KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is South Africa's Zulu Kingdom. It offers tourists a kaleidoscope of attractions from the warm Indian Ocean on the coastline to the magnificent and scenic Drakensberg Mountains inland.
KwaZulu-Natal offers all year round tourist friendly weather. The province experiences a warm, sub-tropical climate with generous summer rainfall. Summers are hot and humid, while winters are warm, dry and clear. The average summer and winter temperatures are 28°C and 23°C respectively, however, temperatures do differ from region to region.
Zulu maidens dancing
Courtesy of South African Tourism
The coast is generally more humid and warmer all year round than the interior regions, which experience occasional frost in the winters and even snow in and around the Drakensberg Mountains. With sea temperatures averaging 21°C all year round, KwaZulu-Natal is the ideal place for a seaside holiday. It is a popular holiday destination for surfers, body boarders, wind surfers, paddle skiers, kite boarders, anglers, sailing, scuba diving, snorkelling, deep sea fishing and anyone who enjoys frolicking in warm waves!
Surfing
Courtesy of South African Tourism
KwaZulu-Natal also offers many lush and exciting game parks and nature reserves. Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve is the largest of these and offers an abundance of wildlife including the 'Big Five' (Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Buffalo and Rhino).
Town Crier of Pietermaritzburg (British Colonial)
Courtesy of South African Tourism
The two major cities in KwaZulu-Natal are Durban and Pietermaritzburg. Durban is home to some fantastic beaches, an international airport and the busiest port in South Africa. Pietermaritzburg is located approximately 90km's inland from Durban and is sometimes referred to as the best-preserved Victorian City in South Africa. It is the starting point of the famous Dusi Canoe Marathon and offers a variety of quaint antique shops, restaurants, art galleries and museums. The world-renowned ultra marathon - the Comrades Marathon - attracts over 15 000 participants and is run every year between these two major cities.
Early morning at Addington Beach, Durban
Courtesy of South African Tourism
KwaZulu-Natal abounds in a variety of accommodation including luxurious B&B's/guesthouses, 5 star hotels, gamSome tourist attractions in KwaZulu-Natal include:
uShaka Marine World
Located on Durban's Victoria Embankment, uShaka is an excellent all day outing for the entire family. It offers a variety of entertainment including: the amazing 'underwater zoo' - Sea World, exciting water slides at Wet æn Wild, a host of restaurants boasting fine cuisine, an excellent variety of shops, and a beach for those wanting to 'chill-out'.
For more information about uShaka Marine World please visit their website at: http://www.ushakamarineworld.co.za
Blood River Monument - 16 December 1838 - Near Dundee
Courtesy of South African Tourism
The Battlefields
The history of KwaZulu-Natal includes many battles between various groups: the Boers and the British, the British and the Zulus, and the Zulus and the Boers. You can find out more about these battles by partaking in one of the many guided tours through the battlefields of the past.
African Beads
Courtesy of South African Tourism
Handmade Zulu Crafts
With KwaZulu-Natal being South Africa's Zulu Kingdom, there is plenty of opportunity for tourists to purchase some reasonably priced local handmade crafts including a selection of beadwork, baskets, woven goods, pottery and woodcarvings, crafted with techniques and skills passed down through the generations.
Courtesy of South African Tourism
White Water Rafting
White water rafting is available in KwaZulu-Natal on a couple of different rivers. These include: The Umzimkulu, the Mkomazi (the old Umkomaas), the Pongola and the mighty Tugela river.
Wildlife
Some of the game parks and nature reserves that KwaZulu-Natal has to offer include:
- Tembe Elephant Park E(The South Africa/Mozambique Transfrontier Park)
- Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park (located in central Zululand)
- Mkuzi Game Reserve (situated in northern Zululand, approximately 335km from Durban up the North Coast)
- Ndumo Game Reserve (situated on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast close to Mozambique)
- Umtamvuna Nature Reserve (situated on the South Coast close to Port Edward)
- Itala Game Park (situated near Louwsburg in northern KwaZulu-Natal)
Itala Game Reserve
Courtesy of South African Tourism
KwaZulu-Natal Midlands
The KwaZulu-Natal Midlands offers picture perfect English countryside scenery - lush green hills and picturesque farmlands. Take a drive along the Midlands Meander and experience quaint restaurants and pubs, fascinating arts and crafts, and picturesque scenery. For the more adventurous there is the opportunity to swing through the indigenous forest canopies on one of Karkloof's Canopy Tours.
