Umgababa is a rural community area with a large marketplace for tourists in

KwaZulu-Natal KwaZulu-Natal (, also referred to as KZN and known as "the garden province") is a province of South Africa that was created in 1994 when the Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu ("Place of the Zulu" in Zulu) and Natal Province were merged. It is locate ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

. It forms part of eThekwini.

Etymology

The river valley's name ''uMgababa'' is of Zulu origin meaning ''the place of jealousy'', its origin from a tribal feud.

Geography

The Umgababa River (originally "Umkababa", which means "my father's wife") enters the ocean at Umgababa. Its origin is at an elevation of 51 meters above sea level. Umgababa River is also known as Umtateni River. The name is derived from an ancient Zulu Chief Luthuli who used to live in the valley. The Chief of Umgababa is Phathisizwe Philbert Luthuli.

Economy

Agriculture

Litchi Lychee (US: ; UK: ; ''Litchi chinensis''; ) is a monotypic taxon and the sole member in the genus ''Litchi'' in the soapberry family, '' Sapindaceae''. It is a tropical tree native to Southeast and Southwest China (the Guangdong, Fujian, Yu ...

s are produced in this region.

Mining

There once was a large

titanium Titanium is a chemical element with the symbol Ti and atomic number 22. Found in nature only as an oxide, it can be reduced to produce a lustrous transition metal with a silver color, low density, and high strength, resistant to corrosion in ...

mine here but it closed due to serious sea pollution.

Culture and contemporary life

Tourism

In a few years it has grown from a rural area into a tourist site. The area now hosts the biggest annual year-end event consisting of many popular South African musicians on New Year's Eve. Currently there are plans to build amphitheatres and permanent performance stages.

References

Populated places in eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality KwaZulu-Natal South Coast {{KwaZuluNatal-geo-stub