# Sisonke District, KwaZulu-Natal Province – Population

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/sisonke/

District · KwaZulu-Natal Province 

# Sisonke District

Sisonke District is a district or metropolitan municipality of South Africa in KwaZulu-Natal Province. It had an estimated **447,117 people** in 2020 on 10,386 km² (about 43 per km²). Its main town is Ixopo. It is divided into 4 local municipalities. 187 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 904 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 447,117people (2020)
- 10,386km²
- 4local municipalities
- 904mapped services

## How many people live in Sisonke District?

Sisonke District had an estimated **447,117 people** in 2020 — 4.3% of KwaZulu-Natal Province, 41st of 50 districts. There are 1,141 women for every 1,000 men (above the KwaZulu-Natal Province figure of 1,084). Spread over 10,386 km², that is about **43 people per km²**, 29th of 50 districts.

37.3% of people are children under 15 and 5.6% are 65 or older; the median age is about 21 years (it is 25 across KwaZulu-Natal Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 75 children and older people.

0–4 ****53,988**

5–9 ****56,840**

10–14 ****55,916**

15–19 ****48,975**

20–24 ****34,971**

25–29 ****31,837**

30–34 ****31,844**

35–39 ****26,727**

40–44 ****20,711**

45–49 ****17,521**

50–54 ****15,201**

55–59 ****14,108**

60–64 ****13,279**

65–69 ****10,148**

70–74 ****6,670**

75–79 ****4,596**

80+ ****3,785**

Source: [Statistics South Africa 2016 Community Survey Population via OCHA HDX, population 2020 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-zaf).

## Where is Sisonke District?

Sisonke District lies in [KwaZulu-Natal Province](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/), [South Africa](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/). It borders 3 other districts: [Alfred Nzo District](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/eastern-cape/alfred-nzo/), [Ugu District](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/ugu/) and [Umgungundlovu District](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/umgungundlovu/). By area it is the 36th largest of 52 districts in South Africa. It covers 11.0% of [KwaZulu-Natal Province](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/). The centre of Sisonke District is about 506 km in a straight line from Pretoria, the capital. It is about 81 km from Pietermaritzburg, the main town of KwaZulu-Natal Province. The centre point is at 30.0842° S, 29.7455° E. Local names: DC43 .

Source: [South African Municipal Demarcation Board via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-zaf).

## Things to see in and around Sisonke District

OpenStreetMap lists 65 named sights in Sisonke District: 28 caves; 20 nature reserves; 8 waterfalls; 4 viewpoints; 2 museums; 2 ruins; 1 zoo.

- Himeville Fort Museum · museum
- Kokstad Museum · museum
- Bailden Falls · waterfall
- Gqunu Falls · waterfall
- Massage Rocks Cascades · waterfall
- Mkhomazana Waterfall · waterfall
- O'Brien · waterfall
- Spring Falls · waterfall
- Thunder Falls · waterfall
- Twin Pools · waterfall
- Barton Elliot Bird Sanctuary · nature reserve
- Beaumont Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Cobham Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Coleford Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Coleford Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Himeville Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Indhloveni Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Ingelabantwana Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Kwa Yili Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Marutswa Forest · nature reserve
- Marwaqa Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Mount Currie Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Ntsikeni Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Qunu Falls Lodge · nature reserve
- Soada Forest · nature reserve
- Soada Forest Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- The Swamp Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Thule Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- Xotsheyake Nature Reserve · nature reserve
- iGxalingenwa Forest · nature reserve

…and 35 more.

Source: [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed.

## Know before you go: Sisonke District

- Time zoneUTC+2, no daylight saving · Africa/Johannesburg
- CurrencyRand (ZAR)
- Country calling code+27
- LanguagesZulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Pedi, English, Tswana
- Plug typesType C, D · 230 V
- Driving sideLeft
- Postcode format4 digits (####)

### Nearest airports

- Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB) · Pietermaritzburg79 km
- Margate Airport (MGH) · Margate103 km

### Nearest railway station

Riverside (Umzimkhulu), about 4.1 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 14.1 hours, sunrise around 04:54) and shortest in Jun (about 10.2 hours, sunrise around 06:54, sunset around 17:07).

Source: [GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0)](https://www.geonames.org/); [Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-03](https://www.wikidata.org/); [OurAirports (public domain)](https://ourairports.com/data/).

Airports with scheduled passenger flights; straight-line distances. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of each month in local standard time. Check entry and visa rules with official government sources before travelling.

