French Presence in KZN: La Route du Prince Impérial, Louis Napoleon - This self-drive route which starts in Durban, takes the traveller through the magnificent vistas of central and northern KwaZulu-Natal and traces the pilgrimage route of the Empress Eugènie, the mother of the Prince Imperial. The Empress felt driven to follow in her son's footsteps a year after he died in an ambush at Uqweqwe o
n 1 June 1879 in the closing stages of the Ango-Zulu War. The Route was launched on Sunday 1 June 1996 by the, then, Chairperson of the Battlefields' Route, Ray Heron and the President of the French Teachers of KZN, Jenny Bustin. The Route and the work done to help grow sustainable tourism is supported Amis Siyakhula ( Friends, we are working together) NPO 080-140 and Alliance Française, PMB. Amis Siyakhula - This Non Profit Organisation was established to administer any funds that might be raised for specific community-outreach projects. Communities in France, Pietermaritzburg; Pomeroy; Uqweqwe - Jojosini Primary School have benefited greatly to date. It is run by a group of enthusiastic Francophiles who work on a voluntary basis to promote the French language and the French and Francophone culture.
