KwaZulu Natal Information

Battlefields

Walk in the footsteps of famous military strategists - Shaka, Winston Churchill, Mahatma Gandhi and General Louis Botha - they were all here before you. The wind sighs and whispers the secrets and sorrows of great battles, made visible by lone forts and small graveyards on these undulating landscapes ringed with rocky outcrops.

The legacy of our Zulu Kingdom's critical, blood-soaked conflicts today lives peacefully - reconciled in this fascinating region's myriad Battlefield sites, historic towns, national monuments and museums - and in Head Quarters of the British regiments who make a 'pilgrimage' to these fields of bravery and supreme sacrifice.

Why leave all of this to the imagination? Knowledgeable guides will accompany you on tours of the Battlefields, talking you through each battle, debating the strategies used, the numbers who perished and the medals and rewards won by the brave.

If these legends inspire your adventurous spirit, there are more pleasurable ways of appeasing it than in battle. White water rafting down the rapids of the mighty Tugela, sailing on the Chelmsford Dam, and hunting in the designated hunting reserves - this region offers you all of these pursuits.

Expert shoppers will always find a way to practice their skill at tracking down a good bargain, and this area provides the opportunity at any of the large number of factory outlets selling everything from blown glass to pork sausages and baby products.

Drakensberg

The Northern and Central Drakensberg area has some of the most beautiful scenery one could ever imagine. The area falls into four valleys, beginning with the Champagne Valley in the Central Berg, through the Cathedral Peak and Didima Valley, then the Royal Natal National Park and Amphitheatre Valley, and finally the Middledale Pass Valley in the Northern Berg. Each of the four valleys has its own kind of beauty and character, and all have spectacular mountain views.

From the massive basalt cliffs of its northern reaches to the soaring sandstone buttresses in the south, the Berg - as it's popularly known - offers a myriad delights to anyone of any age who needs to 'get away from it all'. Peace and quiet is the catchphrase amid this unsurpassed grandeur, where the World's second-highest waterfall tumbles down a series of breathtaking cascades.

From scenic golf courses, sparkling trout fishing dams and quiet picnic spots, to hiking trails, wildlife and extreme adventure routes at adrenalin-pumping altitudes, the Drakensberg has something for everyone to escape the city and get back to nature in truly majestic surroundings.

North Coast / Dolphin Coast

The Dolphin Coast, an expanse of magnificent beaches and a panorama of waving sugar cane, stretches across the malaria-free North Coast of KwaZulu Natal from Zimbali in the South to the mighty Tugela in the North. The Dolphin Coast consists of the following towns: Zimbali, Ballito, Thompson's Bay, Shaka's Rock, Salt Rock, Sheffield Beach, Umhlali, Tinley Manor, Shakaskraal, Blythedale Beach, Zinkwazi and Kwadaduza/Stanger.

Ballito, the heart of the Dolphin Coast, lies nestled between rippling fields of KwaZulu Natal's famous Green Gold, sugar cane, and is flanked to the east by golden beaches and the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. Ballito is the Pearl of the Dolphin Coast. The town's origins date back to 1953, when a group of entrepreneurs began investigating land to develop a township in the Compensation beach area.

Proclaimed a township in 1954, Ballito, whose name was gleaned from a magazine advertisement meaning Little Ball, became a town board in 1966. The town, which reached borough status in 1986, is well known for its superb, safe beaches.

The Dolphin Coast, as it is so aptly named, is the playground of the bottlenose dolphins, which frolic in the waters close to shore and are visible all year round. The dolphins favour this stretch of coastline because of its relatively clear and shallow waters, allowing the dolphins to swim close to shore in order to feed. Whales can also be spotted on their annual migration to Mozambique for the summer.

For the small price of a licence, which can be purchased at the Natal Sharks Board, you can pick your own mussels off the rocks, collect oysters or bring in fresh crayfish from the Indian Ocean. Ballito's friendly, village atmosphere is a welcome haven from the fast pace of big city life, yet it offers all modern amenities and services to residents and holiday-makers alike.

Durban

On the east coast of KwaZulu Natal lies the lively and exciting city of Durban, South Africa's third largest city. Durban Metro is Africa's ultimate coastal playground in the sun! It is a sophisticated cosmopolitan city of over three million people - a city where east meets west. Durban is Africa's largest and busiest port and the economic powerhouse of the Zulu Kingdom, boasting investment opportunities around every corner.

Durban is an exciting city in which to play, shop, experience the nightlife and relax. It's a city in which business and debate issues, which have far-reaching effects, not only in Africa but way beyond its borders, are discussed. The world-class International Convention Centre has hosted an historic line-up of events including conferences of a global scale.

Leisure facilities abound, Durban is filled with tourist attractions. Visit uShaka Marine World, Wilson's Wharf on the Victoria Embankment and the nearby BAT centre. Enjoy fine and traditional dining, entertainment and shopping in scenic surroundings. Shop till you drop in modern shopping malls. Grey Street and the Warwick Triangle boast vibrant local shops and markets. Beachfront stalls sell traditional arts and crafts. Enjoy the excellent entertainment on offer at the city's theatres and clubs or take a township tour in a local taxi.

If it's peace and sheer beauty you are after, make a beeline for one of Durban's many nature sanctuaries or parks. The Botanical Gardens offers so much more than breathtaking flora and birdlife. Ask about their 'Music by the Lake' evenings where you can enjoy wonderful music played by KZN's Philharmonic Orchestra in wondrous surroundings.

