Eshowe used to be known as Eziqwaqweni, Ekowe and kwaMondi. It is a small town, 485 km southeast of Pretoria. Eshowe is one of the oldest European settlements in Zululand. It was first established as Eziqwaqweni in 1860. The following year, a missio0n station was built there.

Fort Nonquai Historical Museum is a museum, housed in a fort that dates from the times of the Anglo-Boer War. During that war, the British made several trails through the area. Some of these trails still exist.

One example is the Dlinza Forest Reserve, where you can walk the trails. The park also features a canopy boardwalk and you can see several animal species there. The nearby forest of Nkandla is also very interesting.

There are several hotels and restaurants in Eshowe. The bus station serves numerous towns in the hinterland. North of Eshowe is the beautiful Nkwaleni Valley.

Fort Nonquai Historical Museum ©Esther Westerveld

Dlinza Forest Reserve ©Bernard Dupont

Dlinza Forest Reserve ©Bernard Dupont