## Local municipalities of Sisonke District

Local municipality Area km² Localities Services 

[Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/sisonke/dr-nkosazana-dlamini-zuma/) 3,602 78 321 

[Greater Kokstad](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/sisonke/greater-kokstad/) 2,680 25 200 

[Ubuhlebezwe](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/sisonke/ubuhlebezwe/) 1,669 33 155 

[Umzimkhulu](https://wherepedia.org/south-africa/kwazulu-natal/sisonke/umzimkhulu/) 2,436 52 228 

Source: [South African Municipal Demarcation Board via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-zaf); [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

## Villages and localities in Sisonke District

Open gazetteers list **187 villages, towns and localities** in Sisonke District. The largest with a recorded population: Kokstad (61,751), Clydesdale (18,357), Ixopo (14,929), Ibisikululwa (3,554), Underberg (3,227) and Rietvlei (3,006). Settlements here lie between about 414 m and 2,081 m above sea level (median 1,239 m).

- Alderly
- Avocadale
- Beersheba
- Bhongwen
- Bisi
- Blackmoor
- Bontrand
- Bossenfontein
- Brechen
- Bucklands Farm
- Buckquoy
- Bulwer
- Bushmans Nek Holiday Resort
- Cabane
- Cars End
- Cartriff
- Centocow
- Chatwall
- Chatwell
- Clydesdale
- Cobham
- Coleford
- Commonsvale
- Cooperdale
- Costmore
- Cranswick
- Creighton
- Cromwell
- Crystal Waters
- Deepdale
- Donnybrook
- Dovedale
- Drakensberg Garden
- Dumisa
- Eastlands
- Eastlyn
- Edgeton
- Ekuthuleni
- Elandskop
- Engwaqa
- Enyanisweni
- Epsom
- Expectations
- Fairfield
- Fairview
- Ferrby
- Fettercairn
- Finchley
- Forest View
- Franklin
- Gailynn
- Gala
- Garden Castle
- Gaybrook
- Glen Bain
- Glengarry
- Goxe
- Gugwini
- Hansonia
- Hartlea
- Highbury
- Highflats
- Highlands
- Hilltop
- Himeville
- Hlokozi
- Hopevale
- Ibisikululwa
- Indawana
- Islington
- Ivanhoe
- Ixopo
- Jokweni
- Joubertstroom
- Kempdale
- Keyelaer
- Kingscote
- Kingston
- Klipspruit
- Kokstad
- Korenthi
- Kromhoek
- Kruisfontein
- KwaBhidla
- KwaDulathi
- KwaMagcakini
- KwaMphephethwa
- KwaPheshe
- KwaSandanezwe
- Lockwood Hall
- Longkloof
- Longlands
- Lourdes
- Magdalena
- Makhuzeni
- Makuzeni
- Mangwanteni
- Manston
- Mashayilanga
- Matshetshisa
- Mbodleni
- Mfulamhle
- Middle Valley
- Mieliefontein
- Mkhomazana
- Mkobeni
- Mkunya
- Mountain Home
- Mpesheya
- Mphesheya
- Mpumulwane
- Mqatsheni
- Nazareth
- Ndawana
- Ndonyane
- New Garret
- Ngudwini
- Ngukwe
- Ngwangwana
- Nieujaarsfontein
- Njunga
- Nkelabantwana
- Nkifa Farm
- Nkothweni
- Nkronze
- Nkumba
- Nkwezela
- Nolangeni
- Nqabeni
- Nsikeni
- Nsimbini
- Ntsikeni
- Nzombane
- Oaklands
- Oatlands
- Pampa
- Penhalonga
- Pevensey Place
- Pine Cleugh
- Polela
- Radley
- Retreat
- Rietfontein
- Rietvlei
- River View
- Riversdale
- Riverside
- Rustfontein
- Saint Elmo
- Saint Gregorys
- Saint Isidore
- Saint Leonards
- Saint Mirlarm
- Sani Pass
- Sani Pass Hotel
- Scotston
- Seaforth
- Sebensa
- Sihleza
- Siphahleni
- Siphangeni
- Sneezewood
- Spitskop
- Steadmore
- Sun Valley Farm
- Sunnyside
- Swartberg
- Telgte
- Thembeni
- Thonsini
- Thornham
- Tigerhoek
- Umzimkulu
- Underberg
- Upper Bisi
- Water Fall
- Waterfall
- Weathercote
- Winters
- Wycliffe
- Xosheyakhe
- e Dazini
- eFikesuthe
- eLukolweni
- eMfulumane
- eMkhohlwa
- uMzumbe

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

## Landscape and landmarks of Sisonke District

Named natural and historic features inside Sisonke District, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

155 rivers and streams; 3 waterfalls.

