| The remarkable diversity of attractions | | | | Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park, 175 km to the |
| of the KwaZulu-Natal region is | | | | northeast of Durban. This combination of |
| unsurpassed in South Africa. It | | | | the game reserves of Hluhluwe and |
| encompasses the splendid Drakensburg | | | | Umfolozi occupies 960 sq km. The park is |
| Mountains, sublime subtropical beaches, | | | | mostly savannah grasslands and low |
| top rated nature and game reserves, | | | | acacia bush, but has a forested |
| historic battlefields, rolling green | | | | mountainous section. You will see the |
| hills of the Natal Midlands and the city | | | | famed "big five"- lion, elephant, |
| of Durban. The range of activities | | | | buffalo, leopard and rhino. The park is |
| possible is a challenge even for those | | | | well known for its very successful black |
| with the most eclectic of tastes: | | | | and white rhino conservation efforts. |
| swimming, fishing, boating, scuba | | | | Other animal species to look out for |
| diving, hiking, abseiling, game viewing, | | | | include impala, blue wildebeest, |
| cultural and historical touring, whale | | | | waterbuck, zebra, nyala, kudu, bushbuck, |
| and bird watching and golfing. | | | | warthog, cheetah, hyena, jackal and |
| Warmer and more authentic South Africa | | | | giraffe. Birding is great and over 300 |
| than the Cape Region, KwaZulu-Natal is | | | | species are on record. |
| the favourite holiday destination for | | | | You can see game on guided walks, but |
| locals. The region lies between the | | | | for obvious reasons, an armed ranger |
| Drakensberg Mountains and Swaziland to | | | | must accompany you. The less adventurous |
| the west; the Indian Ocean to the east | | | | will have an equally satisfying game |
| stretching from Port Edward in the south | | | | viewing experience aboard a vehicle. |
| to the Mozambique border in the north. | | | | Accommodation in the Umfolozi reserve is |
| As you transition from a subtropical to | | | | available at various bush camps at |
| tropical environment, you encounter cool | | | | Sontuli, Nselweni and Mndindini and at |
| mountain ranges, savannah grassland, | | | | the self-catering cottages and tented |
| coral reefs, indigenous coastal forest | | | | camp at Mpila. At Hluhluwe, the |
| and dunes, lakes and lagoons and papyrus | | | | well-positioned Hilltop Camp offers |
| wetlands. Here 9 million people occupy | | | | accommodation ranging from a luxury |
| 92,000 sq km of some the fairest and | | | | lodge to self-catering chalets and |
| best-watered lands in South Africa. | | | | rondavels. The dry season in the |
| Little wonder that the Zulu, or "people | | | | Hluhluwe-Umfolozi area falls between May |
| of heaven" considered the area a heaven | | | | and August, while most off the rains |
| on earth indeed, and were extremely | | | | fall within the rest of the year. |
| jealous of late comers who sought a | | | | To the northeast of KwaZulu Natal is the |
| share of it. And yet the Zulu people | | | | Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, which |
| themselves had arrived only in the 16th | | | | stretches along a 280 km coastline from |
| century. Their ancestors, the Nguni, had | | | | Cape St Lucia to Kozi Bay near the |
| been pushing southwards from the Great | | | | Mozambique border. This first rate |
| Lakes region for at least three thousand | | | | eco-tourism paradise, is an amalgamation |
| years. The land was inhabited- if you | | | | of a numberof protected areas including |
| could use the term- by San Bushmen. This | | | | - Lake St Lucia, St Lucia and Maputaland |
| hunter-gatherer society was very sparing | | | | Marine Reserves, Coastal Forest Reserve |
| in its demands on the land. The arrival | | | | and the Kosi Bay Natural Reserve. |
| of the Nguni, a people with numerous | | | | Declared a World Heritage Site in 1999, |
| cattle herds and great thirst for land, | | | | the official bulletin justifying this |
| put the Bushman under great stress and | | | | distinction highlighted the existence of |
| severe disadvantage. | | | | 5 ecosystems resulting in an exceptional |
| The Zulu derive directly from a clan | | | | diversity of species and actual ongoing |
| head of the Nguni named "Heaven" or | | | | speciation. |
| Zulu, who established a territory | | | | The park is a tropical and subtropical |
| bearing his own name or KwaZulu in the | | | | interface and has landforms that include |
| Umfolozi valley. The Zulu was a fairly | | | | coral reefs, sandy beaches, coastal |
| insignificant power, even among the | | | | dunes, lakes, swamps, and reed and |
| Nguni, until the arrival of Shaka Zulu. | | | | papyrus wetlands. It occupies more than |
| Shaka, born in 1787, was first-born son | | | | 3200 sq km, but supports more animal |
| to Chief Senzangakhona, but was | | | | species than larger parks. Here you can |
| considered illegitimate on account of a | | | | find hippos, turtles, crocodiles, rhino, |
| technicality. Shaka eventually corrected | | | | leopard and sharks. The birding is |
| this injustice by plotting the death of | | | | unsurpassed and more than 530 species |
