The Hawaan Forest
The Hawaan Forest is a large remnant of a climax dry coastal dune forest and described as a “last relic of coastal forest”. The ‘climax’ part of the description, means it has reached its full potential of growth and has the capacity to reproduce indefinitely, largely due to it providing its own shade.
It is 80 hectares of stunning indigenous forest that grows on a dune which dates back 18,000 years. About 40 hectares is considered virgin forest. This beautiful primordial closed canopy sanctuary is home to rare tropical tree species. To date about 147 indigenous trees have been identified, including the Natal coshwood, the endemic Natal hickory, forest fever berry, forest olive, the dwaba berry, wild grape, and white stink wood. One of the oldest trees found, the buffalo thorn tree is reputed to be over 400 years old.
A large number of the trees and shrubs bear edible fruits or seeds most of the year round, so provide food for animals and birds. This results in a wealth of bird life both in and on the outskirts of the forest.
Over 100 different species have been observed, not counting those that inhabit the river, lagoon or adjacent beach.
It is one of the finest birding sites on the North Coast and home to a diversity of bird species including green macao, crested guinea fowl, purple crested turaco, spotted crown thrush, fiery nightjar, Klass’s cuckoo, cardinal woodpecker, African fish eagle and crowned eagle.
Bush pig, red, blue and grey duiker, bush buck, genet, banded, slender and water mongoose, leguaan and velvet monkey occur. Both species of mamba, Mozambican spitting cobras and African rock pythons are to be found.
Hawaan is a dry-Forest, which means there is no natural water source. Not even rain really affects the Forest because of its density – the Forest is thick with creepers – various varieties and different species of climbers assist in providing the relatively dense canopy. Trees with knobbly stems and ‘monkey ropes’ formed by the climbers winding through the branches creates a fairy tale atmosphere.
It is suggested that the name stems from indentured Indian labourers who were brought to South Africa to work on sugar-cane plantations.
Much of the area surrounding Hawaan Forest was sugar-cane plantations, and it is thought that the Hindu labourers used the forest for religious ceremonies, particularly those associated with Havan.
A Havan is a sacred purifying ritual in Hinduism that involves a fire ceremony and is a ritual of sacrifice made to the Fire god, Agni. The vessel used to perform the havan is called the Ôhavan kund. After the fire is lit in the Ôhavan kund, things such as fruits, honey and wooden goods are placed in the sacred fire. It is thought that the forest now known as the Hawaan Forest was a source of fruits, honey and wood to be used in the Havan ceremonies and that the forest was thus called Havan or Hawan, now Hawaan.
Protected since 1860, when it was originally owned by the Campbell family, the Hawaan Forest lies on the edge of residential Umhlanga and is one of the few examples of primeval forest left in South Africa.
The Hawaan Forest is a unique indigenous woodlands area that has remained in its natural state for centuries and is currently under the guardianship of the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa, (WESSA) and owned and managed today by Tongaat Hulett. In November 2004 a landmark environmental planning judgment was handed down on the Hawaan Forest emphasising the need to protect Durban’s natural heritage for future generations.
The KZN Development Facilitation Act Tribunal, chaired by Ray Swart, granted limited development rights to build houses next to this unique piece of forest with a 40m buffer zone between the housing development and the forest.
This judgement not only protected the Hawaan from some of the potential impacts of adjacent development, but established a precedent-setting development restriction around natural forests that is still in common use by the province’s regulating authorities.
