Mtunzini Accommodation Venues & Tour Operators

The distinctive name 'a place in the shade' was given to the village by the indigenous Zulu people close to the turn of the last century. Mtunzini is known as the gem of the Tuzi Gazi Coast. It has a natural tidal lagoon. The tidal lagoon foms part of a beautiful coastal wetland area with all its unique plants and creatures. Sun drenched beaches, a fisherman's paradise, fringed by tranquil dune forest. A 1000 ha nature reserve makes this area a veritable haven to those wishing to "get away'"from the hustle and bustle of city life and enjoy the outdoor experience.

Introduction to Mtunzini

The name Mtunzini is derived from the Zulu word Emthunzini meaning “at the umthunzi (milkwood) tree” or “in the shade of the umthunzi tree”. The form mthunzini means “in the shade” of any tree. In the case of the town of Mtunzini it refers specifically to John Dunn’s Indaba Tree, a large milkwood (Mimusops caffra, Tree No. 583).

John Dunn, regarded as the founder of Mtunzini, was born in 1834, the third son among six children. He lived a nomadic life as a hunting guide and transport rider until 1854, when he became assistant to the British Border Agent at Nonoti, Lower Tugela. After the civil war between two Zulu factions in 1856, Dunn got to know Cetshwayo, one of the sons of the Zulu King Mpande, and resigned his post to become Cetshwayo’s diplomatic adviser. In return he received 10 oxen and an extensive stretch of land over which he was a headman.

Dunn’s land was roughly the present magisterial district of Mtunzini. He established his authority over it by dividing it into areas, each under the control of a favourite induna or headman. He had married Catherine Pierce, but also married a further 48/49 Zulu women, as was the custom of his adoptive people. This was a way of ensuring strong political and economic bonds between clans. After the Anglo-Zulu war of 1879 the British appointed Dunn as one of 13 chiefs to rule the defeated Zulu Kingdom. As Chief he was responsible, with advice from his izinduna, for settling disputes and imposing sentences on transgressors. Dunn died on 5 August 1895 after a short illness, and as there was no successor, a power vacuum existed in the area. On 1 October 1895 a temporary magistrate’s post was created at Mtunzini. This date represents the “official” birth of the town and it therefore celebrated its centenary in 1995.

At present Mtunzini is home to approximately 600 families who enjoy the natural beauty of this popular coastal town. The climate is sub-tropical with an average annual rainfall of over 1 000mm. with most rain falling in the summer months. Summers are hot (17° - 40°C) and can be rather humid. Winters are cool with the temperature seldom falling below 17°C.

Mtunzini’s firm policy of focusing on the natural beauty of the area and promoting conservation is what makes it so special. The town was declared a Conservancy in November 1995 and in 1999 received a Conservation Award from the then KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Services in recognition of its outstanding commitment and contribution to preserving the natural environment of KwaZulu-Natal.

A network of trails has been established to offer residents and visitors the opportunity to experience the natural attractions of the area. One may be fortunate enough to encounter some wild animals on these trails. Bushbuck, bushpig, red, blue and grey duiker, otters and water mongoose – all are resident in Mtunzini’s natural bush and in the uMlalazi Reserve. The area, with its diverse vegetation, is a bird-watchers’ paradise. Swamp and coastal dune forest, estuarine mud flats, mangroves and open grassland provide the different habitats for over 300 recorded species, the best known being the Palmnut Vulture, now almost synonymous with Mtunzini. It is South Africa’s rarest breeding bird of prey, found only here and at Kosi Bay.

uMlalazi Nature Reserve, controlled by Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife, covers 1 028 hectares on the seaward side of town and is open to the public between 05h00 and 22h00. The long stretch of unspoilt beach is ideal for swimming, surfing and angling but, being a dolphin-friendly area, no shark nets are in place. All water sports can be enjoyed at the lagoon and there are ample picnic facilities along the river banks. You will probably see the resident herd of zebra that graze here.

The uMlalazi Reserve and the Amatikulu Reserve together form the Siyayi Coastal Reserve, which stretches from the uMlalazi River in the north, in a narrow band along the coast southwards almost to the Thukela (Tugela) River. Amatikulu Reserve is open between 07h00 and 17h00. Access is via the N2 approximately 30 km south of Mtunzini. Once there, one can undertake self-guided game drives and walks through 5 different ecosystems, namely estuarine, dune scrub, dune forest, coastal riverine and coastal forest. Because of this diversity, the reserve attracts a variety of bird species that will satisfy the keen birder. There is a thriving population of giraffe as well as waterbuck and a number of smaller antelope.

Other recreational activities catered for include golf, tennis and squash at the Country Club, bowling at the Bowling Club and riding at the Pony Club. All clubs, including the Ski Boat Club, offer special short-term membership for visitors.

Source:  uMlalazi Municipality


General Information

Mtunzini (Um-tin-zee-knee) is a small coastal town that is situated almost exactly halfway along KwaZulu-Natal's coastline in South Africa approximately 120Km north of Durban. The name is an isiZulu meaning place in the shade.

After the breakup of the Zulu kingdom after the Anglo-Zulu War, Sir Garnet Wolseley created 13 'kinglets' - with two strategically located as buffer zones between Port Natal and Zululand. One of these kinglets was John Dunn who used Mtunzini as his capital.

In 1948, 9 square kilometres of dune forests, lakes and lagoon at Mtunzini was proclaimed a nature reserve known as the Umlalazi Nature Reserve. This area falls under the protection of the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife (previously known as Natal Parks Board). The Umlalazi Lagoon is a popular tourist attraction for watersports enthusiasts and fisherman alike. Recreational and commercial ski-boat boat fisherman also launch their boats in the lagoon and they then head for the Indian Ocean via the mouth of the Umlalazi River.

Mtunzini boasts, among other attractions, pristeen beaches, an 18 hole golf course at the Mtunzini Country Club, the Tradewinds Hotel, numerous Bed-and-Breakfast establishments as well as a range of camping, caravanning and other self contained holiday accommodations. Be warned, the beach are NOT protected by shark nets due to Mtunzini's proximity to a shark breeding ground populated by Zambezi Sharks as well as many others. This fact notwithstanding, the waves at Mtunzini are described by surfers as being some of the better ones to surf on the North Coast.

In 2002 Mtunzini became a landing point for the SAFE state of the art Optical fiber Submarine communications cable, linking Melkbosstrand to the West with Saint Paul (Reunion), Baie Jacotet (Mauritius), Cochin (India) and Penang (Malaysia).

Source:   Wikipedia