Ramsgate
On the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast there is a village which is the quiet version of the bustling mother town of Margate that lies three kilometers to the south. The lush green sub-tropical vegetation of Ramsgate sets the calm tone of the banana country where fishing is good and accommodation is varied from self-catering apartments to luxury hotels. While Margate is the centre for nightlife, Ramsgate may be the place for bird watchers, sportsmen and peace seekers. An ornithologist’s dream exists in this town where over 386 species of birds have been seen, which is more than a third of all the species recorded in southern Africa. Forest birds are colourful and bird watching tours are available in the area along with trips around nature reserves like the Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve.
The Crocodile and Snake Park attract tourists who find Ramsgate easily accessible after a 30-minute drive from Durban International Airport. Along with finest restaurants on the coast, there are many antique shops and at least two highly rated art galleries. Ramsgate is primarily an old-style residential and retirement town with a blue flag beach and a lagoon. Originally established on a farm called "Bilanhlola" or the "magic boiler", named after the bubbling of the lagoon waters caused by strong currents, Ramsgate was first inhabited in 1892 when an artist set up his shack on the banks of what he called the "Blue Lagoon". By 1958 it had been developed into the surfer, fisherman and bird watchers’ paradise it is today.
