The Bustling Town of Richards Bay began as a makeshift harbour set up by a Commodore of the Cape, Sir Frederick Richards during the Anglo-Boer War of 1879, and settlement sprang up around a port now named after Richards.

The town is vibrant and fast becoming the North Coast holiday destination, offering spectacular scenery and unspoilt beaches. It is one of the closest sea destinations from Gauteng and enjoys a summer climate all year round.
Besides rapid industrial expansion, the tourism industry of this region is flourishing. The commercial and industrial development of Richards Bay has been a bonus for the sophisticated tourist and holiday maker. Its bustling business centre has every modern facility and the town boasts excellent recreational facilities for residents and visitors alike.

The town boasts the country’s largest harbour and some of its most magnificent wetland scenery. “Industrial Tourism” is actively promoted and groups are able to visit industrial plants, mines and other operations. Richards Bay is home to the newly upgraded Netcare The Bay Hospital and state of the art Richards Bay Medical Institute for cancer patients.

The town also offers the visitor entrance to Zululand. This once forgotten corner of the African continent is a land of exquisite beauty characterised by incredible diversity. On its eastern boundary its golden shores are gently caressed by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean.

The coastline stretches some 350km from the mouth of the mighty Tugela River in the South to the Mozambique border in the North. The coastal plains include endless unspoilt beaches and coastal conservation areas and incorporate the largest estuarine system in Southern Africa.