Adams College is a Public School situated in Adams Mission which is 8 km inland from Amanzimtoti and 35 km South of Durban. Established in 1853, Adams College is the second oldest Institution for Africans in South Africa. For nearly 160 years Adams College has produced an impressive list of former students who have gone on to become icons in the fields of education, politics, business and have helped liberate and develop Africa. Adams College is a former Mission School originally founded by Dr Newton Adams from the American Board of Missions. It was first named; 'Amanzimtoti Institute' and it was later named after him in the 1930's. During the implementation of Bantu Education from 1953, its name was changed to Amanzimtoti Zulu Training School. Its name was reverted to Adams College after the abolishment of Bantu Education. Adams College provided Africans with an opportunity for gaining a good standard of Education. It was the first College to offer the matric syllabus. An art degree, building diploma and teachers training course were also offered. In 1922 Inkosi Albert Luthuli became the first African to be employed on the teaching staff at Adams, teaching isiZulu and Music and later being put in charge of school organization. In 1925 Z.K. Matthews was the first African to be appointed head master of the high School with white staff under him. In 1925 Robbins Guma was made a member of staff at the teachers’ training school; he was later to be the first African to act as the head of the training college of African teachers Adams College was amongst the first African schools to: • Introduce co-education (education for both boys and girls in 1910); • Teach mathematics and science to Africans; • Provide matriculation and post- matriculation courses (1931); • Introduce sport development programme; • Give responsible posts to Africans. There mission is to become the preferred educational institution for learners from all walks of life, irrespective of race, religion, culture or creed, with the best academic and extracurricular facilities and resources and to excel in administration and management. Adams College upholds the established values of truthfulness, humility, Faithfulness, Realness, Responsibility, Hard work and going the extra mile to “Arise and Shine”. The oldest foreign Mission Society in America, the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, was formed in 1806 with the main goal of spreading Christianity to the ‘heathen lands’. The American Board, found its strongest supporter to be the Congregational Church. The Board employed many qualified men and women to work in religious educational, publishing, industrial and medical fields. In 1835 the first American Board missionaries arrived in South Africa with the aim of bringing ‘to the native people of South Africa knowledge and the Christian religion. In 1834 Dr Newton Adams, a medical missionary and his wife embarked upon their missionary endevour. They sailed from Boston, the head office of the American Board, along with five other Missionaries and their wives. The Missionaries were part of a contingent which was divided into two groups. Three missionaries known as the maritime group were sent to the Coast to Dinganes people near Port Natal. They were Newton Adams, Aldin Grout and George Champion. After spending sometime in the Cape learning the Dutch language, Dr Adams and Mrs Adams and the other missionaries arrived in Port Natal in 1835. The inland mission did not last long as it faced many mishaps such as illness and unrest. Dr Adams’ maritime group, were more successful. It was not long before Adams had a school of 50 pupils and a Sunday congregation ranging from 200 to 1500. As early as 1836 a Grahamstown trader, who visited Natal said: ‘A school for girls has been established by Dr Adams, in which were 29 scholars, all neatly clothed in cotton dresses. Some were employed at needlework and others learning to read”. The missionaries now turned their attention to Natal, where Adams had established a station in 1836. In 1843 the British Government took control of Natal. This gradually allowed for mission work to become firmly established. In 1847 Dr Adams moved from Umlazi and went to Amanzimtoti, about 22 miles down the coast from Durban, and started a new mission station. He made this decision because his congregation was moving there and because Amanzimtoti was the centre of a large population. At this time the first convert, Umbalasi, a Zulu woman, was accepted into the Church by Adams. Dr Adams started by teaching black people the English language and his wife held meetings for women and taught them how to sew, cook and take care of their children according to the western way of life. At Amanzimtoti, Adams seemed to become popular among the local people, he was given a Zulu name which meant ”the man with three coats”. This name referred to the white overall which he wore as a doctor, the black frock coat in which he took services and short lumber jacket which he wore when chopping down trees. At this mission Adams built a residence that carried his name, and which remained on the mission grounds until it was pulled down in 1958. Dr Adams died in 1851, and so not to lose the benefits of the work he had done, the American Board sent Rev. Rood to Amanzimtoti in 1853 with the express object of opening up a School.

Rooi Els perches like a child's puzzle piece on the edge of Route 44, the first little seaside village after leaving Gordon's Bay, before the landmark Hangklip rock face. Rooi Els (sometimes spelt Rooiels or Rooi-Els), like its neighbours Pringle Bay, Betty's Bay and Kleinmond, borders the Kogelberg Nature Reserve, forming part of the larger Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve. The smallest of these towns, Rooi Els (Red Alder) is also a registered conservancy in its own right, the beauty of the environment devotedly preserved by its residents. The town is not all that big, the roads narrow and untarred, no street lights to mar the night sky. The top end of Anemone Street acts as something of a 'town square' - the Rooi Els Grill, Eco Centre, coffee shop and café a welcome to visitors. The residential part of town winds along a couple of streets that are set closer to the shore. Homes vary from little seaside cottages to the more ostentatious beachside manor. Rooi Els does not boast a long strip of sandy beach for its angular nature means that the little town is surrounded on three sides by water. To the east is the Rooi Els River estuary that drains into the sea after flowing under the bridge that carries Route 44 across it. It is a beautiful beach to walk on, swim in and dive and boat from, and sunsets here are notorious. It also functions as an excellent whale watching site during winter. Birders, love Rooi Els for the endemic Cape Rockjumper, Rock Thrush and other unusual birds, and residents even claim to have seen the odd Leopard on their roads on a moonlit night. On the north bank of the Rooi Els River, roughly a kilometre from the sea, is the Rooiels Cave where Stone Age relics have been uncovered.

Kleinmond is within easy driving distance from Cape Town, along the scenic coastal road known as R44 or Clarence Drive, Kleinmond is a peaceful little village endowed with some of the coast’s most natural beauty. It lies within the UNESCO declared Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, which supports over 1600 species of fynbos, of which 150 are endemic. The biosphere also has three areas of relic indigenous forest; similar to the celebrated Knysna forests, and provides nature lovers with numerous hikes offering solitude and remarkably unspoilt stretches of wilderness with rugged kloofs, valleys and several mountain peaks. One might catch sight of the rare Strawberry Rain Frog, March Rose proteas, exotic birds - particularly in the wetlands of the lagoon - otters or even a leopard, if one is lucky. Despite its beauty and relative peacefulness, Kleinmond is the largest of the four coastal towns that fall within the biosphere and as such, serves as a commercial centre for the Hangklip-Kleinmond area. Traditionally a retirement village, the town comes alive during holiday season and is renowned for large numbers of lobster in summer and whale watching in winter. Visitors to Kleinmond have access to safe swimming in lagoons, walking, hiking, bird watching, a black water river, caves and exciting rocky tidal pools; there is even a golf course for avid followers of the sport. The beach here, although not great for swimming, is perfect for fishing. Kleinmond is reputed to be home to the country’s only herd of wild horses that live in the wetland close to the mouth of the Bot River. They are said to have been abandoned by a British garrison after World War II and roam the flats and river estuary as they please. A little further along the coast, in Bettys Bay, is the Harold Porter Botanical Garden - a beautiful and secluded garden of some 10 hectares that represent the local environment by including elements of wetland, fynbos, forest and coastal vegetation and is really worth a visit. Hermanus, where some of the world’s best land-based whale watching is possible, is only 20 minutes’ drive from Kleinmond. Adventure, in the form of abseiling, climbing, dune surfing or river rafting is all part of the enjoyment of staying in this delightful little town.