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Kwa Zulu Natal
The Kingdom of Kwa Zulu on South Africa's Eastern most coast, a place offering a rich diversity of nature, culture and history.
Set against a colourful backdrop of sun, sea, mountain and sky.
Visit South Africa's busiest port, Durban, and enjoy the warm beachfront vibe, before visiting uShaka Marine World or the beautiful botanical gardens. Take a trip further a field to walk in the footsteps of prominent military figures, such as Shaka, Churchill and Gandhi, and explore the many famous battlefields that saw bloody conflict, sacrifice and victory, before facing your own adventure white-water rafting on the rapids of the mighty Tugela.
The unspoilt Elephant Coast is an eco-wonderland, offering the world's highest dunes, beautiful coral reefs, palms and bushveld. Visit a luxury game park or get closer to nature on one of the many wilderness trails, enjoying scuba diving or whale spotting along the way. A trip through the Pietermatrizburg Midlands area is a must if you prefer markets and galleries, while the magnificent Drakensberg is home to breathtaking snow-capped cliffs, lush yellowwood forests and cascading waterfalls. For a pure rush of adrenaline climb the sheer rock face of the mountain or view from above as you soar in a helicopter. KwaZulu Natal offers something for every taste and fulfils every dream.
Climate
Visitor to KwaZulu Natal can look forward to a splendid climate. The largest city, Durban enjoys warmth and sunshine very occasionally mixed with light, steady rainfall. In Durban the air is heavy with humidity and the subtropical latitude of the city brings with it long, hot summers with rainfall, and very mild winters.
Durban Weather: Durban boasts an average of 320 days of sunshine a year. Temperatures range from 16 to 25º C in winter and from 23 to 33º C during the summer months between September and April. January is generally Durban’s hottest month, with an average daily temperature of +/- 32ºC. The warm Mozambique current flowing along the coast means wonderfully warm bathing throughout the year, the water seldom falling below 17º C even in the middle of winter. With these conditions, it’s no accident that Durban is considered the “holiday city” of KwaZulu Natal.
Further north, conditions become subtropical to an even greater extent, and the estuarine environment of St Lucia and Kosi Bay brings steamy days and balmy nights.
Moving inland, the low-lying coastline makes way for the emerald hills of Zululand and Thukela regions, and still further east to the Great Escarpment, as altitudes rise and temperatures drop. The chilly towns of Bergville and Winterton provide a refreshing break from the swelter.
DURBAN Is a sophisticated cosmopolitan city of some three million people - a city where east meets west - a city beneath which beats the pulse of Africa. A city known as Africa's best managed busiest port.
It's an exciting city in which to play, shop, and experience the nightlife and to relax. It's a city in which business and debate issues, which have far- reaching effects, not only on Africa but way beyond its borders, are discussed.The world-class International Convention Centre has hosted a historic line-up of events.
Leisure facilities abound. 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 locals 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.
If it's peace and sheer beauty you are after, make for Durban's nature sanctuaries or parks. The Botanical Gardens are of particular interest - ask about their 'Music by the Lake' evenings - wonderful music played by KZN's Philharmonic Orchestra in wonder surrounds.
Sail, swim, run, and play tennis or alternatively stroll along or relax on the sun-drenched beaches watching the world go by.
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 HQS of the British regiments that make a 'pilgrimage' to these fields of bravery and supreme sacrifice.
Why leave all of this to the imagination, when 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 assuaging it than 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 all of these pursuits.
Consummate shoppers will always find a way to practice their skill at tracking down a good bargain, and this area provides the chance at any of the large number of factory outlets selling everything from blown glass to pork sausages and baby products.
ELEPHANT COAST
This pristine eco-wonderland boasting 21 different ecological systems will satisfy even the most adventurous visitor. Some of the world's highest natural dunes, brilliant coral reefs, fever tree and palm savannahs, papyrus swamps and rolling acacia bushveld can be found in this land of natural and cultural diversity. It is home to the hospitable Zulu and Tsonga people as well as the Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park, declared South Africa's first World Heritage Site.
Elephant coast accommodation options range from luxury game lodges to Zulu homestays and camping - comfortable places to stay to suit all pockets and from which to explore this exciting region.
For the brave, there are self-guided wilderness trails taking you closer to wildlife on foot, horseback or canoe.
The sea, lakes and beach provide more adventure. Scuba diving and snorkeling enable you to watch the 1 200 different species of marine life abounding in these waters. And taking a turtle tour is a must. Angling, either from the 200 kilometers of unspoilt beach, on the lakes or deep- sea, is a great sport - and while at sea, you might be lucky and spot a whale or two.
The Zulu and Tsonga people indigenous to this area will tell you about their traditional way of life, and share with you the history of places such as Ghost Mountain or Dingaan's grave. Keen shoppers can choose from an array of beadwork, pottery, basket ware and woodcarvings crafted with skills passed down through the ages.
SOUTH COAST
Sub-tropical forests, blue lagoons, golden beaches, rocky coves, the warm Indian Ocean and sunny weather make KwaZulu- Natal's south coast a popular year-round holiday resort for both local and international visitors. Accommodation varies from up-market hotels to camping facilities, and everything in between.
Swim in the surf or just laze on the beach, working on your suntan. Four beaches, namely Margate, Ramsgate, Marina Beach and Hibberdene, have International 'Blue Flag' status.
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