THE ESTATE

The gabled Cape Dutch buildings of Hilton College stand proudly on an elevated hilltop above the Umgeni River, looking out to the north over indigenous forests, craggy cliffs and quiet valleys, towards the distant Karkloof range. The country setting provides fitting tribute to the vision of its founder, the Revd William Orde Newnham, who enrolled the first 50 pupils, on this same site, on January 29, 1872.

From those early and primitive days, Hilton College has developed and grown, and the pupils of today enjoy magnificent and enviable facilities. Its remarkable setting, however, is one of the most beautiful estates in the world, and remains amongst the school’s greatest assets.

The Estate consists of 1700 hectares of unspoilt bush, rocky cliffs, farmlands and timber plantations. It forms the perfect outdoor classroom for the boys of Hilton. The exciting variety and abundance of bird life, the riches of the fauna and flora, the majesty of the rivers and krantzes provide experiences which Hilton boys long cherish and remember.

Surely there can be no finer opportunity for a young man to roam so freely, or to experience outdoor life so richly, than here on the Hilton College Estate.

Environmental Awareness Programme
Hilton College is committed to producing pupils who are aware of the importance of the environment and its conservation. We hope that through their exposure to the outdoors, they will develop a love for the fauna and flora, and a sense of responsibility towards both their physical and social environments.

While environmental issues are integrated into class curricula, we have also focussed on the environment in our extra mural programme. A member of the academic staff, Dave White, has been appointed to manage the staff of the Conservation department and to co-ordinate the development of the Estate and the numerous activities in which boys are encouraged to participate. As it is a game reserve, boys will be encouraged to get involved in the management of the reserve.

The Wildlife Centre
At the core of all activities is the Wildlife Centre, one of the oldest buildings at Hilton. It serves as a museum, resource centre and research laboratory.

Monitoring the Fauna & Flora
Pupils are encouraged to record their observations on various aspects of animal and plant life. All the information collected is recorded in the Wildlife Centre.

• BIRDS
  The bird list now stands at over 280 species. These include Crowned Eagle, Martial Eagle, Black Eagle, Wahlberg’s Eagle and many other raptors.
• MAMMALS
  The sightings of large and medium-sized mammals are plotted on distribution maps. Amongst these are Wildebeest, Zebra, Giraffe, Bushbuck, Common Reedbuck, Grey Duiker, Impala, Kudu, Nyala, Warthog and Bushpig.
• BUTTERFLIES
  There is a collection of a large variety of butterflies.
• TREES
  Over 80 different species of indigenous trees are to be found on the Estate.
• NIGHT GAME COUNT
  These are very popular amongst the boys. Sightings include Bushpig, Caracal, Serval, Red Rock Rabbit, Porcupine and Owls, in addition to the various species of antelope and other large mammals.
• BIRD-RINGING
  Bird-ringing excursions are arranged regularly and this provides valuable information about bird movement on the Estate.
• FISHING
  Two dams are stocked with bass and the Umgeni River is a good venue for fly-fishing for “scaly” (yellowish).

Use of the Estate
Boys are encouraged to make full use of the Estate, and to find ways to enjoy what it has to offer. The following are available:

• Trails and picnic sites.
• Tree identification trail.
• Bird hides.
• Tubing on the Umgeni.
• Fishing in the dams and in the river.
• Camping on the Estate on Saturday nights. (The school kitchen supplies food).

Parents are encouraged to share the facilities of the Estate with their sons.

Mountain Bikes
A large network of plantation roads and other paths make for good bike riding and boys may bring their bikes to school.

GIS/Google Earth
An aerial photograph of the Estate has been digitized and all sightings of animals and distributions of plants are being plotted using GPS. Pupils can be actively involved in this.
To find the school on Google Earth, enter these co-ordinates: 29°29'32.21"S 30°18'6.15"E
Or you can follow this link to see our campus and estate on Google Maps

The possibilities offered by this unique resource are limitless. No Hilton boy leaves without being touched to some extent by his experiences on the Estate, and for many it provides the foundations for life-long interests.