Eshowe

The Zululand town of Eshoweis flanked by the indigenous Dhlinza Forest with rolling hills and is the oldest European town in Zululand, in Zulu the town is called the xysmalobium shrubs, showe or shongwe.

Eshowe houses two modern shopping centres, bus terminal that service the surrounding rural areas and beyond. Also it has a modern hospital and has a selection of schools for the locals.

A historical town founded in 1860 by the then Zulu king who build a kraal (a traditional rural village, usually consisting of a number of huts surrounded by a stockade) where a mission station originated in 1861 by the Norwegian missionary, the Reverend Ommund Oftebro.

Eshowe has a history of Anglo-Zulu war from where the Fort Eshowe originated from Eshowe became the capital of Zululand.


Significantly in 1947 the British Royal Family (King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret) visited the town where they spend one night with King Cyprian.

Eshowe is the host of several museums and from where many interesting places can be visited, of which are:

• Fort Nongqwayi - old British fort
• Basketry museum - next to the fort
• Vukani collection - Zulu pottery and handcrafts
• Nearby nature conservation areas
• Greater St Lucia Wetland Park
• Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve
• Itala Game Reserve
• Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area