WELCOME TO RICHARDS BAY
Richards Bay was named after Rear Admiral Sir Frederick William Richards. At age 15 he joined the Royal Navy and was appointed British Commander for the West Coast of Africa in 1878. During one of his visits to the Cape he learned of the British defeat at the hands of the Zulu force of Cetshwayo in Zululand. In 1879 he landed at Port Durnford, just south of the current Richards Bay, to take revenge. Richards Bay was named after him in 1879. He died in 1912 in Gloucestershire.In 1906 Zululand Fisheries was founded and the first ox wagon track to Empangeni was pioneered. In 1928 a hotel and store were built. The town was a small fishing village until the opening of the Port of Richards Bay in 1976. Since then it has grown into one of the most picturesque. progressive and dynamic towns in Kwazulu Natal. With the Port came big industries and flourishing commercial and tourism ventures.
Those who last visited Richards Bay three or more years ago will not recognise the once sleepy village. During the last three years businesses and service industries have mushroomed. The CBD with it's new Caribbean look now boasts several shopping centres, an artificial lake, cinemas and restaurants. Within the next few years the CBD is expected to almost double in size!
The cards fell in the right place for Richards Bay - it is the closest port to Gauteng; it is the first port of call with first world facilities for ships coming from the East; it is close to the recovering Mozambique; it has excellent rail, air and road links to the rest of the country; it has magnificent natural surroundings; and it's within two hours' drive from a few of the country's most famous game parks, nature reserves and other tourist destinations.
Richards Bay, a "town within a nature reserve" is set to become a residential and tourist Mecca. Given the sub tropical surroundings, the Richards Bay municipality long ago recognised the vast potential of the town to become not only an industrial giant, but a bright light on the world tourism map. It has purposefully started to unlock the great tourism potential of the town in such a way that tourism and industry can exist in harmony with and complementing each other.
The town is surrounded by marshlands, freshwater lakes, tribal settlements and sugar cane and timber plantations. It has a sub tropical climate and enjoys summer all year round. The humidity levels are high from December to February. The town offers spectacular scenery and unspoiled beaches. The tourism industry is flourishing and the commercial and industrial development of Richards Bay has been a bonus for the sophisticated tourist and holiday maker.
It's bustling business centre has every modern facility and the town boasts excellent recreational facilities for residents and visitors alike.
