Amanzimtoti (L14): 28

Name:Amanzimtoti, KwaZulu-Natal

The official website of the Durban coastal resort of Amanzimtoti.
amanzimtoti.kzn.org.za/


Google count: 372 000 (incorrectly spelt as Amamzimtoti gives one 1700!)

Date: 25 June 2008

Historic fact:

After the start of the construction of the South Coast railway line from Durban in 1895 the town of Amanzimtoti evolved around the railway siding on the bank of the Manzimtoti River – named after its pleasing “sweet water” by the Zulu King, Shaka. The first hotel opened its door there three years later and this booming tourist destination hasn’t stopped growing since. Today’s Amanzimtoti offers visitors excellent accommodation, restaurants, seaside entertainment and shopping. Other towns and villages along this section of South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal South Coast include:

UMBOGINTWINI
Just 24 km south of Durban the part residential/part industrial Umbogintwini came into its own with the construction of an explosives factory on the banks of the Mbokodweni River in 1909. Today’s urban sprawl has linked it inextricably to the town of Amanzimtoti.

DOONSIDE
A suburb of the Amanzimtoti Municipality, Doonside took its name from one of its original resident’s house called “Lorna Doone”.

WARNER BEACH
So named because in 1910 Mr. T. A. Warner, the then government surveyor, was sent here to survey an area planned for the settlement of pensioners. Quite prophetic in a way for the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, like Florida with its warm climate, has become a real pensioner’s paradise.

ILLOVO BEACH
Named after the Lovu River – “elephant” in Zulu – Illovo Beach’s recorded history stretches back to about 1860 when MacDougal’s riverside store was a welcome watering hole for passing travellers. Then, with the increase of traffic, a Mr. Pearce opened an inn on the southern bank in 1862 and it was his son, William, who eventually started the Illovo Sugar Mill in the year 1890.

KARRIDENE
Karridene was named after the benevolent Rand mining magnet W. Karri-Davis who took it upon himself to build a curative centre here for miners suffering from phthisis.

Source: http://www.southcoasthappenings.co.za/amanzimtotihomepage.htm
Other interesting info:


Where to stay:



Scuba Diving at the Aliwal Shoal, which is situated in Umkomaas, is a popular dive spot for adventure seekers, being recognized as one of the top ten dive sites in the World. The dive sites include coral reefs, two wrecks, and one of the greatest attractions, "Raggie Cave" where divers will get a chance to swim with ragged tooth sharks.

Golf Courses close by are the Amanzimtoti Golf Course, Umbogintwini Golf Course, Umkomaas Golf Course, Scottburgh Country Club, Umdoni Park Golf Club and the Selborne Country Club. The South Coast boasts some of the best golf courses with their indigenous coastal flora and fauna. Most of the courses offer a spectacular ocean view making for a pleasant golfing experience.

A few Nature reserves like Umbogovango Nature Reserve, Vernan Crookes Nature Reserve and Ilando Wilds are also close by. All of the reserves offer hiking trails through indigenous sub tropical forests.