Port Edward, KwaZulu-Natal

Port Edward is a small resort town situated on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, near the Eastern Cape Province border.

Port Edward is a fanatical tourist resort for seasonal visitors from more affluent regions of South Africa. The coastline between here and Port Shepstone to the north is popularly known as the Hibiscus Coast because of its lush sub-tropical gardens.

There are many tourist seasons that influence Port Edward but the most significant is the Christmas / New Year period spanning from mid-December to mid-January. Port Edward's Silver Beach hosts an annual New Year's Eve party frequented by white people whilst on New Year's Day itself, black people populate the beach for continued celebrations. Another main season coincides with the Sardine run natural phenomenon in May to July.

History

In 1831 there was a crisis between the settlers in Port Natal (Durban) and Dingane, the Zulu king. Some settlers boarded a ship that was in the harbour and the others, including Henry Francis Fynn and his family, fled down the coast. The Zulu warriors caught up with them where Port Edward is today and massacred the fleeing settlers, which included local tribespeople of Langeni, on a hill called Isandlundlu (in English, "shaped like a hut"). The place has been known ever since as Tragedy Hill and its slopes are still littered with the bones of the victims.

In 1878, the ship "The Ivy" ran aground on Port Edward's beach.

In 1925, the area was owned by TK Pringle, and named Banner Rest. A village was laid out and was named Port Edward in honour of the Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VIII.