The town of Melmoth is well situated as a base of travellers visiting the historic sites of the royal homesteads and the eMakhosini Valley - sacred burial ground of Zulu Kings.
At the gateway to the Zulu Highlands lies the town of Melmoth. Situated in a lush green mist belt 800m above sea level, Melmoth is a long established trading and agriculture centre, with an emphasis on timber.
It was founded in 1888 as a 'gold rush' town on a portion of the farm 'Golden Reef" owned by Reinold Ortlepp and named after Sir Melmoth Osborn, the resident commissioner of Zululand at the time. This was following the annexure of Zululand by the British government in 1887 and the establishment of magisterial districts.
PLACES OF INTEREST
Biyela Monument
The Biyela Monument was erected at the request of the Biyela Clan to show their area of origin. It is beyond the Katazo store on the road from Melmoth to Babanango not far from Dingane's spring.
KwaMagwaza Mission Station
The late Reverend Robert Robertson established this mission station 'the place of tall trees' in 1860. Bishop Wilkinwson later operated from this mission which is 8km south-west of Melmoth. During the 1879 Anglo-Zulu War the station was destroyed and re-established only to be destroyed again in 1884 during civil disturbances in Zululand. Education facilities and hospitals were later developed.
Mthonjaneni Site
This hill, north of Melmoth, overlooks the Ulundi plain. Dingaan's drinking water was brought from it and a Voortrekker laager was situated here before the incident of Opathe Gorge. The British laagered here during the closing stages of the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879.
Birding
Weni, to the south of Melmoth, offers numerous grassland and riverine birds. These include Grassbird, White-backed Night Heron, Buff-streaked Chat and Mountain Wagtail, to name a few.
To the north west lies Sappi Mooiplaas which is a timber farm. Here grassveld and bushveld birds can be seen, namely Black Eagle, African Crowned Eagle, Swee Waxbill and many others.
North of Melmoth lies Wintershoek Farm, which straddles the high and low veld and overlooks Emakhosini, the "Valley of the Kings". The varied terrain offers a wide variety of birds including Yellow- and Orange-throated Longclaws, Groundscraper Thrush, Southern Ground Hornbill and African Crowned Eagle.
All within an hour's drive out of Melmoth are the:
- Battlefields of the Anglo-Zulu War and Anglo-Boer War
- Fabled Nkandla forest where metalworkers secretly crafted Shaka's dreaded short-shafted stabbing assegais.
- Cengeni Gate entrance to the Umfolozi - Hluhluwe Game Reserve - home to the Big Five.
- Pristine forest, wetland and grassland habitats with more than 400 species of birdlife including many rare species.
- Coastal resorts with extensive beaches, tropical forests, mangroves, lakes and estuaries
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