The Tugela (uThukela) river played in the South African history the important role of a border river between the Colony of Natal and the independent Kingdom of the Zulus in the north-east.
In 1879, after they had won over the Voortrekkers and had pushed them out of Durban and Pietermaritzburg, the British laid claim on Zululand, giving Zulu King Cetswayho a practically unacceptable ultimatum. The resulting Anglo-Zulu-War lasted until 1887 and ended after many battles and a high cost of lives with a British victory. KwaZulu was annected by Natal. The northern border of the territory under British control was the Tugela River.
Still today the Tugela River has the feel of a border. This is where the long row of European-style holiday places ends. North of the river the traditional African settlement structures of the Zulus are dominant.
The little village of Tugela Mouth on the northern banks of the river mouth is - despite its long and wide sandy beaches and the beautiful estuary - hardly touched by tourism. Only a few fishermen come here on holiday. They buy the bait from Zulu children who catch it with fishing nets in the river.
For bird lovers the Harold Johnson Nature Reserve is interesting. The nature protection area of about 100 hectares lies on the southern banks of the Tugela River, almost 6 kilometres before the river mouth. More than 200 bird species were registered here. And there live zebras, monkeys, mongoos and some antelope species.
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