Eshowe was once known as ‘the city set on a hill’ and the capital of Zululand. Although it has never quite lived up to that status, eShowe is an important economic centre for the rural communities who travel to town for their essential goods. It boasts several major shopping centres, a district hospital and a number of schools, but despite this, eShowe still holds a lovely old-world charm. eShowe offers beautiful eco-tourism projects, cultural adventures and historical attractions. The town boasts the indigenous Dlinza Forest, a 250 hectare indigenous coastal scarp forest, which is one of the Great Five Natural Forests in KwaZulu-Natal. It is also becoming a thriving sports destination with events such as the Pick n Pay eShowe Elephant Big Five mountain bike race and the Trappers Ngoje trail run being hosted in eShowe.

• Observe the rich bird life from the canopy of the Dlinza Forest from a 150m long aerial boardwalk.
• Visit Fort Nongqayi Museum Village. The Zululand Historical Museum is located inside the complex, which also has the Vukani basket collection in the Vukani Museum.
• The Mission Museum highlights the work of the early Norwegian missionaries in the area.
• Explore the Butterfly Dome and Education Centre. Home to indigenous butterfl ies from the area, the dome provides a wonderful hands-on experience of nature for children of all ages.
• Grab a bite at Adam’s Outpost (closed on Saturdays and in the evenings)
• Attend a music night, art exhibition, film screening or comedy evening at The House in Zululand.
• Go bass fishing in Lake Phobane / Goedertrouw Dam.

Melmoth is known to have the cleanest air in the country. This picturesque town lies amidst a sweep of large sugar cane and timber plantations, rolling hills and green fields. It is a place of unspoilt beauty with a rich natural and social diversity where new lifestyles thrive next to a culture steeped in tradition. The town was originally a ‘gold rush town’. In the early 1990s gold was found 5km out of town, and deserted diggings can still be found in some areas.Today Melmoth is a trading and agricultural centre, mainly for timber and sugar cane.

2 December
Mtonjaneni Lodge is hosting its annual Christmas Market from 9am to 3pm. This will coincide with Bergland Akademie School’s fun run. For more information, contact Rina or Tracey on 035 450 0904/5 or 082 893 2256.

• Visit Mtonjaneni Zulu Cultural Museum to view a comprehensive collection of mementoes and artifacts from the Anglo-Zulu wars, as well as traditional Zulu artifacts.
• Take a guided tour to Dingane’s spring. Believing that the water from nearby rivers would poison him, King Dingane’s warriors had to guard the spring. 2000 Zulu maidens walked 12km daily to fetch the water high up in the valley. They had to carry the water in clay pots balanced on their heads. Legend has it that if the water was dirty once they reached the King`s homestead, the maidens where thrown off a cliff so that the King`s `children`, the vultures, could be fed.
• Visit Emakhosini, The Valley of the Kings. Seven Zulu kings lie buried in the Emakhosini Valley. The Spirit of Emakhosini, overlooking the valley, was built to honour them.