- Bayi
- Beestekraalrivier
- Bhulorweni
- Bisi River
- Boesmansrivier
- Bonde
- Bumbane
- Cabane
- Camto
- Dadane
- Doginyane
- Donkerhoekspruit
- Dotela
- Dotsheni
- Droewigrivier
- Elandsrivier
- Gala
- Galakodo
- Goxe
- Gqunu
- Gudwini
- Gugwini
- Gungununu
- Gxalingenwa

…and 134 more.

### Hills and mountains

131 mountains; 50 hills; 4 mountain passes; 1 peak; 1 valley.

- Ka-Ntuba Pass · 3,088 m
- Rhino Peak · 2,893 m
- The Twelve Apostles · 2,829 m
- Kokotabagi · 2,428 m
- Sicocosebhaca · 2,384 m
- Little Bamboo Mountain · 2,338 m
- Swartberg · 2,288 m
- Mount Mac Donald · 2,265 m
- iTsolwane · 2,261 m
- Wintershoek · 2,222 m
- Mount Sutherland · 2,219 m
- Bamboo Mountain · 2,202 m
- Ndlovini · 2,195 m
- Mount Currie · 2,190 m
- Bucquay Nek · 2,173 m
- Nsikeni · 2,162 m
- Stromnes · 2,136 m
- Ka-Ntubu · 2,118 m
- Mount Fifty · 2,109 m
- Mount Joel · 2,099 m
- Hangklip · 2,092 m
- KwaKaati · 2,085 m
- Garden Castle · 2,069 m
- Mganu · 2,068 m

…and 163 more.

### Forests and nature

16 forest reserves; 8 forests; 6 nature reserves; 1 wildlife reserve.

- Bantam
- Ben Cairnie Forest Reserve
- Border Forest Reserve
- Cobham State Forest
- Coleford Nature Reserve
- Comrie
- Drakensberg Opvangsgebied/Catchment Area Forest Reserve
- Epsom
- Garden Castle State Forest
- Goldhurst
- Gunjini
- Himeville Nature Reserve
- Hlabeni
- Incudwini Forest
- Ingelabantwan Forest Reserve
- KwaYili
- Kweletsheni Forest Reserve
- Langgewacht Forest Reserve
- Mgoningoni Forest
- Mikhanzeni Forest
- Mpur Forest Reserve
- Mzimkulu Wilderness Area
- Mzimkulwana Nature Reserve
- Ntsikeni

…and 7 more.

### Getting around

8 airfields; 8 railway stations.

- Bobob Valley
- Bulwer
- Creighton
- Creighton
- Donnybrook
- Drakensberg Garden
- Franklin
- H M S Bastard Memorial
- Highflats
- Himeville
- Kokstad
- Lamontville
- Madonela
- Riverside
- Sani Pass
- Swartberg

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate.

## Weather in Sisonke District and the best time to visit

In Sisonke District, the warmest month is Jan (average 19 °C) and the coolest is Jul (11 °C). About 1,535 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Jan (244 mm) and the driest Jun (23 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **April to September**.

- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 19 244 

Feb 19 195 

Mar 18 157 

Apr 15 90 

May 13 38 

Jun 11 23 

Jul 11 34 

Aug 13 38 

Sep 15 91 

Oct 16 163 

Nov 17 220 

Dec 19 240 

Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/).

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Sisonke District

Places mapped inside Sisonke District in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations.

- Hospitals24
- Banks35
- ATMs16
- Petrol pumps32
- Hotels93
- Shopping malls7
- Schools597
- Colleges and universities3
- Pharmacies10
- Restaurants73
- Police stations11
- Dental clinics3

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown.

## Quick answers

- Where is Sisonke District?In KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa
- What is the population of Sisonke District?447,117 (2020 estimate)
- What is the median age in Sisonke District?About 21 years (2020 estimate)
- What is the population density of Sisonke District?About 43 people per km²
- What borders Sisonke District?Alfred Nzo District, Ugu District and Umgungundlovu District
- What is there to see in Sisonke District?Bailden Falls, Barton Elliot Bird Sanctuary, Bathplug Cave, Beaumont Nature Reserve
- What time zone is Sisonke District in?UTC+2
- What currency is used in Sisonke District?Rand (ZAR)
- What language is spoken in Sisonke District?Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Sisonke District?187 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Sisonke District?Settlements lie between 414 m and 2,081 m
- What is the highest point in Sisonke District?Ka-Ntuba Pass (3,088 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Sisonke District?April to September
- How many hospitals are in Sisonke District?24 mapped
- How many banks are in Sisonke District?35 mapped
- How many ATMs are in Sisonke District?16 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Sisonke District?32 mapped
- What is the P-code of Sisonke District?ZA543 (OCHA common operational dataset)