Babanango

Babanango (Ubaba, nangu) means 'Father, there it/he/she is' in Zulu.

Attractions

Also see the neighbouring towns

Babanango lies on a hilltop in hill country north of central Kwazulu-Natal. As it is the highest town in this region at 770m, it is often blanketed in mist. In a straight line, Babanango is about 30Km west from Ulundi, but more than double that distance by road.

The White Mfolozi River flows north of Babanango. Other villages in the region are: Nsubeni, Silutshana, Nkandla, Ndikwe, Osborne.

umGungundlovu

umGungundlovu (previously spelled Ngungunhlovu, meaning Place of the Elephant) was the royal village of the Zulu King Dingane kaSenzangakhona and situated in eMakhosini, the Valley of the Kings.

The village once contained about 1500 grass huts. About half a kilometer away was the royal palace, the isigodlo, where Dingane kept about 500 women, which included the royal family, the king's wives and concubines. The king was the only outsider allowed in the isigodlo.

The main royal throne room was a large hut, of which the roof was supported by 10 pillars. It sould seat about 50 people.

This site is presently closed and upgraded, to reopen in 2009. Phone: 035-870-5000

Battlefield Route

Babanango is on the Kwazulu-Natal Battlefield Route.

Clashes between Zulu and Voortrekkers occurred in the area.

Several British forts are in the greater area. Fort Marshall, built in 1879, is about 30Km west of babanango. Fort Prospect is near Nkandla.

Things to do

Bird watching

The Zululand Birding Route passes through Babanango. More than 600 recorded species of bird can be spotted on this route.

Hiking

Umfolosi Thongaland trail

This trail starts at Babanango and leads through the rolling hills of the area.

Trans-Zululand trail

This 6-day trail starts close to Babanango and ends eastward at Manzibomvu. The trail follows the Mfolozi River through the iMfolozi Game Reserve, St Lucia, and Sodwana Bay.

History

The Zulu people have lived in this area for a few hundred years. umGungundlovu (meaning Place of the Elephant), the royal village (also called kraal) of the Zulu King Dingane kaSenzangakhona (ca 1795-1840) is less than 10Km southeast of Babanango. This royal village is "famous" as the place where some European pioneers were killed. The details of the events have been obscured by ideological Afrikaans historians, but more or less happened as follows.

A commando under leadership of Piet Retief retrieved some cattle for Dingane, and expected land in return for the favour. After two days of celebrating the returned cattle, on 6 February 1838, the Europeans were killed. The Zulu's then also attacked a nearby pioneer (Voortrekker) group of 500 people. By the end of that year, a Zulu army of perhaps 10'000 soldiers attacked a group of 470 Vootrekkers under leadership of Andries Pretorius. Due to superior military technology, about 3000 Zulu soldiers were killed. That battle is known a the Battle of Blood River. Fighting continued for another two years until Dingane was assassinated and succeeded by King Mpande kaSenzangakhona.

Zulu King Dingane kaSenzangakhona (ca 1795-1840)

In 1885 King Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo gave some land to the pioneers (Voortrekkers) at the present location of Babanango.

Climate