Splendid subtropical beaches, soaring mountain ranges, gently rolling hills, world-class game lodges and vibrant city life.
KwaZulu-Natal with a population of 9.3 million, is South Africa's most populous province and the home of the Zulu nation. Its geography ranges from sandy beaches through rolling hills to the magnificent Drakensberg mountains, its history a fascinating mix of British, Boer, Indian and Zulu.
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Kruger Park & the Kingdoms
5 nights / 6 days - A great combination of 'Big 5' game viewing, lush wetlands and the Swazi and Zulu Cultures. Commences and ends in Sandton or the Johannesburg International Airport.
Majestic Drakensberg & Lesotho
3 Nights / 4 Days - World Heritage Site, Bushman Paintings and highest vehicle pass in Southern Africa. Tour commences and ends in Durban or North Coast Area or Durban International Airport.
Natal Battlefields - Boer, Brit & Zulu
1 Nights / 2 Days - Tragic battles, heroic deeds and beautiful scenery. Tour commences and ends in Durban Hotel or North Coast Area or Durban International Airport.
Scheduled Escorted Grand Tour of South Africa
Highlights include: Kruger National Park safari, Multi-cultural experiences, Garden Route, Cape Town, Table Mountain. Costs from £1855.00 per person sharing (Land arrangements only - excludes all international and internal flights)
Valley of the Kings - Zulu History
1 Night / 2 Days - Zulu History and the Great King Dingaan. Tour commences and ends in Durban or North Coast Area or Durban International Airport.
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KwaZulu-Natal
Accommodation
Luxury
Hotels
Fairmont Zimbali Fairmont Zimbali is one of South Africa's most exclusive hideaways. Set in a serene coastal forest reserve on the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal, it is home to mischievous dolphins and a myriad of sea and bird life.>>
Isandlwana Carved into the Nyoni Rock, Isandlwana overlooks the battle of Isandlwana and makes the perfect base from which to explore Kwazulu Natal Battlefields.>>
Phinda Private Game Reserve Phinda is a 15 000ha private game reserve in KwaZulu-Natal. It neighbours the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, which is a World Heritage Site, and is only 30km due west of the white-fringed beaches of the Indian Ocean.>>
Quality
Hotels
Rocktail Bay Lodge Situated on the secluded and unspoilt coastline of Rocktail Bay, in an area well known for Leatherback turtles 329km from the Richard's Bay airport.>>
Protea Hotel Edward In close proximity to the city centre, International Convention Centre, Sun Coast Casino, uShaka Marine World and a variety of other popular and exciting entertainment and night spots. It is 22km from Durban International Airport. >>
Quarters Hotel Ideally situated in Florida Road, a revitalized suburb, renowned for its beautifully restored heritage homes and trendy restaurants. Only 2km from the beachfront, and 3km from Durban City, and 20km from Durban International Airport. >>
Value
Hotels
Giant's Castle The historic Giant's Castle Game Reserve is situated in the scenic valley of the Central uKhahlamba Drakensberg. It is 220km from Durban International Airport. >>
Cathedral Peak Hotel This charming family resort is nestled in the heart of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park, recently proclaimed a World Heritage Site for cultural and natural beauty.>>
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More
about KwaZulu-Natal
The subtropical climate is kind to visitors virtually throughout the year. Generous rainfall, particularly during the summer months, provides a welcome relief from hot, humid conditions.
Durban is the province's largest city and South Africa's third largest metropolis. The harbour is the largest and busiest in Africa, ranked 9th in the world. Durban is popular for it's Golden Mile of safe swimming and surfing beaches, ethnic markets, Sanke Park, the uShaka Marine World, botanical gardens and the Umgeni River Bird Park with 400 exotic and local species, rated third among the world's best bird parks. Cultural highlights include the KwaMuhle Museum, the Victoria Street Indian Market, the Jumma Mosque, the Hare Krishna Temple of Understanding, the Hindu Temple and the Shree Shiva Subrahmanya Alayam.
Just north of Durban, the Dolphin Coast includes the upmarket resorts of Umhlanga Rocks, Ballito and Shaka's Rock. Here attractions include safe swimming beaches, the Natal Sharks Board headquarters and the Gateway shopping centre, the largest in the southern hemisphere.
