This sub-tropical hub is situated on the mouth of the largest river on the south coast of KZN, the Mzimkulu River “the great home of all rivers”. It lies 50 km south of Durban and is the administrative, educational and commercial centre for southern KZN. Industry includes a sugar mill, a lime works and a marble quarry. There is also a lot of sub-tropical fruit grown in the area.
Port Shepstone always has a holiday feel to it and, with its hotels, restaurants, beaches and the tidal pool, almost has an olde-worldey romantic feel to it. It is a magnificent spot for deep-sea fishing, thanks to the Protea Reef while, in winter, the Sardine Run comes to town and is quite a sight to behold.
It was founded in 1867 when marble was discovered nearby and is named after Sir Theophilus Shepstone of the Natal government of the 1880s. William Bazley built a harbour and the first coaster entered the harbour on 8 May, 1880. In 1882 a party of 246 Norwegian immigrants settled here and played a large part in the development of the area. After the opening of the railway to Durban in 1901, the harbour was no longer needed and eventually the river silted up.
However, earlier history goes back to the San people, followed by the Zulus and traders of yesteryear.
