Located 58 kilometres north-west of Melmoth, this small village shares its name with a nearby river and mountain. The origin of the name Babanango, according to local legend, stems from an incident where a young boy became lost within the mountain. When he was found, the phrase “Baba, nango” was used which translates into “Father, there he is”.
It is the highest village in Zululand and an ideal base from which to explore the Battlefields. It is also on the Zululand Birding Route - a network of 14 routes you can take to spot more than 600 species of bird and is a must for keen twitchers. Hiking trails also abound. The Umfolosi Thongaland trail starts here and takes you through Zululand’s rolling hills and deep valleys, while the Trans-Zululand trail, a six-day route, also starts here and follows the Umfolozi River to St Lucia, Sodwana Bay, ending at Manzibomvu.
The town itself, founded in 1904, was the site of minor skirmishes and offences as well as also the site of fierce battles. Before this, it was occupied by European settlers as part of a land grant given by King Dinzulu in 1885 in return for their support.