| his younger brother - the legitimate | | | | are on record. The numerous activities |
| heir. He thus rose to be chief of his | | | | possible include- fishing, hiking, |
| people when his father died in 1816. | | | | boating, diving, game viewing and whale |
| Shaka was a man gifted with great | | | | and bird watching. You can seek |
| daring, cunning and imagination. He | | | | accommodation within the park or nearby |
| repulsed numerous attacks by the | | | | towns in the range of basic camps and |
| Ndwandwe- a rival and more militarily | | | | luxury game lodges to hotels and |
| superior Nguni people, eventually | | | | self-catering chalets. |
| forcing the enemy to flee northwards. | | | | Sodwana Bay Nature Reserve, which falls |
| Shaka appreciated thatthe Ndwandwe would | | | | within the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park |
| be back unless he created conditions to | | | | is a haven for sport fishing, boating, |
| make it impossible. Above all else a | | | | snorkeling and scuba diving. The |
| military leader, he devised such | | | | underwater world, and the coral reefs in |
| weaponry, battle tactics and training | | | | particular are outstanding, and the |
| methods that resulted in an unbeatable | | | | marine life plenty. This is one of the |
| army among known enemies of the day. By | | | | world's top diving destinations. Youcan |
| numerous treacherous devices -war, | | | | visit year round, but conditions for |
| assassination, deceit and intimidation - | | | | diving are best April to September. |
| he subdued smaller and larger clans, and | | | | Water temperatures vary from about 20 |
| gathered all to his realm. | | | | degrees C and can reach 29 degrees C in |
| Within three years to 1819, the Zulu | | | | summer. Take time off from water sports |
| nation emerged as the largest and most | | | | for a guided to see loggerhead and |
| feared in the whole of southeastern | | | | leatherback turtles. There is good |
| Africa. And Shaka, now King Shaka, was | | | | accommodation for most budgets nearby. |
| sitting pretty as its head. His success | | | | The Drakenberg Mountains on |
| had however caused unprecedented mayhem | | | | KwaZulu-Natal's western border are one |
| in the region, and aroused bitter | | | | of South Africa's most outstanding |
| jealousy amongst his ambitious | | | | attractions. Rising 3282 m above sea |
| compatriots. He also ruled with an iron | | | | level, the spectacular 200 km long |
| fist and was such a tyrant as had never | | | | mountain ranges were named by the |
| risen before among the Zulu. Shaka was | | | | martial minded Zulu as uKhahlamba or |
| speared to death by Dingane -his half | | | | "Barrier of Spears". The thoroughly |
| brother, in 1824. The Zulu kingdom | | | | photogenic "Amphitheatre"is very |
| survived him, but his legacy was to be | | | | impressive and is popular with visitors. |
| severely tested, later in the century in | | | | This is a rock wall with a height of |
| conflicts with new rivals - the British | | | | 500m and stretching for 5 km. Many |
| and Boers. | | | | adventure activities are available here |
| The British had approached Shaka, | | | | in the most scenic of surroundings, |
| shortly before his death, for trading | | | | including- hiking, rock climbing, |
| rights in ivory and animal skins. Shaka | | | | mountain biking, paragliding, |
| signed a document granting them the | | | | white-water rafting, birding, and fly |
| chieftaincy of Port Natal, their small | | | | and trout fishing. |
| base on the east coast. In a very | | | | There are several parks and game |
| liberal and rather dishonest | | | | reserves around the Drakensberg |
| interpretation of Shaka's intentions, | | | | Mountains, the most prominent of which |
| they claimed the Port Natal area in the | | | | is the 2430 sq km uKhahlamba-Drakensberg |
| name of the King of England. Port Natal | | | | Park. It was declared a World Heritage |
| is today known to most as Durban -and to | | | | Site in 2000 mainly for two reasons; |
| locals as "Durbs". The city is the | | | | first for its remarkable physical charm |
| gateway and business hub of | | | | and biological diversity, and second to |
| KwaZulu-Natal, and the logical starting | | | | highlight the outstanding collection of |
| point for exploring the region.Its port | | | | San rock art. Scattered over 600 sites; |
| ranks among the world's top 10, and is | | | | there are more than 35,000 |
| the busiest on the African continent. To | | | | well-preserved artworks, with scenes |
| discover KwaZulu-Natal, rent a car at | | | | depicting hunting, dancing, fighting and |
| Durban or take a South Africa tour or | | | | food gathering. The oldest paintings are |
| safari that covers the region. | | | | estimated to date back 2400 years, with |
| Durban's weather is mild and pleasant - | | | | more recent ones less than 200 years |
| temperatures average 17 degrees C in | | | | old. |
| winter (June-August) and 27 degrees C in | | | | Scholars have in recent years studied |
| summer (December to February). | | | | San rock art closely and the consensus |
| Holidaymakers are favoured with sea | | | | now is that this is not merely |
