Empangeni

Empangeni is a charming town in Zululand about 160 km from Durban and about 15 km from the commercial and industrial port town of Richards Bay. It is the centre for the sugar plantations in the area as well as other farming activities such as cattle, timber and cotton.

The town was officially recognized as a village in 1906 but it was a mission station from as early as 1851. It has since developed into a thriving town and together with Richards Bay is the gateway to Zululand from the KwaZulu-Natal coast. It is less than an hour away from Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve the Isimangaliso (St Lucia) Wetland Park. The Enseleni Nature Reserve is only about 13 km north of the town and is well worth a visit to do the 7 km trail . There are also a number of picnic spots in the reserve.

Visit the Empangeni Museum to understand the colourful history of the pioneers of the sugar industry as well as the local Zulu culture. A visit to the Fort Nongqayi Museum Village in nearby Eshowe will also give you a good understanding of the Zulu nation. There is an excellent golf course at the Empangeni Country Club and you are only minutes away from all the activities available in Richard’s Bay.

See Fishing on the North Coast

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