Scottburgh-Umdoni - The Toast of the Coast

An overview of the village of Umzinto.

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Sweet Success
Lying some 8 km inland from Park Rynie is uMzinto, where the planters and millers started growing cane on the hilly terrain around the Mzinto River from 1857. A year later, the first public sugar company started up in the area, with the mill being struck by lightning some seven years later which lead to total bankruptcy. Umzinto remains a busy town with a mixture of colonial and Indian architecture.

Eastern Charm
Indians brought in to work on the cane farms in 1860 have made a valuable contribution to economy of the town. Shopping in this little town is an “Eastern” experience, where one is invited to bargain with the local tradesmen.

Natural Treasure
A must-see for visitors to the Umdoni area is the Vernon Crooke's nature reserve. Named after one of the Crookes brothers, who were instrumental in establishing the sugar industry in the area, the reserve boasts breath-taking scenery in an eco-system comprised of coastal forest and grasslands. Birders can look forward to spotting some of the 300 confirmed species, which include spectacular raptors. Wildlife is abundant and includes impala, eland, blue wildebeest and bushbuck. The 11km “Happy Gold Mine” trail in the reserve leads to an old gold mine which still sports the mine shafts as well as a steam traction machine with the main traction engine and ball mill machine in place.

King Shaka also visited this area on his travels and within the reserve lies “Umthombo Kashaka” a well of fresh water found by his warriors. According to historians, Shaka relaxed here on his homeward journey in 1828, whilst his army sported on the beach making mock attacks against the waves today enjoyed by holidaymakers.

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