| temperatures averaging 24 degrees C in | | | | representation art but it has some |
| summer rarely falling below 19 degrees C | | | | spiritual content. At the Kamberg Rock |
| in winter. This coastal playground | | | | Art Centre, you can learn more about the |
| enjoys at least a good 320 days of | | | | San people, and how to interpret the |
| sunshine every year. The rains come over | | | | symbolic and spiritual content of their |
| the summer months, when it can get quite | | | | art. In the Drakensberg region, there is |
| hot and humid, with temperatures | | | | a very wide range of accommodation |
| reaching for 33 degrees C. Long before | | | | including - basic bed & breakfasts, |
| everybody else, the San Bushmen wintered | | | | guesthouses, camps, hotels, and luxury |
| in Durban, taking advantage of the | | | | resorts. The rains come in summer |
| excellent climate relative to their | | | | between October and April, with the rest |
| inland domains. | | | | of the year being mostly dry. Beware |
| "The Golden Mile" is a 6 km long | | | | that winter nights can get extremely |
| waterfront lined with some of Durban's | | | | chilly and of sudden thunderstorms in |
| top rated hotels. The city has some of | | | | summer. |
| the finest beaches in the country. Good | | | | Descending from the Drakensberg, you can |
| beaches for swimming and surfing can be | | | | visit the battlefield sites, where some |
| found to the south of the city- Ansteys, | | | | of South Africa's most vicious battles |
| Brighton, Cave Rock, and Garvies. To the | | | | were fought. The protagonists were Zulu, |
| north- Country Club, Tekwini, and Laguna | | | | Boer and British who engaged one another |
| beaches are more exclusive and less | | | | in the nineteenth and early |
| crowded. Within the city, you can visit | | | | twentiethcentury. The hottest battles |
| museums and art galleries and shop for | | | | were fought in areas around Colenso, |
| crafts. The Kwa-Muhle museum will | | | | Weenen, Dundee, Estcourt, Glencoe, |
| educate you about Apartheid, which is | | | | Ladysmith,Newcastle, Utrecht, Volksrust, |
| important if you want to understand | | | | Vryheid and Winterton. |
| South African society. | | | | The Voortrekkers had headed north away |
| There are numerous restaurants- Indian, | | | | from the Cape Colony to escape British |
| African and Western - in this | | | | control. After crossing the Drakensberg, |
| cosmopolitan city. The Indians started | | | | just like the Zulu people earlier, they |
| coming here in 1860 as indentured labour | | | | believed they had reached "Heaven on |
| for the sugar plantations. Today, the | | | | Earth". Conflicts over land and other |
| Durban metro area has the largest Indian | | | | resources were inevitable and in several |
| population outside India. Durban stands | | | | episodes between 1836-1852, the two |
| between the North and South Coast of | | | | parties sought a resolution through |
| South Africa's eastern seaboard. The | | | | arms. Next came the Anglo-Zulu war of |
| North Coast beaches include Umhlanga | | | | 1879. The British eventually won, but |
| Rocks, Ballito, Shaka's Rock and Shelley | | | | they met a number of disasters as they |
| Beach. Here you find good accommodation | | | | had initially underestimated the Zulu |
| and myriad opportunities for swimming | | | | army. This is the war that broke the |
| and surfing. Around Ballito is great for | | | | hearts of Bonaparte royalists after |
| watching the ever-fascinating dolphins. | | | | Prince Louis Napoleon - an observer with |
| The South Coast stretches from Durban to | | | | the British party- succumbed to multiple |
| Port Edward and covers Hibberdene, Port | | | | assegai thrusts. |
| Shepstone, Margate and Southbroom. The | | | | The British were busy making war again, |
| region has fantastic beaches and | | | | this time on the Boers between 1880-81. |
| matching amenities. Between Port Edward | | | | They lost the war, made peace but sought |
| and Hibberdene is the scene of the | | | | a rematch in the Anglo-Boer War of |
| sardine run. This most spectacular | | | | 1899-1902. This second engagement |
| display of the natural world occurs | | | | attracted worldwide attention, and it |
| around June and July. It is triggered by | | | | was the first war ever recorded on film. |
| a 4-5 degrees C drop in sea temperature | | | | Two of the giants of the twentieth |
| that prompts millions of sardines in | | | | century were witnesses - Churchill as a |
| great shoals to head northwards. On this | | | | reporter, and Gandhi as a |
| dash, game fish, dolphins, sharks, | | | | stretcher-bearer. It is advisable to |
| whales and others of their mortal | | | | tour with an accredited battlefield |
| enemies follow. Thisunforgettable | | | | guide, who will retell the story of the |
| experience appears to be the marine | | | | battles at various sites. While in the |
| world's answer to the annual wildebeest | | | | area, there are opportunities to learn |
| migration on the Kenya-Tanzania border. | | | | about Zulu history and culture, and also |
| To see wildlife you can travel to the | | | | to buy local arts and crafts. |