Amanzimtoti, KwaZulu-Natal

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Amanzimtoti is a coastal town just south of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. According to local legend, when the Zulu king Shaka led his army down the south coast on a raid against the Pondos in 1828, he rested on the banks of a river. When drinking the water, he exclaimed "Kanti amanzi mtoti" (isiZulu: "So, the water is sweet"). The river came to be known as Amanzimtoti ("Sweet Waters"). The Zulu word for "sweet" is actually mnandi, but, as Shaka's mother had the name Nandi, he invented the word toti to replace mnandi out of respect not to wear out her name. Locals frequently refer to the town as "Toti".

Amanzimtoti is renowned for its warm weather and its beaches. It is a popular tourist destination, particularly with surfers, and the annual sardine run attracts many to the beaches. Many South Africans flock here during the summer to get away from it all. Its location on the N2 national highway, approximately 11 km from Durban International Airport makes it a convenient destination. It has several malls, arcades and a water park.

Amanzimtoti made the international news when on December 23rd, 1985, during the peak of the Christmas shopping season, MK cadre Andrew Sibusiso Zondo detonated a bomb in a rubbish bin at the Sanlam shopping centre in an act of anti-Apartheid terrorism. Five people died in the blast and more than forty were injured.[1]

There are well established sports facilities in Amanzimtoti, situated at Hutchison park. Included is a tennis-, squash-, cricket-, rugby-, soccer-, cycling- and bowls club.

Arbour Crossing, a major new shopping development, opened on November 20th 2008, with a Pick 'n Pay Hypermarket being the key tenant. The Galleria, a second development in the same area, is due to open in 2009.

Wildlife

Amanzimtoti has some patches of forest and wetlands where a wide variety of indigenous species still exist. Many of these are rare or endangered and housing developments continue to pose a threat.

Most of the wildlife can be found along the Amanzimtoti River or in the coastal dune vegetation. A Nature Reserve was proclaimed along the banks of the river called Ilanda Wilds. This small area of land contains various habitat types, ranging from steep rocky slopes to various riverine habitats, forest and small patches of grassland. There is also a bird sanctuary along one of the tributaries of the Amanzimtoti River which is home mostly to waterbirds (both domestic and indigenous).

Interesting Species of Amanzimtoti River and Ilanda Wilds

Fish: Burrowing Goby - Croilia mossambica (Rare), River Goby - Glossogobius callidus, Freshwater Goby - Awaous aeneofuscus, Golden Sleeper - Hypseleotris dayi (Rare), Broadhead Sleeper - Eleotris melanosoma, Dusky Sleeper - Eleotris fusca, Cape Moony - Monodactylus falciformis, Natal Moony - Monodactylus argenteus, Large-scale Mullet - Liza macrolepis, Freshwater Mullet - Myxus capensis (Rare), Estuarine Round-herring - Gilchristella aestuaria, Glassy - Ambassis sp., Mozambique Tilapia - Oreochromis mossambicus, Banded Tilapia - Tilapia sparrmanii, Southern Mouthbrooder - Pseudocrenilabrus philander, Sharptooth Catfish - Clarias gariepinus, Bowstripe Barb - Barbus viviparus, Longfin Eel - Anguilla mossambica.

Birds (a small selection of more than 300 species recorded): Reed Cormorant - Phalacrocorax africanus, Whitebreasted Cormorant - Phalacrocorax carbo, Greenbacked Heron - Butorides striatus, Black Egret - Egretta ardesiaca, Purple Heron - Ardea purpurea, Blackheaded Heron - Ardea melanocephala, Woolynecked Stork - Ciconia episcopus, Hamerkop - Scopus umbretta, African Spoonbill - Platalea alba, Egyptian Goose - Alopochen aegyptiacus, African Black Duck - Anas sparsa, Yellowbilled Duck - Anus undulata, Black Crake - Amaurornis flavirostris, African Jacana - Actophilornis africanus, Longcrested Eagle - Lophaetus occipitalis, African Fish Eagle - Haliaeetus vocifer, African Goshawk - Accipiter tachiro, Osprey - Pandion haliaetus, African Harrier-Hawk - Polyboroides typus, Tambourine Dove - Turtur tympanistria, Emeraldspotted Dove - Turtur chalcospilos, Narina Trogon - Apaloderma narina, Purplecrested Lourie - Tauraco porphyreolophus, Burchell's Coucal - Centropus superciliosus, Spotted Eagle Owl - Bubo africanus, Giant Kingfisher - Ceryle maxima, Pied Kingfisher - Ceryle rudis, Brownhooded Kingfisher - Halcyon albiventris, Pygmy Kingfisher - Ispidina picta, Halfcollared Kingfisher - Alcedo semitorquata, Malachite Kingfisher - Alcedo cristata, Redbilled Woodhoopoe - Phoeniculus purpureus, Crowned Hornbill - Tockus alboterminatus, Trumpeter Horbill - Bycanistes bucinator, Blackheaded Oriole - Oriolus larvatus, Spotted Thrush - Turdus fischeri, Starred Robin - Pogonocichla stellata, Chorister Robin - Cossypha dichroa, Plumcoloured Starling - Cinnyricinclus leucogaster, Forest Weaver - Ploceus bicolor, Thickbilled Weaver - Amblyospiza albifrons.

Larger Mammals: Blue Duiker - Cephalophus monticola bicolor, Bushpig - Potamochoerus porcus koiropotumus, Cape Clawless Otter - Aonyx capensis capensis, Large-spotted Genet - Genetta tigrina, Banded Mongoose - Mungos mungo taenianotus, Water Mongoose - Atilax paludinosus paludinosis, Large Grey Mongoose - Herpestes icheumon, Porcupine - Hysterix africaeaustralis, Greater Cane Rat - Thryonomys swinderianus, Vervet Monkey - Cercopithecus aethiops pygerythrus.

Reptiles (a small selection): Eastern green mamba- Dendroaspis angusticeps, Spotted Bush Snake - Philothamnus semivariegatus, Sundevall's Garter Snake - Elapsoidea sundevallii sundevallii, Nile Monitor - Varanus niloticus niloticus, Flap-neck Chamaeleon - Chamaeleo dilepis, Blackheaded Dwarf Chamaeleon - Bradypodion melanocephalum.