Meet Durban North’s treasure hunter
Ensor's detectorist spark began to flicker while walking along the beach in uMhlanga.
![Donald Ensor with his detector machine and scooper](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/51/2016/11/IMG_9975-Large.jpg)
MEET Donald Ensor, Durban North’s very own treasure hunter. Ensor made headlines last week when he found a men’s 18ct gold wedding band. The band, bearing two wedding dates and four names, caused quite a stir on social media with his post having been shared more than 1000 times.
Ensor said he has always had a penchant for ‘searching for treasure’ but it was only three years ago that he decided to take it up as a hobby.
He walks anywhere from Shaka’s Rock Beach to the uShaka Beach. “Of all the items I’ve found, I would say a World War II Polish medal that was awarded in 1944 has got to be the most interesting,” he said.
Armed with his detector machine, Ensor has stumbled across a wealth of treasure and has amassed a collection that now includes thousands of coins an array of fishing sinkers, diamond rings, gold jewellery and titanium rings.
“When I was a kid, I used to go diving for tackle, sinkers and I’d find the odd ring. I spoke to guys with detector machines and after seeing a youngster with his machine walking along uMhlanga Beach, pick up a Sovereign, the bug bit. I usually spend about two hours on the beach just looking for stuff,” he said.
Ensor keeps a close eye on the weather patterns. Usually a windy night means a shift in sand or perhaps a collapsed sandbank, which can reveal a wealth of treasure.
“I’d rate finding a Kruger coin as one of most treasured finds and I also found a ring that dates back to the 1900s.”
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter to keep up-to-date with local news.