The Midlands offers a variety of excellent country-style accommodation.
World Heritage Sites
Greater St Lucia Wetland Park (iSimangaliso)
Situated on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast, the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park (renamed iSimangaliso in November 2007) stretches from Cape St Lucia to Kosi Bay. It was declared a World Heritage Site in 1999 - it displays an amazing variety of marine, bird and animal life in a multitude of different ecosystems, including grasslands, swamps, coral reefs, wetlands, beaches, lakes, forests and woodlands.
Some wonders of this World Heritage Site include:
- Scuba diving at Sodwana Bay
- Fishing at the Ozabeni, Mfabeni and St Lucia Marine Reserves
- Witnessing the miracle of turtle breeding at the Kosi Bay Nature Reserve
- Relaxing on the beach or snorkelling at Cape Vidal
- Walking trails alongside lakes and through forests in the False Bay Park
- Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park
The Drakensberg Mountains form the border between KwaZulu-Natal and Lesotho. 'Ukhahlamba' meaning 'Barrier of Spears' is the name given to it by the Zulus, whereas the Voortrekkers called it the 'The Dragon Mountain'. It is the highest mountain range in South Africa and truly spectacular with its lush green vegetation in the summer, ice capped tips in the winter, San rock art and amazing waterfalls.
Tourists flock to the Drakensberg Mountains all year round to enjoy a host of activities including hiking, fly fishing, abseiling, rock climbing, ice climbing or a leisurely helicopter ride.
Valley of a 1000 Hills
Courtesy of South African Tourism
Valley of a Thousand Hills
The Valley of a Thousand Hills is conveniently located about midway between Durban and Pietermartizburg. Here one can witness Zulu people still living in their traditional huts. It is also an area that offers breath-taking scenery.
The Oribi Gorge
The Oribi Gorge offers superb hiking opportunities and picturesque picnic spots. The Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve lies some 21 km inland from Port Shepstone on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast. Some more exhilarating activities one can partake in include: The Big Swing (100m jump from the top of a waterfall into the gorge), abseiling, white water rafting, a foofy slide (120m and 160m high), and mountain biking.
The Sardine Run
Every year thousands of people flock to the Natal South Coast to observe the wonder of nature known as the 'Sardine Run'. Millions of sardines migrate up the coast of South Africa to Mozambique and with them follow dolphins, sharks, game fish and birds. This is a not-to-be-missed feeding frenzy!
The Coastal Regions
- The North Coast/Dolphin Coast
Umhlanga Rocks Lighthouse
Courtesy of South African Tourism
The North Coast/Dolphin Coast stretches from Umhlanga, just north of Durban, to the Tugela River. It offers some magnificent unspoilt beaches, excellent seafood restaurants, coastal microlight flights and dolphin viewing from the coast to name but a few specialities.
Some holiday hotspots include: Ballito, Salt Rock and Umhlanga Rocks. - The Elephant Coast
View across Lake St Lucia from Fanies Island
Courtesy of South African Tourism
The Elephant Coast is an eco-wonderland. Its sea, lakes, rivers and bushveld provide a variety of adventurous activities including wilderness trails (on foot, horseback or canoe), snorkelling, scuba diving, and angling. The Elephant Coast is approximately 200km long and only 70km wide, it is bound by the Ubombo Mountains in the north west, the Indian Ocean in the east, and the Umfolozi River in the south.
Some holiday hotspots include: St Lucia, Hluhluwe, Sodwana Bay, and Kosi Bay. - The South Coast
Southbroom Golf Course
Courtesy of South African Tourism
KwaZulu-Natal's south coast is a popular year-round holiday destination for both local and international visitors looking for a genuine bucket and spade holiday. It is also a golfer's paradise boasting 9 excellent 18-hole golf courses.
Some holiday hotspots include: Margate, Southbroom, Port Edward, and Uvongo. Southbroom Golf Course Your browser may not support display of this image.