Northern KwaZulu-Natal has much to offer. Rich and diverse in plant and animal life, this area boasts some of South Africa's finest game reserves and one of the world'd great wetland and marine sanctuaries.
The Greater St Lucia Wetland Park comprises an intricate mix of lakes and lagoons, pans, marshlands and swamps, sandy forests, palm veld and grassland as well as dunes, beaches and offshore coral reefs, the most southerly in the world. The centerpiece of this areas is Lake St Lucia, an extensive, shallow estuarine system that teems with water birds, crocodiles and hippo. Loggerhead and leatherback sea turtles come ashore to lay their eggs in this wetland park, which is a World Heritage Site.
The warm, humid climate and lush vegetation of northern KwaZulu-Natal provides an ideal habitat for a great variety of animals and birds, which can be observed on walking trails and game drives in 4x4 vehicles, conducted by knowledgeable rangers. Prominent reserves include the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park, famed for its rhino conservation programme, the Tembe Elephant Park, the Ndumo and Itala reserves, the Mkuze, bordering the privately owned and run Phinda Private Game Reserve.
Visitors will enjoy excellent bird- and game-viewing experiences, deep-sea fishing, angling, sailing, snorkeling and scuba diving, and the annual Sardine Run is a major tourist attraction.
Those wishing to see more of this diverse province, should make sure their itinerary includes the Valley of a Thousand Hills and the Zulu, Boer and British battlefields of the Midlands, as well as the strikingly beautiful Drakensberg mountain range.
Durban City TourHalf Day - Approx. 4 hours Drive along the Marine Parade and see the rickshaw pullers. Pass Vasco da Gama clock, Sugar Terminal, University of Natal and Botanical Gardens. Take a peek inside the Emanuel Cathedral.
Visit the Indian Market and return to the hotel.
Durban Township Cultural TourHalf Day - Approx. 4 hours Travel passed Cato Manor, a sprawling informal settlement.
Arrive in Inanda, once the home of the ANC. Visit the Ghandi Settlement where Mahatma Ghandi led his passive resistance movement. Move on to one of the largest churches in SA – Shembe. Visit Ohlange School started by John Dube – founder of ANC. Visit Inanda Seminary Girls School funded by various international churches.
Visit a local shebeen to interact with local community. Return to the hotel.
Greater Durban TourFull Day - Approx. 8 hours Drive along Marine Parade, rickshaw pullers, harbour. Pass Vasco da Gama Clock, Sugar Terminal, University of Natal, Botanical Gardens. Visit the Indian Market. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant (optional).
Travel passed the suburbs of Pinetown and wealthy Kloof to the Valley of 1000 Hills. Visit a Zulu kraal and watch traditional dancing, meet the local isangoma (witchdoctor) and other residents. Visit nearby snake and crocodile park.
En route back to Durban stop at a view site for sundowners. Return to Durban late in the afternoon.
Hluhluwe Game Reserve TourFull Day - Approx. 13 hours Very early morning start to travelling to SA oldest game reserve! Spend a day on safari in the magical Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game Reserve on the north coast of KZN. Reserve is home to 84 species of game and an impressive 425 different types of birds.
It is also famous for is rhino conservation and the rest of the ‘Big Five’ are also here! Guests can also expect to see cheetah, giraffe, zebra, blue wildebeest, spotted hyena and wild dog. Lunch at Hilltop Camp – included.
Return to Durban and arrive at the hotel in the early evening.
Natal Battlefields TourFull Day - Approx. 8 hours Travel inland via Pietermaritzburg, the capital of KwaZulu Natal. Drive through sugar can fields and forest areas to Greytown and experience the ‘hinterland’ as we proceed through the rural areas of Tugela Ferry and Pomeroy.
Enjoy the locals in their traditional dress and the landscape with its many ‘beehive’ huts. Travel to Fugitive’s Drift – the gravesite of Lt. Coghill, Lt. Melville and then to Rorke’s Drift to a see a pictorial account of the battles in the museum. Visit the battlefields of Isandlwana – highlight of the trip!
