Recieved from: Marthinus Van Schalkwyk - Feb 2008

I want to share some information aquired a while ago.
Relatives of mine returned from pomene and stopped at Nelspruit for a meal. They met a Gentleman who gave them this interesting information as well as photos of the original Pomene hotel.
The gentleman is Mr.Abercrombie.He built the original (First) hotel which was called ZEDA HOTEL. He allso made the first road to Pomene with a bulldozer he borrowed from a Portugese chap in the vicinity of Masinga.
One of the first cars to travel this road was a JAGUAR - all the way to Zeda hotel.
Mr. Abercrombie is still in posession of the title deeds issued by the old Portugese government.

Recieved from: Jose Pedro in Spain - Feb. 2008

Hi:
I visited Pomene hotel in 1970 with my parents. There used to be a large house at the end of the road, uphill, with large glass windows. It functioned as reception, office and lounge. I loved it.

Jose Pedro
Spain

Hi, We spent 10 days at Pomene over Easter 1971 with my parents ,older brother & younger sister.I was 7 then and to this day it's still one of my favourite memories.We drove there in a Datsun1600sss.We almost reached the Hotel after numerous wrong turns & getting stuck &,having to put our canvas lilos under the wheels.After getting stuck the final time we got picked up by the hotel Landie ,well after night fall & transported the last few killos to the hotel.The car being towed in the next day.On getting to the hotel well after dinner time we were served in our bungalos, Prawns on a bed of rice for the old folks & us kids got sausages & mash,which was my staple diet for our stay.Waking up that 1st morning was amazing with the sound of the sea on three sides and the sweeping views of white sandy beach stretching to the horison on the left & tidel rock pool & reefs to the right, with the old rusted steel hull of a ship high and dry on the reef. I would say roughly the size of a Naval Mine Sweeper in size, then again it was 38 years ago, and things always seemed larger as a kid.Along the south side of the beach there were reefs with large natural rock pools to swim and explore in, full of sea life, from octopus, fish, crabs, eels, crayfish, to sea weeds,fans,corrals and a multitude of different shells, of whch one of our favourite was the brown & white spotted 'Cow'rie'.Most of our time was spent swimming with the aid of a car inner tube, the water being so warm we literally spent the whole time in the sea,only coming out for lunch ,& if the tide was out burning our feet on the very hot white sand, running back to where our towels & beach shoes were left way up the beach .At low tide it seemed as if we were swimming past the point of the headland & at high tide, we could see massive big turtels and even the occasional shark fin (could have been dolphens)but according to big brother they were"sharks".What ever they were they had big 'fins' for a small guy. we saw numerous species of fish floating in our tubes ,from schools of silver flashing Barracouta to multi-coloured coral & parrot fish and the occasional big jelly fish. at low tide we also came across lots of ghost crabs, morayeels and once even a poisonous sea snake. the beaches were covered with all kinds of different corals, spunges & shells,which we collected & took home.Is it legal to pick up dead coral,shells & take it home?! By the time we left Pomene my brother was a dark brown berry & my sister burnt pink & suffering with sun-stroke. The car was more laden when leaving, but we somehow got thru the thick soft sand alas never to return. looking at all the photos it has changed from when i was a child,we did'nt realise there was a lagoon up the other end of the beach & in those days the Pomene Hotel was the only accomodation & according to my Mom it was owned by a conglomorate of Nelspruit Doctors & Businessmen.Will it ever be repaired & if when?

Pomene was discovered by Dr. Charles Pentz (My father) and Mr George Turner of White River.
That was in the mid sixties. They then dicided to build a hotel there.
I stil go to Pomene Quit often.
One of the people who lived there as a child is Mr Gary Manners whos farther suplied the hotel with fresh meat and vegies.
The Local man who worked in the hotel is still there. His name is Jutas and his sons name is Louis.
Feel free to contact me for more information.