Ghost Mountain weaves SA history into holiday adventure
While South Africa doesn’t typically observe black history month, a recent bush getaway to Ghost Mountain Inn, in what is known today as Mkhuze, in northern KwaZulu-Natal, turned into a history lesson I felt was worth sharing.
In recent months, History SA ZAR, on Facebook, X and other social media apps, has been on the lips of South Africans of all ethnicities who have been either celebrating or condemning what it shares about this country’s history, particularly during the apartheid regime.
Needless to say, South Africa had a history before apartheid, and the hope is that this sparks curiosity in people of this country to actively seek information about where they come from.
More than just a lodge, Ghost Mountain is an important part of South African history that factors into the current landscape of present-day sub-Saharan Africa because of the migration stories that emerged from that part of the country. Migration remains a highly debated topic today, and interwoven into this discourse is the Shangaan versus Tsonga identity.
Where tribalism becomes problematic is that it is rooted in blissful ignorance, given that Soshangane, who founded the Mozambican Gaza tribe, was of Nxumalo/Ndwandwe origin in Zululand. His ancestry can be traced back to Ghost Mountain as this is where the Nxumalo and Ndwande people buried their chiefs; a tradition that Soshangane would uphold even after having fled from Zululand during the Mfecane, or Difaqane (wars).
Tsonga refers to the broader language and culture; and the clans that embrace this identity predate the 1800s Gaza empire.
Shangaan specifically means the descendants of Soshangane and the group that migrated with him when he sought refuge in the territory now called Mozambique, and later extended to what is now called southern Zimbabwe.
Jama not only gave the Zulu people Senzangakhona who would later bear Shaka, but also fathered Mkabayi who challenged the status quo back then. Hanging proudly on the walls of Ghost Mountain Inn are images of Zulu kings dating back to the 1600s, from Mageba to Ndaba and Jama, all the way down to Phumuzuzulu, and Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu who passed away just four years ago. The wall is also adorned with images paying respect to Shaka, Senzangakhona, Mpande and Cetshwayo.
The departed chiefs are all referred to by their first names, calling into question the authenticity of how African history is documented, because surnames are another conversation that remains open-ended. For example, Shaka is often referred to as Shaka kaSenzangakhona, and most media articles refer to the most recently departed king as Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu and not Zwelithini Zulu.
Another link to this area and Mzansi as we know it today is the Battle of Tshaneni (Battle of Ghost Mountain) fought on 5 June 1884, during the Zulu Civil War of 1883 and 1888, which reportedly recorded the most lives ever lost between Zulu factions.
The battle took place at the foot of the mountain and was where Prince Dinuzulu, who ascended the throne amid unrest following the Anglo-Zulu war, brought Zibhebhu kaMaphitha’s soldiers to their knees with the assistance of Boer mercenaries.
Zulu soldiers in battles and wars preceding Tshaneni only used spears as weapons, and the bloodbath that this battle resulted in was attributed to the introduction of Western weaponry such as guns. Land distribution issues can partially be traced back to this battle, as Dinuzulu traded the land between the oPhongolo (or Pongola as some would have it) and Mkhuze rivers for the weapons provided by his allies.
Ghost Mountain Inn safari manager Jean Toucher explained that, at the time, this land was not considered to be of high value due to the temperature.
“People traditionally lived higher up the mountain because the lowlands in summer are hot and humid. At the time, it had a lot of dangerous diseases caused by insects such as tsetse fly, mosquitoes and ticks, as well as other diseases that affected the animals. The mercenaries were therefore paid with this land,” she explained.
Toucher added that Nguni nations migrated to Ghost Mountain because of the abundance of water in this area, before Shaka embarked on uniting some of these nations. She also revealed that, nowadays, this land is regarded as very fertile for commercial farming.
Ghost Mountain’s historical wealth has turned the inn into a tourist destination to be reckoned with, and the chief operating officer (COO) for the KZN Tourism and Film Authority, Jackie Motsepe, explained the employment creation impact of the 63-year-old establishment from a tourism perspective.
“It’s a massive job creator and economic stimulator to the local communities,” she said.
People who work here are typically from around the area. Once they’ve been recruited, they are trained in hospitality, customer services and how to deal with the public from a tourism perspective.
While she admitted that Durban’s beach experiences would always be among the province’s biggest tourism wins, Motsepe said it was important to discover what else KZN had to offer, as it was a strong cultural hub. She said that places such as Ghost Mountain presented families with opportunities to bond in tranquil settings where they can relax while learning about South African history.
This article first appeared on News24. Shared here with appreciation for its insight into the history and cultural richness of the Mkhuze region.
https://www.news24.com/citypress/trending/sunday-ghost-mountain-weaves-sa-history-into-holiday-adventure-20251031-0647
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