Margate | |
|---|---|
 Margate's main beach | |
  Margate  Margate | |
| Coordinates:30°51′00″S30°22′00″E / 30.85000°S 30.36667°E /-30.85000; 30.36667 | |
| 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 | 917.0/km2 (2,375/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 |
Margate is a coastal resort town in theKwaZulu-Natal province, about 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) south-west ofPort Shepstone and 127 kilometres (78.9 mi) south-west ofDurban. 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
Located on the Hibiscus Coast, part of theSouth Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, Margate is one of the major hubs for tourists who are looking to visit the eastern coastline of South Africa.
In 1908, Henry Richardson, anEnglish surveyor laid out the town and named itMargate after another seaside resort on the northern coast of the county ofKent, in theUnited 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
Margate’s terrain is relatively undulating, rising westward to its highest point atMargate Airport (152 m/499 ft). The town is bordered byManaba Beach to the north andRamsgate to the south, forming a continuous coastal stretch.
The2011 census divided the main places of Margate into 14 “sub places” including:[3]
For a wider variety, residents often visitShelly Beach, home to two of the South Coast's largest malls:Shelly Centre andSouthcoast Mall.
Margate is largely a tourist town, owing to its subtropical climate, beaches, and hospitality industry with the bulk of the town's earnings coming fromtourism. 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 internationalBlue 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 andpublic holidays when inland residents travel to the coast.Christmas andEaster 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 afterPlettenberg Bay andMossel Bay, both in theWestern Cape Province meaning that Margate had the highest inflow of new visitors in December 2019 in theKwaZulu-Natal Province.[7]
Established in 2001, Netcare Margate Hospital is the main healthcare facility serving the Margate community. As part ofNetcare Limited, one of South Africa’s largest private healthcare providers, it offers 24-hour emergency services. Conveniently situated on Wartski Drive, it lies just a short distance from the CBD.[12]
Margate Clinic is a government-funded municipal clinic operated by theUgu District Municipality, located near the Margate CBD. For public hospitals, residents of Margate usually use the Port Shepstone Regional Hospital inPort Shepstone.
Margate Airport, located in Margate Ext. 3 on the town’s western outskirts is a small, regional airport with easy and quick access. It offers a scheduled domestic route toJohannesburg operated byCemAir. For broader travel options,King Shaka International Airport near Durban is approximately 166 kilometres (103 mi) north-east of Margate.
Margate is mainly accessed via the R61 (futureN2 Wild Coast Toll Route) linking the town toPort Shepstone in the north andPort Edward in the south. The main arterial route is theR620 (Marine Drive), connecting Margate toUvongo to the north andRamsgate to the south. Additionally, the P200 (Izotsha Road) provides a link toGamalakhe andIzotsha to the north-west.
The 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]
Margate (KwaZulu-Natal) travel guide from Wikivoyage
Municipalities and communities ofUgu District Municipality,KwaZulu-Natal | ||
|---|---|---|
District seat:Port Shepstone | ||
| Ray Nkonyeni | .svg) | |
| Umzumbe | ||
| uMuziwabantu | ||
| uMdoni | ||