Eshowe
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Eshowe, Uthungulu District, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa is the oldest town of European settlement in Zululand. Eshowe's name is said to be inspired by the sound of wind blowing through the more than 4 km² of the indigenous Dhlinza Forest, the most important and striking feature of the town.
Today Eshowe is a market town, with a 100 km radius catchment area, two shopping centres, a main bus station serving the hinterland, a major hospital, and several schools.
History
A mission station (later called the KwaMondi Mission Station) was established at Eshowe in 1861 once permission has been obtained from the Zulu King Cetshwayo by Norwegian missionary, the Reverend Ommund Ofterbro.
During the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879, Colonel Pearson lead the coastal column to Eshowe. This column encountered part of the Zulu army at Nyezane, but after a short battle pushed on to the KwaMondi Mission which was fortified and called Fort Eshowe. The forces under Colonel Pearson were besiged for 10 weeks until relieved by Lord Chelmsford after the Battle of Gingindhlovu. After the war Eshowe was established as the captial of Zululand and the home of the British resident in Zululand, Melmoth Osborne.
Eshowe was officially declared a township in 1891.
In 1947 the British Royal Family (King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret) visited and were welcomed in Eshowe by King Cyprian. The family toured the Dlinza Forest and spent a night in 'The Residency' in Eshowe.
Eshowe served as the seat of the first Black Diocesan Bishops in South Africa, of the Anglican and Catholic Church.
Nearby national parks
- Greater St Lucia Wetland Park
- Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve
- Itala Game Reserve
- Lubombo Transfrontier Conservation Area
