Monday, April 27, 2009

Amanzimtoti, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
SKIP IF YOUR NOT INTO ENCYCLOPEDIA STUFF LIKE WE ARE.

Amanzimtoti is a coastal town just south of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. According to local legend, when the Zulu king Shaka led his army down the south coast on a raid against the Pondos in 1828, he rested on the banks of a river. When drinking the water, he exclaimed "Kanti amanzi mtoti" (isiZulu: "So, the water is sweet"). The river came to be known as Amanzimtoti ("Sweet Waters"). The Zulu word for "sweet" is actually mnandi, but, as Shaka's mother had the name Nandi, he invented the word toti to replace mnandi out of respect not to wear out her name. Locals frequently refer to the town as "Toti".

Amanzimtoti is renowned for its warm weather and its beaches. It is a popular tourist destination, particularly with surfers, and the annual sardine run attracts many to the beaches. Many South Africans flock here during the summer to get away from it all. Its location on the N2 national highway, approximately 11 km from Durban International Airport makes it a convenient destination. It has several malls, arcades and a water park.

Amanzimtoti made the international news when on December 23rd, 1985, during the peak of the Christmas shopping season, MK cadre Andrew Sibusiso Zondo detonated a bomb in a rubbish bin at the Sanlam shopping centre in an act of anti-Apartheid terrorism. Five people died in the blast and more than forty were injured.

There are well established sports facilities in Amanzimtoti, situated at Hutchison park. Included is a tennis-, squash-, cricket-, rugby-, soccer-, cycling- and bowls club.

Arbour Crossing, a major new shopping development, opened on November 20th 2008, with a Pick 'n Pay Hypermarket being the key tenant. The Galleria, a second development in the same area, is due to open in 2009.

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