Newcastle Travel Guide, South Africa

 Newcastle South Africa an Overview 

Newcastle is a mid-range industrial town in KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The river Ncandu has seen Bushmen hunting, Dingiswayo and Shaka tribes’ cruel wars and modern day independence wars.

Historically Newcastle boasts of the Bushmen and Iron Age evidences in archeology in form of some reminiscence of rock paintings and iron foundries. Modern day Newcastle foundation was laid when some European, weary of wars by Napoleon, stretched their eyes on Africa to seek pleasure in hunting and peace. In mid 1800 some 5000 British settlers made this township more hotchpotch community with Germans, native Afrikaners and Zulu tribe. Newcastle before being out to peaceful has seen Zulu attack, to defend with a strategic fortification was done. Next was the Boer-British war which, ended with a treaty leading to the Transvaal Peace-Independence Treaty in March-June 1881.

Newcastle has connections with all the Newcastle series from British Empire and as such the Victorian cultural glimpse is still evident here. Modern Newcastle is equipped with a Steel plants, Coal fields and Gold deposits. It is largest producer of the chrome based chemical compounds. Other industrial development includes the diamond cutting and finishing industry, Gold mines, heavy engineering industry and cement unit that prepares cement from slag.

Newcastle is densely populated by Indians and Europeans. It is fifth largest populated district with 67.7 people per square kilometer. Lifestyles of Newcastle people are more adventurous and entertainment loving.

The extreme sports like 4 X 4 trails, BMX generally called mountain biking, hiking, and leisure sports like fishing, scuba diving, swimming etc are more popular. Apart from sports, the nightlife is more entertaining in Newcastle with Club Escape the largest night club, hosting most famous DJs and for the gamblers Century Casino is huge enough with 100 million SA Rand deposits.

The places to visit are Hilldrop house, Cottage of O’Neil, Kestrels and Quaffers, Donkey Valley, St. Dominic Pavallion, and Town hall. There are museum at Fort Ameil and Buller’s Headquarters. Regarding the sports development the Challengers Angling Club and Newcastle Highlanders Rugby Club are successful clubs in the region of KwaZulu-Natal. In addition to this Newcastle enjoys the excellent medical treatment and other civil facilities to make residents comfortable.