HAZELMERE IS A HIDDEN TREASURE

This dam was built in 1977 long after Huberta's journey, although she did not frolick in the dam she must have been in the Mdloti River.  This river was only 4.5 km from Verulam and we know Huberta caused a stir there (that story later) and ofcourse she was seen at Mount Edgecombe.

Hazelmere dam today

Mdloti River

"Of course I was in this area. On my way to Verulam I crossed this river, stayed awhile and enjoyed the peace and tranquility"

This area is flanked by the historic Inanda-Ntuzuma-KwaMashu (INK) trail with a magic of it's own!

Read more about the Ink Writers Trail at www.literarytourism.co.za 

HUBERTA ESCAPES THE ZOO

The media attention had grown to international level in just a shortwhile January 1929 and major worldwide newspapers were reporting on Huberta's journey, where she was and what she was doing.  Her popularity was contagious and this hippo became the national pet of South Africa and loved worldwide.  Others had sinister plans, plans to capture Huberta and possibly use her in a zoo or circus.  HUBERTA WAS TOO CLEVER AND ESCAPED THEIR CLUTCHES.

"I strongly object to animal cruelty, let animals be allowed to enjoy nature.  This picture was taken in 1924 of a hippo harnessed for a circus stunt." 

HUBERTA ARRIVES IN STANGER

The town Stanger was founded about 1820 by King Shaka and named KwaDukuza meaning in Zulu:  Place of the Lost Person.  There was a labyrinth of huts, and after Shaka was assassinated the town was burnt to the ground.  European settlers built a town on the site naming it Stanger after William Stanger the surveyor-general of Natal.  A small museum adjoins the site of King Shaka's grave.  Every year on the 24th September the day Shaka died is the Shaka Day Festival.  The name Stanger was changed to KwaDukuza in 2006.
Huberta's stay in the area had great significance to her story as her journey unfolds.

King Shaka

"The reason I stayed so long in the places frequented by King Shaka was because it was far away from the maddening crowd and their flashing cameras.  No one bothered me and I could enjoy the sugar cane and pools of water.  One evening I was hungry and found some cane reeds, how was I to know it was a house where people were living.  I chomped and ate and the house moved bulging inwards with horrible creaks and groans.  Inside the people huddled together and frankly just spoil't my dinner, so I walked away to a quiet grazing field."

Shaka's observation hill and area frequented by Huberta

HUBERTA'S JOURNEY BECOMES INTERESTING

New Geulderland was near to the town Stanger, actually you had to cross the Tugela River to reach both these places.  Also the Mbazno Swamps made a wonderful hide out for Huberta, then there was the Mhlathuze Lagoon in Richards Bay.   She had already crossed both the Black Umfolozi and White Umfolozi Rivers.   By now a wandering hippo was a delight to many, an Indian man arranged a tour costing 6 pennies to see the mighty hippo.   The media had heard about her and keen journalists reported her journey in the daily newspapers.   She was about to become international news!

To the left of the Google map is Stanger not far from New Geulderland.

Groutville - Shaka's Observation point

It was December 1928, Huberta was actually still a calf not fully grown yet showed so much spunk in travelling on her own.  She was in the area where the mighty Zulu King Shaka had lived a hundred years earlier.  Shaka was a fearless warrior who had trained his Impis to become a proud and powerful fighting force.  The Zulu people saw Huberta and believed she was the spirit of Shaka - their long dead Zulu king.  Shaka's grave was at KwaDukuza (Stanger) the area where Huberta was seen.

HEADING SOUTH ALONG THE COASTLINE

Huberta started her journey.  It is believed she possibly walked along the coastline, occasionally taking a swim in the sea.  It is important that hippo's submerge in water regularly.  

Richards Bay 

Heading for Richards Bay she was able to feed on sugarcane plantations and crops growing, there were also numerous pools of water for her to bathe in.  Check the Google map and you will see she took a slight diversion from the coastline and headed slightly inland for New Guelderland.  Here she had he first encounter with human beings. She was sighted for the first time on the 22nd November 1928.  

She crossed the Tugela River walked along the coastline and turned inland to New Guelderland

The first photograph of Huberta hiding in the bushes

Flashing camera's and noisy nosy human beings made Huberta hide.  The sight of a hippo away from St Lucia was unknown to the locals.  They were intriqued by her.  Someone decided to name her Billy. 

"Who are these strange creatures walking only on two legs?  I'll watch them, I wish they would stop pocking sticks into the bushes one of those sticks hurt me on my side.  I don't like this."

USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT ST LUCIA ESTUARY

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The St Lucia Estuary is an incredible place of wonder, home to more than 800 Hippo’s that lounge about on the banks of the estuary.  An estimated 1200 Nile crocodiles, not to mention the abundance of birdlife. It is no wonder that the area was proclaimed a world heritage in 1999 by Unesco and is the first world heritage site in South Africa. Formerly a fishing town with domestic travellers, the town area has since grown in leaps and bounds. This bustling little town offers numerous attractions to both national and international holiday makers every year. The St Lucia Estuary remains the top attraction as nowhere else has one the opportunity of experiencing such a diverse and magnitude of beauty.  The various seasons contribute to migratory bird species. A bird lovers paradise and only 54km away lies the Mkuze game reserve most definitely one of the best birding areas in South Africa.

Part of St Lucia Estuary seen from Google Earth 30.96 km

For more information go to: www.stluciasouthafrica.com.

The small town St Lucia is mainly a hub for the greater St Lucia Wetlands Park and is a settlement in Umkhanyakude District Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa.

It is believed that around 1928 Huberta was born in this area, was part of a herd but decided for unknown reasons to leave the herd and head south, always south.

"I'm ready to experience the adventures of the world."