Durban's beaches are characterised by soft, golden sand, palm trees and the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. The main beaches are shark netted and patrolled from sunrise to sunset by trained lifeguards who have an impressive track record in beach safety. The main beaches also have change and shower facilities as well as an array of fast-food outlets, restaurants and bars. Sail, swim, run, and play tennis or alternatively stroll along or relax on the sun-drenched beaches and watch the world go by.

Maputaland / Elephant Coast

The Elephant Coast is most certainly one of South Africa's most beautiful and unspoilt areas. This narrow strip of land approximately 200 kilometers long and just 70 kilometers wide is home to an incredible 21 different eco-systems. Dense evergreen forests of towering fig trees stand in a lush undergrowth of ferns and wild orchids hanging from the trees. Palm savannahs with thousands of wild date and lala palms dot the white sand of the rolling landscape. Swamp forests with large raffias and tangled masses of greenery that are home to myriads of exquisite birds, and behind them, mountainous sand dunes that appear to shift with each gentle breeze.

Few areas in Africa have the incredible diversity of fresh water eco-systems found here. There are major rivers, broad flood plains, large coastal lagoons, deep clear coastal lakes, extensive papyrus swamps and small semi-permanent pans. Hippo, crocodiles and small game can still be found in the wild and a phenomenal number of bird species abound. There is a wide variety of flora, with well over 2000 plant species, many of which are endemic to the region.

The Elephant Coast is bound in the North West by the Ubombo Mountains, in the East by the warm Indian Ocean and in the south by the Umfolozi River, just below the St. Lucia Estuary, which is part of a World Heritage site. The area is steeped in history and there are a number of paleontological sites of scientific importance.

This incredible area is a perfect destination for all ages and has something for everyone. There are dozens of game reserves, beautiful beaches, deep sea fishing and diving on a number of reefs, mountain trails, cultural activities and a number of historical sites. This is one of the few destinations where a visitor can see the big 5 at a game reserve and within a short half hour's drive, be able to watch dolphins and whales. There is a variety of excellent accommodation to suit every pocket and a holiday to the Elephant Coast will be enjoyed by everyone from adventure lovers to those who just want to escape to the bush and commune with nature.

Pietermaritzburg & the KwaZulu Natal Midlands

Pietermaritzburg is home to quaint antique shops, markets, restaurants, art galleries and museums, and more recently a casino. This is the town in which the annual Dusi Canoe Marathon starts, and is the beginning or ending point of the world- renowned annual Comrades Marathon between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, which attracts about 15 000 participants.

The Midlands Meander, the first route of its kind in the country, opened up the wonders and beauty of the interior of KwaZulu Natal over a decade ago. It has grown into an eclectic and fascinating mix of arts and crafts, world-class restaurants and homely comforts, with a wide range of sporting, environmental and historical pursuits.

Take a few days to wander through the green fields and picturesque farms, home to prize dairy herds, and stay along the way in country-style B&B's, or guest lodges for personal service.

The magnificent Howick Falls located in this area provides picturesque picnic facilities. Trout and bass fishing are plentiful and for the more adventurous there is paragliding off Bulwer Mountain or sliding across the canopy of Karkloof's indigenous forests.

South Coast

The South Coast is a 120km stretch of inviting Indian Ocean, golden beaches and a unique variety of sub-tropical bush. Visitors are spoilt for choice along the scenic, relaxed route between the city of Durban and the Zulu Kingdom's southernmost reaches.

The South Coast of KwaZulu Natal is popularly known as the "Golf Coast", thanks to a fine selection of golf courses along the coast. A total of twelve golf courses are situated along the KwaZulu Natal South Coast from Amanzimtoti to the Wild Coast.

The South Coast is dotted with a number of interesting and exciting attractions, including a Crocodile Farm and many unique restaurants with exquisite cuisine. For those who feel lucky, the Wild Coast Sun, Suncoast and Sugarmill Casinos on the South Coast all offer an exciting variety of entertainment for the whole family.

During the winter months of June and July, Sardines make their way up the KwaZulu Natal coast and give anglers and tourists a lot of fun. The coast between Amanzimtoti and Umkomaas, 12km south, is one of the best fishing stretches in South Africa.

Zululand

The sheer majesty of this region will take your breath away. Under the hot African sun, the cobalt blue Indian Ocean, mangrove swamps and limpid lagoons give way to rolling green hills and indigenous forests which shimmer in the distance before they reach the Drakensberg Mountains.

While you are here, enjoy the welcoming wide smiles extended to you by the local people. Enjoy the comfortable accommodation in major towns, game lodges, to seashore cottages, Zulu homes or floating lake chalets.

Teeming private and provincial game reserves offer game-viewing facilities as well as hiking and nature trails.

But it is probably 'the Zulu experience' which will linger in your mind long after you have left this area. Take an ox wagon to Zulu villages of bee-hive huts and experience traditional Zulu hospitality or a rural wedding ceremony, and if you wish, visit a sangoma (traditional healer). You cannot leave without a visit to Ulundi, the site of the final battle fought in the Anglo-Zulu war. Nearby, Zulu kings lie buried in the Emakhosini Valley. In total contrast are the township tours showcasing modern Zulu life, including tarvens, shebeens and traditional medicine shops.

Further inland lie tea plantations, cattle ranches and pretty, historical towns such as Vryheid and Paulpietersburg, where you can relax in the therapeutic sulphur springs.