Port Edward &Surrounds

Port Edward &Surrounds
Welcome to:
Port Edward is a small resort town situated on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, right
on the Eastern Cape Province border.
Port Edward is a 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 early December to mid-January. Port Edward's Silver Beach hosts an
annual New Year's Eve party frequented by youths whilst on New Year's Day itself, families populate
the beach for continued celebrations. Another main season coincides with the Sardine run natural
phenomenon usually occurring from late May to mid-July. Port Edward is also very well know for there
yearly celebration of the Portuguese Festival. In 1552 and again 1554, 2 Portuguese ships sank near
Port Edward. They were reported to have been carrying a fortune in cargo – “worth a million in gold”
when they sank. In the case of the Sao Joao and the Sao Bento there were only a handful of survivors.
And so the connection between Madeira and the holiday village of Port Edward was born.
The shopping in Port Edward is dominated by a SuperSpar store. There is also a Shoprite and
Boxer Cash and Carry soon to open in the resort town.
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 tribes people 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 1552, the Portuguese carrick "Sao Joao" ran aground at Port Edward and this is the first time in
recorded history that peoples from Europe met peoples from South Africa.
In 1878, the ship "The Ivy" ran aground on Leisure Bay area beach.
In 1925, the area was partly owned by TK Pringle, and he named the inland portion Banner Rest as
this was where he wished to "strike his banner". The village was laid out and was named Port Edward
in honour of the Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VIII.
Schools:
There are various small schools in Port Edward, some consisting of only 50+ children; however the
most popular of these schools is Port Edward Primary School.
The popular Splash Rock
in Port Edward