Located in the picturesque landscape of the KwaZulu-Natal midlands (South Africa) is the beautiful Howick falls. With a 110m drop, it isn’t the largest falls in South Africa but its fame is attributed to its majestic views which attract tourists, and the mysterious snake-like creature that locals claim inhabits the waterfall’s pool.
The Umngeni River originating from the foothills of Ukhahlamba, Drakensberg, meanders through the KwaZulu-Natal midlands and flows into the Indian Ocean at Durban. The formation of the falls is a product of alternating layers of soft sandstone and hard dolerite. Initially, small waterfalls were formed by the passage of the river over resistant rock layers. Over millennia, the basal pool size has increased and has lead to the erosion of the lower layers of sandstone, resulting in erosion of the upper layers of sandstone and dolerite, and the subsequent recession of the waterfall further upstream.
As well as being a popular tourist attraction, the falls also have a dark reputation. Many people have lost their lives, either by accident or intention, by plunging into the depths of the falls. The legends of the snake-like creature, Inkanyamba, instilled fear into Zulu and Bushman people who believe the creature is responsible for many disappearances occurring around the edge of the pool.
Further reading and references:
http://www.howickmuseum.co.za/index.php?page=about-the-museum
http://www.umngeni.gov.za/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=43&Itemid=96
