Howick Falls

The Howick Falls in Howick, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa

The Howick falls in Howick, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa is also called kwaNogqaza (the tall one), is a place of mystery and strange happenings. Situated within the pretty historic town of Howick, South Africa, it is one of the major tourist attractions of the KwaZulu Natal Midlands. It is also feared by many local Zulu-speakers as the abode of spirits and a giant, mythical snake-like creature known as the inkanyamba. Sian Hall gets to grips with this slippery customer.

The great pool below Howick Falls is regarded as a place of danger and magic by local Zulu-speakers and sangomas (witch doctors or diviners). This immense pool is never still. It boils and shudders with the thundering torrents of water that spill into it from 300ft (98m) above. For them it is an ancient place of power where they come to pray and offer sacrifices of chickens and goats in the water to inkulunkulu (the Great God), to the amathongo (spirits of the ancestors) and to the inkanyamba. It is said that only sangomas may approach the pool, while the uninvited stand in jeopardy of being killed by the creature.

The Howick falls are easily accessible for anyone falling some 90 m and the view from the top is definitely impressive. For those of you a bit more energetic Howick offers some worthwhile short trails to the bottom of the Howick Falls. The Howick town itself offers a good selection of antiques, arts and crafts.

Howick Falls Gorge Walk: Start this interesting walk through the thick undergrowth on the stone steps from the Howick Falls Gorge Walk sign at the bottom of Harvard Street and wind your way down to the pool, at the bottom of the Falls. You will meet up with the trickling Karkloof Spruit and see it meet the Umgeni River on your way to the base of the Howick Falls. The walk there and back takes a leisurely hour or two, returning along the same path to the start.