Underberg, KwaZulu-Natal should not be confused with Overberg.
Underberg | |
Pushpin Map: | South Africa KwaZulu-Natal#South Africa |
Coordinates: | -29.7931°N 29.4947°W |
Subdivision Type: | Country |
Subdivision Name: | South Africa |
Subdivision Type1: | Province |
Subdivision Name1: | KwaZulu-Natal |
Subdivision Type2: | District |
Subdivision Name2: | Harry Gwala |
Subdivision Type3: | Municipality |
Subdivision Name3: | Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma |
Subdivision Type4: | Main Place |
Established Title: | Established |
Leader Title: | Councillor |
Area Footnotes: | [1] |
Area Total Km2: | 19.71 |
Population Total: | 2694 |
Population As Of: | 2011 |
Population Density Km2: | auto |
Demographics Type1: | Racial makeup (2011) |
Demographics1 Title1: | Black African |
Demographics1 Info1: | 79.7% |
Demographics1 Title2: | Coloured |
Demographics1 Info2: | 1.3% |
Demographics1 Title3: | Indian/Asian |
Demographics1 Info3: | 0.6% |
Demographics1 Title4: | White |
Demographics1 Info4: | 17.6% |
Demographics1 Title5: | Other |
Demographics1 Info5: | 0.7% |
Demographics Type2: | First languages (2011) |
Demographics2 Title1: | Zulu |
Demographics2 Info1: | 72.7% |
Demographics2 Title2: | English |
Demographics2 Info2: | 19.6% |
Demographics2 Title3: | Sotho |
Demographics2 Info3: | 2.3% |
Demographics2 Title4: | Xhosa |
Demographics2 Info4: | 1.9% |
Demographics2 Title5: | Other |
Demographics2 Info5: | 3.6% |
Timezone1: | SAST |
Utc Offset1: | +2 |
Postal Code Type: | Postal code (street) |
Postal Code: | 3257 |
Postal2 Code Type: | PO box |
Postal2 Code: | 3257 |
Area Code Type: | Area code |
Area Code: | 033 |
Underberg is an administrative town in a dairy and cattle farming community in the Mzimkulu River valley of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is situated at the foot of the 1,904 m Hlogoma Peak (place of echoes) in the foothills of the southern Drakensberg, KwaZulu-Natal. Underberg was established in 1917 when the railway from Pietermaritzburg reached the area. It is an important commercial centre for the region's farming industry providing many of the support services. It is also a trading center for people who come down the nearby Sani Pass from Lesotho.
The town also houses provincial offices of the ministries of Social Welfare and Transport, a clinic; as well as the municipal library. The Underberg School offers pre-primary and primary education. Churches in town include the Catholic Church, Congregational Church, The Underberg Baptist Church and Highlands Church International.
Tourism is the second biggest industry in the area, next to farming. The area surrounding Underberg provides a large variety of tourism offerings, as a gateway to the Southern Drakensberg. The Southern Drakensberg Community Tourism Organisation was established by the community in 2007 and serves to promote tourism under the Southern Berg Escape brand. Underberg offers a variety of accommodation and eatery options, mostly of casual nature to suit most tastes.
The Underberg district is, along with Dullstroom, Mpumalanga one of South Africa's premier trout fly fishing destinations. Splashy Fen, an annual outdoor music festival, is held on a farm near Underberg. The internationally acclaimed Sani2C Mountain Bike race held annually starts in Underberg, while. Home of the world class wedding venue, Glencairn Farm. Paddlers from far and wide gather annually for the Drak Challenge canoe race held on the Mzimkulu river.