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KZN - Richards Bay |
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On the northern KwaZulu-Natal seaboard. Among the youngest of South Africa's seaports, and now the largest in terms of tonnage handled. The town and its deep-water harbour were created in the 1970s to serve the giant industrial enterprises of the Highveld conurbations (Johannesburg and the surrounding Witwatersrand) far to the west; the local coal terminal is reputed to be the world's largest; installations include an oil pipeline, a massive fertilizer plant, an aluminium smelter and much else. Titanium is mined in the area. All this might appear rather unattractive but in fact Richards Bay, its coasts and the surrounding countryside have a lot to offer the visitor. The recreation facilities - safe bathing, surfing, boating, watersports, angling, golf and the beaches are outstanding. Richards Bay is a convenient base from which to explore a wider area that contains some of Africa's finest game and wilderness areas. The Greater St Lucia Wetland Park lies just to the north; the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game-Park complex just to the west. It is also close to the heart of the Zulu Kingdom, which has retained much of its spectacular heritage. Richards Bay Game Reserve The lagoon-type estuary of the Mhlatuze River, around which the town has developed, is a proclaimed conservation area, home to hippos, crocodiles and an impressive number and variety of aquatic birds. Among sanctuaries a bit further afield but easily accessible are: Windy Ridge Game Park Leopards, white rhinos, giraffe, crocodiles, antelope and a superb array of birds can be viewed in the woodlands and riverine stretches. Two rest-camps. Enseleni Reserve Zebra, wildebeest, hippos, crocs, antelope on view, best seen perhaps on the self-guided Swamp Trail. Umlalazi Reserve Monkeys, butterflies, some lovely birds in a beach-fringed setting that includes endangered mangrove swamps. Log cabins available. Empangeni just inland; St Lucia Estuary to the north; Stanger (Dukuza) to the south. |
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RICHARDS BAY Western Cape
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