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