The #Raphia Palms of #Mtunzini by Brucifire #kzn #palm-nut #vulture
The #Raphia Palms of #Mtunzini by Brucifire #kzn #palm-nut #vulture: Good morning from One on Hely in Mtunzini — and what a lekka morning it is.
Today’s a birthday in the crew… not mine, but Bruce’s. The man’s on his 80th circumnavigation of the sun, still cruising, still exploring, still laughing. And honestly, Mtunzini is the kind of place you want to wake up in on your birthday — quiet, green, full of birds, palms, and that unmistakable North Coast magic.
Yesterday we missioned hard to find the legendary Raffia Palm Monument, which, as it turns out, is one of Mtunzini’s best?kept secrets. No signs, no markers, no clues — just whispers and Google Maps confusion. We zig?zagged past the old station, through the westerly wind, past the sewage works (wrong turn, classic), and into patches of forest where we kept thinking, “This must be it… no wait… maybe here?”
But eventually we found them — towering Raffia palms, some young, some massive, all beautiful. Introduced in 1916, these palms now form pockets of forest all over Mtunzini. Their enormous fan?shaped leaves are the longest of any palm species, and they’re vital to the palm?nut vulture, a cheeky bird known to steal fish from fish eagles when the opportunity arises. Nature’s drama, right here.
Today we’re leveling up with a proper guide — Bruce’s nephew, Warren Gold, a local legend with a Google?powered sense of direction and a lekker set of wheels. He’s taking us straight to the real Raffia Palm Monument, no detours, no déjà vu loops, no “make a U?turn” moments.
Mtunzini is wild, beautiful, and full of surprises. We’ve already dropped today’s Sardine News report, and now we’re exploring the palm species scattered across this town before heading north to St Lucia.
If you’re enjoying the adventure, smash that like, hit subscribe, and come along for the next chapter. Lekka.
Sardines and Sighting Maps
Here are the links to existing and past Sardine Sighting Maps. With instructions on how to install The Sardine News right on your phone, tablet, or even desktop.
YouTube Channels
Brucifire Surf Retorts – highly entertaining surf reporting
Master Watermen – news from way down deep
The Sardine News – neva miss a single sardine
FishBazaruto – 1000 pounds plus
MYDO Tackle Talk – highly technical sport fishing
Surf Launching Southern Africa – getting out there safely
Water Woes – complain about your municipality here
Websites
umzimkulu.co.za – fishing, charters, accommodation
umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za – will get you right out and onto the edge
thesardine.co.za – never miss a single sardine
masterwatermen.co.za – news from under water
fishbazaruto.com – dreams are out there
brucifire.co.za – surf retorts
fishmad.co.za – destination Madagascar
andantelodge.co.za – Transit luxury in Pretoria
destinycottage.co.za – Mbotyi dreams