Margate is a coastal resort town in the KwaZulu-Natal province, about 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) south-west of Port Shepstone and 127 kilometres (78.9 mi) south-west of Durban. The river which flows into the sea at Margate is called "Nkhongweni" (place of entreaty) as the original inhabitants of the area were reputed to be so mean resulting in travellers begging for hospitality.[2]: 329
Margate | |
|---|---|
 Margate's main beach | |
  Margate  Margate | |
| Coordinates: 30°51′00″S 30°22′00″E / 30.85000°S 30.36667°E | |
| Country |  South Africa |
| Province |  KwaZulu-Natal |
| District | Ugu |
| Municipality | Ray Nkonyeni |
| Area | |
• Total | 29.21 km2 (11.28 sq mi) |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
• Total | 26,785 |
| • Density | 920/km2 (2,400/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 47.3% |
| • White | 46.9% |
| • Indian/Asian | 3.1% |
| • Coloured | 2.2% |
| • Other | 0.6% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • English | 35.8% |
| • Xhosa | 22.5% |
| • Afrikaans | 19.8% |
| • Zulu | 18.4% |
| • Other | 3.5% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Postal code (street) | 4275 |
| PO box | 4275 |
| Area code | 039 |
Located on the Hibiscus Coast, part of the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, Margate is one of the major hubs for tourists who are looking to visit the eastern coastline of South Africa.
History
editIn 1908, Henry Richardson, an English surveyor laid out the town and named it Margate after another seaside resort on the northern coast of the county of Kent, in the United Kingdom.[2]: 329
Margate hit the world headlines in 1922 (although this date is often disputed and stated as 1924) when an enormous, white, furry creature (dubbed "Trunko" due to it having an elephantine trunk) was washed up on the beach. The "Margate monster" was too decomposed to be identified.[2]: 329
Geography
editTopography
editMargate's terrain is relatively undulating, rising toward the west where Margate Airport, the town's highest point, sits at an altitude of approximately 152 m (499 ft).
Suburbs
editThe 2011 census divided the urban area of Margate into 14 “sub places” including:[3]
- Beacon Rocks
- Lawrence Rocks
- Manaba Beach
- Margate (Proper)
- also encompasses Margate Extensions 3 and 7, Gayridge Agricultural Holdings and the KwaMasinenge Informal Settlement
- Margate Beach
- Margate North Beach
- Ramsgate
- Ramsgate Beach
- Ramsgate South
- Shelly Beach
- St Michael's-on-sea
- Uvongo
- Uvongo Beach
- Windsor-on-Sea
Economy
editRetail
editMargate is primarily served by Hibiscus Mall, the town's largest shopping centre, located on Wartski Drive. Other shopping options include Emoyeni Centre, Margate Centre, and Margate Mall (also known as Shoprite Centre). For a wider variety, residents often visit Shelly Beach, home to two of the South Coast's largest malls: Shelly Centre and Southcoast Mall.
Tourism
edit
Margate is largely a tourist town, owing to its subtropical climate, beaches, and hospitality industry with the bulk of the town's earnings coming from tourism. There is a wide range of holiday accommodation in the area including hotels such as Margate Hotel and Desroches Hotel, holiday apartments along the coast, self-contained units and holiday houses for rent.[4][5]
Margate is popularly known for its good beaches, especially its main beach, which is accredited with the international Blue Flag status. The Margate Central Business District (CBD) situated between the main road, Marine Drive and the main beach is a lively area filled with many restaurants, pubs, and nightclubs.[6]
Margate is busiest during school and public holidays when inland residents travel to the coast. Christmas and Easter are especially busy times, with Marine Drive often clogged with heavy traffic during these times.
Margate is one of the most visited tourist destinations in South Africa and had the third highest inflow of new visitors in December 2019 in South Africa after Plettenberg Bay and Mossel Bay, both in the Western Cape Province meaning that Margate had the highest inflow of new visitors in December 2019 in the KwaZulu-Natal Province.[7]
Education
editPublic Schools
editPrivate Schools
edit- South Coast Academy[11]
- Hibiscus International Academy
Healthcare
editPrivate healthcare
editEstablished in 2001, Netcare Margate Hospital is the sole hospital serving the community of Margate. Owned by one of South Africa’s largest private healthcare providers, Netcare Limited, it is a private hospital operating 24-hour emergency services. The hospital is located on Wartski Drive, a short distance from the CBD.[12]
Public healthcare
editMargate Clinic is a government-funded municipal clinic operated by the Ugu District Municipality, located near the Margate CBD. For public hospitals, residents of Margate usually use the Port Shepstone Regional Hospital in Port Shepstone.
Transport
editAir
editMargate Airport is located in Margate Ext 3 on the western outskirts of the town. It is a small, regional, airport with easy and quick access facilities. There is one scheduled domestic route to Johannesburg offered by CemAir. King Shaka International Airport, near Durban is about 166 km north-east of Margate.
Roads
editMargate is serviced by one highway, namely the R61 (future N2 Wild Coast Toll Route) which connects the town with Port Shepstone to the north and Port Edward to the south. The major arterial route is the R620 (Marine Drive; National Road) which connects the town with Uvongo to the north and Ramsgate to the south. Of importance is also the P200 (Izotsha Road) connecting to Gamalakhe and Izotsha in the north-west.
Sport
editThe Margate Country Club is an 18-hole golf course, par 71 course designed by Peter Matkovich which is set high on the western outskirts of Margate overlooking the Indian Ocean from a distance.[13]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d "Main Place Margate". Census 2011.
- ^ a b c Vic Mayhew, ed. (1980). Illustrated guide to Southern Africa. Cape Town: Reader's Digest Association South Africa in association with T.V. Bulpin. ISBN 978-0-620-04650-3.
- ^ "Census 2011: Main Place: Margate". census2011.adrianfrith.com. Retrieved 2022-11-04.
- ^ "The Margate Hotel". Retrieved 2020-06-11.
- ^ "DESROCHES HOTEL - Prices & Lodge Reviews (Margate, South Africa)". Tripadvisor. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
- ^ Lodge, Margate Beach (2017-11-03). "South Coast hosts 5 of the 6 Blue Flag beaches". Margate Beach Lodge. Retrieved 2020-06-11.
- ^ "These are the beach towns South Africans flock to for seaside holidays". The South African. 2020-02-26. Retrieved 2020-06-14.
- ^ "KZN Education officially opens Hibiscus Primary School". ECR. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
- ^ "Margate Middle School". Skools. 2018-10-22. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
- ^ "Margate Primary School". Retrieved 2021-09-19.
- ^ Academy, South Coast. "South Coast Academy". South Coast Academy. Retrieved 2021-09-19.
- ^ "Netcare Linkwood Hospital". www.netcarehospitals.co.za. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
- ^ "KZN South Golf Courses - Margate Country Club, Golfing at its best". Margate Country Club offers Golf, Snooker, Event and Function Venues, Bridge Club and Line Dancing Lessons. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
External links
edit
Margate (KwaZulu-Natal) travel guide from Wikivoyage