- KwaZulu-Natal
- Nkwazi-Zinkwazi Strand
- Zinkwazi Strand
Zinkwazi Strand, Nkwazi-Zinkwazi Strand, KwaZulu-Natal
- Inligting
- Aktiwiteite & Vermaak (1)
A Little Wild, Slow-paced and Close to Nature
The peaceful holiday village of Zinkwazi is situated almost midway between Durban and Richards Bay, just past Stanger off the N2. The name Zinkwazi is the Zulu word for the White-Headed Fish Eagle and the seaside village is an ideal option for locals and tourists looking for tranquillity.
Zinkwazi lies amongst sub-tropical vegetation, typical of the Kw-Zulu Natal north coast, with a 7 kilometre lagoon opening onto a pristine protected beach – the beauty of the area is reason enough to visit! The area is a nature lover's wonderland of walks, fishing, spectacular bird life, indigenous forest, water sports and endless beaches.
Zinkwazi also provides ferry rides along the lagoon, used for upriver bird spotting, wine tasting or simply to experience the relaxation of being on water.
The town is fairly centrally situated with regards to golf courses however, because the town remains small and unchanged by tourism this also means that you need to bring most of your groceries with you. Shops do provide the basics and a few extra odds and ends and there are two restaurants for easy and delicious meals.
Zinkwazi has a lovely caravan park with an abundance of indigenous trees and bird life. Other accommodation includes self-catering units along the lagoon and beach.
Things to do and see
- Zinkwazi Beach & Lagoon
- Zinkwazi Ski Club
- Zinkwazi Ferry
- Fort Pearson & Ultimatum Tree
- Amatikulu Nature Reserve
- Hiking & Bird Watching
- Zimbali Golf Course, 40 km
Climate
Zinkwazi receives approximately 904 mm of rain annually with rainfall falling throughout the year.
Summer months, November to March will have average temperatures of between 15˚C and 33˚C.
Winter months, May to August will have average temperatures of between 10˚C and 23˚C.
Transport
There are daily flights into King Shaka International Airport, 58 km away via the N2. Car hire facilities are available at the Airport.
History
The history of Zinkwazi is fascinating and stretches as far back as the early Iron Age – no roads marred the landscape and only paths made by human and animal feet existed.
In 1922 Mr. L Balcomb discovered, on his lagoon site, human remains, which were confirmed and identified, by the University of Natal, to be those of the nomadic “strandlopers”. Again in 1958 when a local farmer, Herman Schmidt was digging foundations for a boathouse along the lagoon he unearthed human remains, which were, once again, confirmed to be those of the “strandlopers”.
One of the first settlers was a certain Joshua Walmsley. The granting of government land was the official start of the white settlements. A merchant from Cape Town, Mr. Pieter Gerhardus van der Byl, was the first to secure a grant for 633 acres of sea facing land on the south side of the Zinkwazi Lagoon for, four shillings per acre on the 27th of March 1857. Four years later on the 15th of June 1861, he sold the land to the Natal Land and Colonization Company for two pounds per acre making a nice profit.
In 1903 Mr. Bernard Theunissen acquired the first 2-acre plot on the south bank of the Zinkwazi Lagoon. Further sales during this time followed to Horace Balcomb and Elias Andreas Hagemann. These families still own property in Zinkwazi today.