nbs (ATM’s 3), Nedbank (ATM), Peoples (ATM’s 3), Standard (ATM’s 2)

Rivers – Umbango, Umtentweni, Umhlangakulu, Umzimkulu

HISTORICAL VIEW

Dick King Historical Drive

The river road, or ‘Dick King Drive’, is Port Shepstone’s own historical trail

Historical

Monuments / Landmarks

The ‘Castle’, or F Kriesel’s house near the Methodist Church, is the oldest dwelling still standing in Port Shepstone – it is more than 100 years old. Kriesel was an early settler who was the first master / auctioneer in town. He was also a chain store owner with trading stores inland towards Harding. The ‘Fort’, or police barracks, was during the 1880’s as accommodation and offices for the Natal Mounted Police. Stationed south of the Umzimkulu River, these men were to help maintain law and order in this ‘remote, sparsely populated’ part of Natal. Port Shepstone had at that stage been a port for nearly 20 years and, as it has been declared a full fiscal port, goods could be imported directly from other countries and colonies. The Lighthouse is the most recently declared of the three historical monuments in town. Originally erected at Scottburgh in the 1880’s, it worked in co-operation with the lighthouse at Umkomaas to warn ships of the dangerous Aliwal Shoal. These were superseded by the higher Greenpoint Lighthouse in 1905, and one was removed to Cape St Lucia, the other to Port Shepstone. That was the year that Port Shepstone harbour was unfortunately closed. Ships had been visiting the Umzimkulu since 1880 when the Somtseu first steamed in to the harbour towing a lighter for extra cargo. This little ship, boasting a very colourful history, called regularly for the next 18 years. Other ships also called with cargo and passengers. Two harbour walls were built at the river mouth to increase the safety to ships entering the harbour. William Bazley built the first wall – only a remnant remains and it has been incorporated in the fishing block at the point. Barnes Kinsey built the other, not of boulders as Bazley had, but of pre-cast concrete blocks which can still be seen, each bearing the date on which it was cast. They can be seen in that portion of the wall inland of the bridge. The part of the wall beyond the bridge was completed by the Natal Harbour Board with concrete cast in shuttering.

Port Shepstone Museum

The museum tells the story of the history of this area and it’s people, and has a predominantly maritime theme, due to Port Shepstone once being a harbour in the 1880’s. The museum is located on Athlone Drive on the Port Shepstone beachfront, near the Banana Express station.

NATURE

Oribi George Nature Reserve

To the west of Port Shepstone the Mzimkulwana River has, over a period of thousands of years, carved a spectacular gorge deep into the earth, resulting in one of Kwazulu Natal’s most dramatic landscapes, the Oribi Gorge – 24 km long, 5 km wide and 400 m deep. The gorge and surrounding area has been declared a nature reserve, conserving 1837 ha of rugged cliffs, bouldered river bed, beautiful waterfalls, forested slopes and open grassland.

Location

The reserve is located 21 km inland from Port Shepstone. From Port Shepstone follow the N2 towards Harding for approximately 10 km, the turn off to the reserve is clearly signposted.

Open

The reserve is open throughout the year. Visitors to the camp are requested to arrive before 16:30.

Accommodation

The hutted camp is situated at the head of the Umzimkulwana Gorge and commands an impressive view of the Oribi Gorge. The camp has electricity and consists of six 2 bed huts (double bunk optional). Each hut is equipped with a refrigerator and a kettle. Bedding, cutlery and crockery provided. Visitors are to bring their own food and beverages. Experienced cooks are available to prepare simple meals. A 7 bed self contained self catering chalet is also available. A 10 bed rustic cottage situated on the camp perimeter is ideal for larger groups. Crockery and cutlery are provided, but visitors are required to bring their own bedding. Braai facilities are available at each hut, while the ‘braai boma’ is ideal for larger groups.

Activities

The scenery along the gorge is a photographer’s and nature lover’s paradise. There are numerous beautiful picnic spots along the river. Visitors are however advised not to swim or paddle in the river because of the risk of contracting bilharzia. There is a swimming pool with a sundeck in the camp of residents. Many delightful walks, and self guided trails to the scenic spots in the reserve have been laid out. Detailed information are available from the Camp Manager. Wildlife is to be seen in the reserve and includes species such as bushbuck, common reedbuck and blue and grey duiker. Leopard occur in the area. The wealth of birdlife in the reserve makes bird watching a rewarding experience.

ATTRACTIONS

Banana Express

A narrow gauge steam railway taking visitors on inland day trips to Oribi Gorge and Paddock.

Illovo Sugar Limited

The Umzimkulu Mill is one of the seven sugar mills that from part of Illovo Sugar Limited, one of the largest producers of sugar ion southern Africa today. The Umzimkulu Mill was founded in 1896 on the banks of the Umzimkulu River, approximately 5 km from Port Shepstone and 120 km from Durban. Considerable development has taken place since those small beginnings and the mill now crushes 230 tonnes of cane per hour. The well known Illovo Golden Brown Sugar is produced at the Umzimkulu Mill

Port Shepstone Country Club

Offers one of the region’s best golf courses. An 18 hole course, situated on the Mzimkulu River.

Tea & Coffee Production

It is not well known that tea and coffee production were among the earliest industries in the Port Shepstone area over one hundred years ago. Tea was produced at ‘Sea Field’ and ‘Barrow Green’until the 1930’s, but coffee farming fell on bad times in the 1880’s when insects and disease wiped out the complete crop. Coffee is once again produced along the coast where the Arabica variety is grown. There are two mini factories in the Oribi Gorge area which handle the coffee from the ripe cherry stage through to the end stage which involves packaging the high quality filter coffee for the supermarket shelves or for mail order to any part in South Africa. Tea of high qualityis being grown and processed at Plains. The Paddock Tea Factory, close to the N2, is passed on the way to Oribi Gorge and is well worth a visit.

ACTIVITIES

Watersport & Recreation

Port Shepstone enjoys 23 km of pristine shoreline stretching from Sunwich Port to Oslo Beach, that is from the Damba River to the Izotsha River. Wide stretches of the sandy beach interspersed with rocky headlands and reefs are ecologically and aesthetically exciting environments. There are rock pools and sheltered bays, with the ideal fishing spots easily accessible. The Umzimkulu River mouth offers opportunities for other water sports besides surf and river bank fishing. It is from the river mouth that skiboats are able to launch, setting out for the rich fishing grounds offshore, among them the famed Protea Reef. The tranquil waters upstream of the road / railway bridge are ideal for aquatic sports such as wind surfing and waterskiing. The golden beaches are there for all to enjoy, with the best and safest bathing spots guarded by shark nets. Bathers are advised to only swim in these protected areas. There are several tidal pools along the coast. The first tidal pool was built in the 1920’s and is today the focus of the Port Shepstone beachfront development.

Accommodation in and around Port Shepstone