Eshowe

Eshowe gets its name from a milkwood shrub (Xysmalobium) which is called in Zulu by the name ishongwe. Alternatively it may be an onomatopeic name, referring to the hushing sound of wind through the forest leaves.

Xysmalobium (milkwort) shrub, in Zulu ishongwe.

Attractions

Also see the neighbouring towns

Eshowe (or eShowe) lies above the Mlalazi (uMlalazi) River Valley about 100Km north of Durban. It is on the R66 between Melmoth and Gingindlovu, and about 70Km from Empangeni.

Museums

Fort Nongqwayi

Fort Nongqwayi is an old British Fort, used during the Anglo-Zulu War.

Basket museum

There is a basket museum next to Fort Nongqwayi.

Vukani collection

The Vukani collection consists of traditional Zulu pottery and handcrafts.

Bulawayo

Bulawayo (or KwaBulawayo), the Zulu King Shaka kaSenzangakhona's (ca. 1787-1828) capital village, was roughly 25Km northeast of Eshowe. It was large enough for 12'000 warriors.

Nature

Dlinza Nature Reserve

The Dlinza Nature Reserve (250Ha) is a subtropical forest and has abundant birdlife with ferns, streams and waterfalls. Bushbuck, Duiker, wild pigs, vervet monkeys can be seen. In the forest there is a wheel-chair friendly aerial boardwalk 10m above ground and 125m long. There is also a 20m high viewing tower.

There are 65 species of birds, including Delegorgue's Pigeon, Purple-crested Turaco, Narina Trogon and the endangered Spotted Ground Thrush.

Goedertrou Dam

The Goedertrou Dam is less than 15Km north of Eshowe. Fishing can be done, and there are picnic spots.

Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve

The Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve is roughly 50Km north of Eshowe.

History

Eshowe is the oldest European style town in Kwazulu-Natal.

Esighwagini

In 1860 Cetshwayo (1826 - 1884), who later was the Zulu King (1872 - 1884), built a kraal here, called Esighwagini (Place of the Robbers), which was his headquarters. He gave permission to the Norwegian Mission to establish a mission in 1861, which was called Kwamondi, derived from the first name of the missionary, Ommund Ofterbo.

Cetshwayo kaMpande (1826 - 1884)

During the Anglo-Zulu War a fort, now called Fort Nongqayi, was built by the British at Eshowe. In 1887 Eshowe became the capital of the then Zululand. In 1892 erven were sold to establish the place as a proper town.

The Mondi Mission Station.

The Reverend Ommund Oftebro

Siege of Eshowe

During the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 British troops under Colonel Charles Pearson fortified the KwaMondi Mission, and they were besieged for 10 weeks by the Zulus. The British were only relieved on 3 April after the Battle of Gingindlovu, under leadership of Lord Chelmsford.

KwaMondi Mission was renamed Eshowe, and became the capital of Zululand in 1887. In 1891 it was declared a township.

Zulu Civil War

Eshowe was the British military headquarters during Zulu Civil War. A peacekeeping force of 3 000 British troops was encamped in tents at Fort Curtis for about 16 years. Nothing remains of Fort Curtis.