| aMatikulu | |
| Pushpin Map: | South Africa KwaZulu-Natal#South Africa |
| Coordinates: | -29.05°N 31.5333°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | South Africa |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | KwaZulu-Natal |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Uthungulu |
| Subdivision Type3: | Municipality |
| Subdivision Name3: | uMlalazi |
| Subdivision Type4: | Main Place |
| Established Title: | Established |
| Leader Title: | Councillor |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 1.39 |
| Population Total: | 515 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Demographics Type1: | Racial makeup (2011) |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Black African |
| Demographics1 Info1: | 74.0% |
| Demographics1 Title2: | Coloured |
| Demographics1 Info2: | 3.3% |
| Demographics1 Title3: | Indian/Asian |
| Demographics1 Info3: | 16.9% |
| Demographics1 Title4: | White |
| Demographics1 Info4: | 5.4% |
| Demographics1 Title5: | Other |
| Demographics1 Info5: | 0.4% |
| Demographics Type2: | First languages (2011) |
| Demographics2 Title1: | Zulu |
| Demographics2 Info1: | 59.8% |
| Demographics2 Title2: | English |
| Demographics2 Info2: | 26.1% |
| Demographics2 Title3: | Afrikaans |
| Demographics2 Info3: | 5.7% |
| Demographics2 Title4: | S. Ndebele |
| Demographics2 Info4: | 4.7% |
| Demographics2 Title5: | Other |
| Demographics2 Info5: | 3.7% |
| Timezone1: | SAST |
| Utc Offset1: | +2 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code (street) |
| Postal2 Code Type: | PO box |
| Area Code Type: | Area code |
aMatikulu is a settlement in Uthungulu District Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa.
The town is some 130 km north-east of Durban, near Gingindlovu, named after the Matigulu (also spelt Amatikulu) River. The name is derived from the Lala or Zulu phrase meaning "large water" (i.e. "large river") or "large spit", the latter possibly being an anecdotal reference to the periodic flooding of the river.
The approved form is aMatikulu.[2]
During the particularly violent flooding during the 1984 tropical storm Domoina, several of the local bridges were destroyed with widespread flooding disrupting much of the local sugar growing growing and milling operations.
Prior to the current mill, the town was also home to first sugar mill in Zululand, established by J.L Hulett in 1908.
Located in the heart of the sugar cane growing region of South Africa, the town is home to Amatikulu Sugar Mill, one of three owned by the South African agricultural group Tongaat Hulett. [3]
The town is also located on the main trunk railway line connecting the ports of Durban and Richards Bay. The areas surrounding the town are rich in natural fauna and flora with the Ezemvelo Amatikulu Nature Reserve located approximately 10 km from the town, at the Amatikulu River mouth.
The town was also known for its commercial shrimp farming operation which operated from 1989 - 2004.