The verdict is out: Richards Bay is once again the Zululand Observer ‘Town of the Year’.
Zululand Observer readers were asked to vote for their favourite Zululand town by completing a voting form which appeared in the newspaper.
Richards Bay received the most votes.
To encourage readers to participate, the Zululand Observer gave away prizes for three lucky voters.
The first prize was R1 000 in cash.
Cane Cutters Tropical Bird Park sponsored the second prize, a weekend getaway for four people at Cane Cutters Estate.
Arabella Spa Excellence was the sponsor of the third prize, a day of pampering at the spa which includes a de luxe manicure and pedicure, a six skincare Velocity facial, a full Swedish body massage, relaxing bath soak/jacuzzi and a complimentary light meal and drink.
The Zululand Observer would like to thank our prize sponsors for helping to make the competition a success.

Portuguese mariners visiting Richards Bay used to call it Rio-dos-Peixes, meaning ‘the river of many fish’.
Mtunzini’s lagoon almost became the harbour town when Nathaniel Isaacs and Lt James Saunders King ‘took possession of the area’ in 1827, but nothing ever came of that.
During the Zulu war of 1897, British forces surveyed the Zululand coast in search of an ideal landing point for ships and identified Richards Bay for its indentation at the mouth of the Mhlathuze River.
For many years Richards Bay was ignored by the authorities, but after the discovery of coal deposits on the banks of the Ntambanana River at Somkele and near Nsimbagazi (Umzingazi) Lake near Mhlathuze lagoon in the 1890s, it assumed new importance.
In 1896 coal was mined at Nsimbagazi on an experimental basis.
Suggestions for a harbour were aired in 1887 and again at the turn of the century. A survey conducted described Richards Bay as the perfect location.
Except for the most ardent fishermen, Richards Bay was rarely visited, even though it was a fishermen’s paradise. It is said that oysters were so plentiful that one was able to purchase them by the sugar pocket.
Zululand Fisheries was founded in 1906 and two employees living on Pelican Island caught and dried fish which was sold to local inhabitants.
After World War 11, the Natal Parks Board established a caravan park and camping site in Richards Bay and according to reports, during holiday season this quiet little fishing hamlet was invaded by as many as 4 000 holiday makers.
In 1965 it was announced that a new harbour was to be built. This brought along rapid acceleration in development. By June 1969 a town board was established.
Within five years the population of fewer than 100 had grown to 3 000.

Situated in southern Zululand, this popular birding route meanders through the Babanango highland, traverses the rolling hills of Melmoth, drops down to the green tranquil forests of eShowe, continues through the coastal belt at Mtunzini and Richards Bay, and culminates in St Lucia.
The entire route encompasses 10 different habitat types, which support some 400 bird species – more than half the total of South African species.
Birding day records on the Zululand birding route have been in excess of 260 species recorded in a 24-hour period.
Making this route particularly popular are the welcoming accommodation establishments in the region, ranging from traditional country hotels, to game lodges and welcoming bed and breakfast cottages.
In addition, numerous well-informed and experienced birders are available for advice on local species and the most favoured habitats, or to act as guides in the various areas on the route.

www.zululandtourism.org.za

Described as the last haven of untouched African paradise, Kosi Bay is a wonderland of blue sea and dazzling white beaches, wetlands and lakes and reed channels, raffia palm forests and mangrove swamps.
Kosi Bay is famed for the traditional, woven fish traps and palisade kraals used by the community for hundreds of years.
The area is made up of six large lakes, two smaller lakes and one conserved estuary on the Indian Ocean coastline.

Kosi Bay bucket List
Go on a lake cruise. The best way to experience the Kosi Lake system is by boat. The series of interconnected lakes stretch over 18km.
Go fishing. Many visit Kosi Bay just for the chance to catch kingfish at Kosi mouth.
Explore the Thonga fish traps. This age-old traditional method of fishing minimises the impact of the fish levels within the Kosi Lakes system.
Visit Thembe Elephant Park and get up close and personal with Africa’s largest mammals.