The small village of Gingindlovu owes its origins to the military headquarters established in the mid-1800's by the future Zulu king, Cetshwayo, following his bloody triumph against his brothers in a battle for succession to the throne. Cetshwayo named his headquarters Gingindlovu, or Swallower of the Elephant, for it was said that by defeating his brothers - Prince Mbulazi in particular - he had eaten up the greatest opponent to his ambitions.
To the British soldiers who fought two major battles against King Cetshwayo's army here 20 years later during the Anglo-Zulu War, the village was known fondly as "Gin, Gin, I love you".
The sites of the battles of Nyezane and Gingindlovu are just outside Gingindlovu on the R66 to Eshowe. Both sites are close to the road and are marked by granite memorials. Some of the British soldiers killed at the Battle of Gingindlovu are buried in a small cemetery on the farm 300m from the memorial.
About 8kms north on the R102 towards Mtunzini, there is a memorial to the 71 British soldiers who died - not in battle but of dysentery and malaria - while based at Fort Chelmsford during the war.
Today Gingindlovu serves as a busy shopping centre for the sugarcane farming community and bears little semblance of its former glory.
However, it is close to the beautiful Amatikulu river mouth which offers visitors two worthwhile attractions.
On the north bank is one of Zululand's most enchanting restaurants - The Prawn Shack - and on the south side is the Amatikulu Nature Reserve where visitors will be surprised to find large wild animals grazing on hills overlooking the Indian Ocean.
Over weekends visitors can spend a leisurely afternoon on a timber sundeck overlooking the Amatikulu estuary and enjoy a seven-course seafood meal with fresh prawns harvested from a nearby prawn farm and grilled on an open fire. Besides prawns, the menu includes fresh linefish, Zulu sushi and a local favourite known as a Prawn Bunnie Chow. Diners are encouraged to take a stroll on the beach halfway through this marathon culinary session.