 Africa has never been short of animal stories. The story of Huberta, however, is close to many Zululander's hearts. She not only originated from our area, but played a significant part in the history of Kwa-Zulu Natal by being the focus of world wide attention. Hurberta's great trek made headline all over the world. And today she is the subject of a number of books.
Huberta was the hippotamous who enjoyed a two and a half - year period of celebrity during the late twenties. The reason she became famous was that, unlike all the other sociable hippos that stay with herd and never consider a nomadic existence, Huberta went to strike out on her own. One day she set off from her home in Zululand and trekked South. Over a period of 6 months she covered a distance of 1200km. She was entirely alone, except when she was herding.
Many Zulu regarded her as a reincarnation of Shaka. This belief was reinforced by the sudden death by the rock fall of two members of the tribe who had laughed and thrown stones at her. The Indians in the Natal also regarded her as a mystical reincarnation and worshipped her in the temples. Sadly, however, not everyone held Huberta in such high esteem, and four farmers who saw her as a trespasser shot and killed her at the Keiskamma River near King Williamstown.
So our Huberta met her tragic death in a hail of bullets. But..... her story lives on, as she touched the lives of many antics, not least of them a stroll down Durban's West Street on 1 April 1929 on her way South. Huberta's body was preserved and stands today in the Museum of King Williamstown.
The Zululand Expo committee has decided to use Huberta as their official mascot for Zululand Expo. Keep track of her throughout the Expo and experience for yourselves the story of Huberta the hippo, who has touched the lives of both young and old through the decades.
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