WATCH: Caxton Local Media Travels to Northern KZN

IN CELEBRATION of World Tourism Day, Caxton Local Media journalist, Nhlanhla Hlatshwayo shares her experience of when she was treated to a two-day tour by Tourism KZN (TKZN). which took place in two towns on the northern coast of KwaZulu-Natal – Empangeni and Richard’s Bay.

Commemorating the rich heritage of our province, KwaZulu-Natal, the TKZN celebration theme was: ‘Tourism and Green Investment: Investing in People, Planet and Prosperity’. TKZN said they would achieve this through: investments that are targeted to ensure community economic growth, which also protect our culture and heritage and support tourism’s green transition; fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, especially youth entrepreneurship.

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Speaking more on the theme, KZN MEC of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Siboniso Duma, said their investment as a department towards tourism is important.

“From our early Zulu wars and battlefields to our present-day struggle for freedom, our cultural diversity, our beadwork and crafts, our magnificent mountains and valleys and estuaries and oceans, which give us two wonderful World Heritage sites, the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg and Isimangaliso Wetland Park – more than all this, we have Ubuntu. Ubuntu is an important part of our heritage. Ubuntu is about our people being bound together in humanity, sharing with and helping one another and being linked to the natural world around us.
“If visitors approach their visit here with a sense of Ubuntu, the warm-hearted and friendly people of KZN will respond with Ubuntu. This is what sets KZN apart,” explained Duma.

First visit – Somopho Hills

Approximately an hour and a half to two hours drive from Durban, the first stop was Somopho Hills Adventures. Located in the rural area of KwaSomopho, Emacekane, is this hidden gem that offers outdoor activities, such as hiking, paintball, quad biking, bird-watching, camping and Zulu storytelling. Somopho Hills was founded by Lungani Mthembu in 2021, an entrepreneur and a member of the Mthembu royal family, who desired to uplift his local and rural community and conserve their rich Zulu heritage as well as the beauty of the untouched wilderness that has survived for centuries. The livelihood of the people from the Somopho Village has been based on livestock and subsistence agriculture. Now, they are involved in tourism, and 15 local youth are employed by the adventure park.

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Richard’s Bay Port

The second stop portrayed the beauty of the coast of KwaZulu-Natal, the Richard’s Bay port. As per the KwaZulu-Natal Freight Transport Data, the port of Richard’s Bay was developed in the 1970s.

“It had become urgent to provide additional rail links between the coast and the mining heartland of the country. It was also necessary to provide a deep-water port to accommodate the new large bulk carriers.

“Richard’s Bay serves the coalfields of KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, as well as timber and granite exporters from as far away as the Eastern Cape and Northern Cape. The port is now handling an increasing variety of bulk and neo-bulk cargo in addition to break-bulk. Much of the general cargo has migrated away from Durban in recent years. Exports remain the main activity of the port.”

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In the vicinity of the port is an arena of entertainment, including the Zula Beach restaurant and takeaway. The eatery is situated at the shore of the port, facing beautiful views of marine life. A walk away from the eatery is the Bon Hotel, and farther down are other eateries.

Investing in tourism, TKZN donated 10 quad bikes to Somopho Hills Adventure Park at an investment value of R1.2 million. Duma further encouraged all travellers to choose establishments that support the local community, champion community-led conservation or empower local people to protect their environment while living in it.

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