Twinstreams EE Centre | Mtunzini Backpackers

Twinstreams EE Centre

Twinstreams EE Centre is used mainly for environmental education but its excellent facilities are also available to groups looking for something out of the ordinary.

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Twinstreams EE Centre

Location Information
Locality	Region
Twinstreams, Mtunzini, Zululand	KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Extra Information

Features on site or nearby

Property description	Established in 1952 by Dr Ian Garland, Twinstreams is the oldest Environmental Education Centre in South Africa. Dr Ian Garland and many famous visitors planted the forest surrounding the Centre. Twinstreams EE Centre is used mainly for environmental education but its excellent facilities are also available to groups looking for something out of the ordinary with a special setting. The Centre is linked to a network of trails through forests of incredible diversity and birdlife and it is also only a short stroll away from a long stretch of unpopulated beach. ACCOMMODATION Twinstreams can accommodate up to 90 school children at a time. Accommodation is rustic but is also clean and comfortable. All accommodation has electricity available. There are two accommodation centres: o Mick's Park: Built by Dr Ian Garland, this is the oldest accommodation centre at Twinstreams. The two lofts can accommodate up to 30 children with 2 rooms below sleeping 7 people. Ablution, kitchen and braai facilities are available at Mick's park. o Sinkwe Center: Sinkwe's dormitories can accommodate 32 people. This is the more modern of the two accommodation centers and consists of 8 rooms, each containing two double bunk beds. Ablution, kitchen and braai facilities are available at Sinkwe. Sinkwe also boasts as a large sun deck- ideal for outdoor meals on those balmy Zululand evenings. o Chalets: There are two small wooden chalets close to the administration offices at Twinstreams which can accommodate two people each. When they are not being used to house the teachers accompanying their learners on course they are available for private use. They have access to their own ablution facilities and use the braai and kitchen facilities at Mick's Park (about 30 m away from the chalets). Visitors will need to supply their own linen at Twinstreams EE Centre. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION Twinstreams caters for all ages.Their education staff plans and conducts all activities according to the active learning framework as laid out in the new Revised National Curriculum Statement. They offer assistance to teachers in acquiring fieldwork skills required for Outcomes Based Education. Twinstreams also offers a basic ecology course presented entirely in isiZulu for corporates who wish to reclaim some of the skills levies that they have to pay on a monthly basis or for those isiZulu speakers who struggle to grasp English terminology. TEAM BUILDING & GROUP DYNAMICS There is an experienced team of officers at Twinstreams who are capable of enabling even the most disjointed and disparate collections of people to form co-operative, functional units. Once again age is of no consequence and the process is actually a great deal of fun! EXPOSURE TO A WIDE RANGE OF ECO-SYSTEMS The guides at Twinstreams are equipped with the knowledge to take you on informative, interesting and interpretive trails through: dune forests sandy shores mangrove swamps wetlands raphia forests and grasslands ... all of which are available to Twinstreams Centre- either at the centre itself or at Umlalazi Nature Reserve . OTHER ATTRACTIONS o Trails : there are a number of well- maintained trails through the indigenous forest. Most are on flat terrain and are easily negotiable. They vary in length from a few hundred meters to 10 km. o Picnics :picnicking is allowed anywhere along the trails. Please ensure that no litter is left behind. o Braais : Fires are only allowed at designated braai areas. o Social gatherings : weddings,parties,church outings,family re-unions and other gatherings can be held at Twinstreams EE Centre. o Watersport: There are canoes, paddles and life jackets available for hire at Twinstreams (to be used on the Umlalazi River in the Nature reserve).
Check in times	Check in: 15:00 pm Check out: 10:00 am
Area activities	Mtunzini is home to the Umlalazi Nature Reserve, where hiking, birding, canoeing and picnicking are just some of the many activities on offer. The beach dunes and lagoon create a magnificent natural playground. If you're eager to get near the water, there are many different boat trips available. Fishing and waterskiing are also popular. For the sporting enthusiast, Mtunzini Country Club offers a 9-hole golf course (18 tees) as well as squash and tennis courts. The town also has a very active bowling club. Other local activities include horse riding, microlight flights, barge excursions, surfing, mountain biking, 4x4 trails, many walking trails, jet skiing, pottery and cultural tours. The Riverbend Crocodile Farm is a great place to visit. Mtunzini also has a variety of shops, pubs and restaurants. Mtunzini is an hour away from the Hlululuwe/Umfolozi Park. Half an hour further north is the St Lucia Wetland Park, a World Heritage site, where the scuba diving is breathtaking. Eshowe, close inland, offers an aerial boardwalk, high up in the forest canopy, a must for the avid bird watcher. A visit to Fort Nongquai in Eshowe and Shakaland Zulu cultural village is also well worth the time. On your way back to Mtunzini take a quick detour to Ongoye forest, with its rare bird species. An hour's drive south towards Durban you will find Gateway Shopping Centre where children can enjoy the skateboard park and wavehouse, or give the climbing wall a try. There are many restaurants in the shopping centre, as well as Adventure Golf and Tenpin Bowling to keep the whole family occupied.
Driving directions	Exit the N2 at the Mtunzini Toll Plaza, and drive towards Mtunzini. At the top of the hill, turn right into Station Road and then right again into Siyaya Street. At the junction with Valley Road turn left. Continue on this road and follow the signage. Twinstreams EE Centre is about 2.2km after the start of a gravel road. Take the first turn-ff to the left after crossing the first low-level bridge.
Airports	Durban Airport (140 km from Mtunzini) and Richards Bay Airport (45 km from Mtunzini)
Policies & disclaimers	Office hours at Twinstreams are from 08h00 -16h00 Monday to Friday. Booking is essential if you require accommodation or if you wish to organize a course for your group. No pets are allowed as Twinstreams is a Nature Reserve. There is safe drinking water from the taps at Twinstreams EE Centre. Avoid drinking stream or river water. The speed limit at Twinstreams EE Centre is 40kph. Please do not exceed this.

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