Kranskop

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Kranskop
Kranskop Show map of KwaZulu-Natal Kranskop Show map of South Africa
Coordinates: 28°58′S 30°51′E / 28.967°S 30.850°E / -28.967; 30.850
Country	South Africa
Province	KwaZulu-Natal
District	Umzinyathi
Municipality	Umvoti
Area [1]
• Total	1.48 km2 (0.57 sq mi)
Population  (2011)[1]
• Total	1,514
• Density	1,000/km2 (2,600/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011) [1]
• Black African	86.4%
• Coloured	3.6%
• Indian/Asian	6.5%
• White	2.3%
• Other	1.2%
First languages (2011) [1]
• Zulu	80.6%
• English	9.9%
• Afrikaans	1.5%
• Other	7.9%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)
PO box	3268
Area code	033

Kranskop is a small town that is situated on the edge of the Thukela River valley in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1894 as Hopetown but following confusion with another town of the same name in the Great Karoo, Northern Cape, the name was changed. Kranskop was chosen and is named after two cliff faces that rise 1,175 metres above the Thukela Valley near the town. The name is an Afrikaans word meaning "cliff head."

The Kranskop rock formation has major significance in local Zulu legend and folklore, for whom it is called "Ntunjambili". The Zulu have ancient stories about a forbidden cave and a hill opening that provides protection from cannibals, but then it closes on those who have entered.^[2]