Under the Mountains
KwaSani is strategically placed at the foothills of the Southern Drakensberg, bordering the World Heritage Site. The municipality is bordered by Umkhomazi Wilderness Area to the West, Greater Kokstad to the South West, Eastern Cape to the South, Ingwe Local Municipality to the East and Impendle Local Municipality to the North. The area is 1180 sq kms in extent with a population estimated in the region of 17,000.
Economy
The core economies are agriculture and tourism, with some small businesses and retail traders in the Underberg CBD comprising local businesses, a mini mall and two chain supermarkets. Stepmore has also been identified as a potential urban area.
Tourism
The area boast numerous types of accommodation from B and B’s to caravan sites and holdiday resorts with a range of activities. The southern Drakensberg presents more fly-fishing opportunities than anywhere else in the country, with the Underberg-Himeville Trout Fishing Club holding rights to more than 160km of river plus 60 dams with a surface area exceeding 400 hectares. The region boasts three golf courses -the Underberg Country Club, Sani Pass Hotel and Drakensberg Gardens Hotel- and numerous rivers for swimming, rafting, canoeing and tubing. Underberg makes the perfect base for canoeists who plan to paddle the rivers in the area from the uMkomazi to the uMzimkulu. Horse trails and polo are also popular activities. The increasingly-popular Splashy Fen Music Festival takes place every year in April in Underberg.
The Ingwanewane River flows down the Coleford valley and the Ndawana River forms its Southern Boundary. This beautiful valley offers trout fishing, hiking and bird-watching. It is home to Wattle Crane and the White Winged Flufftail.
Historical and Other Places of Interest
The Old Fort in Himeville was completed in 1900 and used as a prison until 1972, when it became a museum. Exhibits include the San and period pieces of the early settlers of this area. It is a national monument.
Mhlwazini Cave, Drakensberg
The cave situated in the valley of the Mhlwazini River is a proclaimed heritage site of great sensitivity.
Cobham State Forest, Himeville
Cobham is situated in the Southern part of the uKhahlamba - Drakensberg Park, adjacent to Himeville Village. Mpongweni Cave, in Cobham contains many interesting rock paintings apparently depicting historic events. The fishing scene is especially interesting. Mpongweni was declared a national monument in July 1979
