Mthonjaneni - Place of the little fountain

On a high ridge outside Melmoth is a spring where maidens gathered every day to collect fresh water supplies and then transported it in clay pots balanced on their heads for 8kms down into the valley known as Emakhosini where King Dingane built his capital Mgungundlovu.

Water resources closer to the palace would be polluted quickly by the large number of soldiers and cattle residing around the royal capital and the clean water of the Mthonjaneni spring was used exclusively by King Dingane to quench his thirst and for his ablutions. Nearby is the site of Fort Victoria where the British army built a garrison following the defeat of King Cethswayo at Ulundi.

In the grounds of the Mtonjaneni Lodge adjacent to site of the fort is Mtonjaneni Zulu Historical Museum which houses an excellent private collection of memorabilia and artefacts relating to the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. The displays are done according to what has been collected on each battlefield and includes weapons, carbine bullets, snuff containers, dagga pipes and uniforms.

Enquiries: 035 450 0904.

Mtonjaneni Historical Museum houses an excellent collection of memorabilia and artefacts from the Ango-Zulu War.