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