Continue through Zululand and Nkwaleni Valley. Arrive in Durban in the late afternoon.
Shakaland Zulu ExperienceFull Day - Approx. 8 hours Travel along the North Coast through sugar cane fields and into the tropical beauty of Zululand and the nKwalini Valley. Visit Shaka’s birthplace atop a hill overlooking the uMhlatusi River – this is the largest Zulu kraal in all of Zululand. Learn the A-Z of traditional Zulu life and witness the skill and artistry that goes into building their ‘beehive’ huts.
Watch the Zulus making pottery, brewing beer and crafting beadwork and baskets.
Guests can sample the beer and visit the isangoma (witchdoctor) and then enjoy the grace and energy of the Zulu dancers. Experience the sight of assegai-wielding warrior! Lunch is included and guests can partake in a feast! Return to Durban and arrive at the hotel late in the afternoon.
Valley of 1000 HillsHalf Day - Approx. 4 hours Depart from the City and head for the hills passing quaint villages of Kloof and Hillcrest. Stop at view site high above Inanda Dam. Visit a Zulu kraal and watch traditional dancing, meet the local isangoma (witchdoctor) and other residents. Visit nearby snake and crocodile park.
En route back to Durban stop at a view site for sundowners.
Combine this with the Township Cultural Tour in the morning for a interesting full day tour.
Birding / Botanical South Africa has one of the widest diversity of bird types in the world, boasting more than 900 different species and is very...
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Cultural If the history of Southern Africa is in large part one of increasing racial divisiveness, today it can also be seen as the story...
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Family Adventure Southern Africa offers outstanding value for families. Some destinations and establishments cater more fully for the enjoyment...
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Arts & Crafts A popular tour is the 4 day African Arts & Crafts Tour in Kwa-Zulu Natal, inspired by a leading enthno-archaeologist who is considered to be one of the finest practising antholopologist / archaeologist in south-east Africa, includes traditional market at Victoria Embankment (purchase genuine Zulu leather apparel, Zulu cattle hide covered drums, Zulu shields and spears,...
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"The St Lucia Wetland Park must be the only place on the globe where the world's oldest land mammal [the rhinoceros] and the world's biggest terrestrial mammal [the elephant] share an ecosystem with the world's oldest fish [the coelacanth] and the world's biggest marine mammal [the whale]. There can be no better icon...
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Natal Botanical Gardens The beautiful and tranquil Natal National Botanical Gardens specialises in the conservation of plants from the eastern region of South Africa and of rare and endangered species from elsewhere. Established in 1874, the Garden’s Victorian past is evident in its magnificent specimens of northern hemisphere plants, such as the swamp cypress, tulip trees, camphor trees, plan...
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National Arts & Theatre For art lovers in SA, the month of July has become synonymous with the National Arts Festival. Each year the festival is staged for a few days in mid-winter in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape.
The festival has grown across cultural, social and political borders to become an important shaping influence on SA arts and culture. Also popular is the annual Klein Karoo...
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Covering an area of 240 000 hectares, the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park is dominated by sheer cliffs, deeply incised valleys and crystal clear rivers. It was declared a site for both its natural beauty and cultural importance.
The many rivers, wetlands, indigenous forests and the rolling grasslands are home to...
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SOUTHERN AFRICA TRAVEL The Oak Suite, Guardian House,
Borough Road, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 2AE Tel: 01483 425533 Fax: 01483 860391 The air holiday packages on this website are ATOL protected
by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is 4795. Please see our booking
conditions for more information. Click on the ATOL logo above for more information.
Many thanks and credit to the following
photographers whose images have been used in this site: Michael Poliza, Colin
Bell, Dana Allen, David Ross, Nick Melidonas and Wilderness Safaris.
Fill in our Online
Enquiry Form or call us on +44 (0)1483 425 533
Durban City Tour
Half Day - Approx. 4 hours
Durban Township Cultural Tour
Half Day - Approx. 4 hours
Greater Durban Tour
Full Day - Approx. 8 hours
Hluhluwe Game Reserve Tour
Full Day - Approx. 13 hours
Natal Battlefields Tour
Full Day - Approx. 8 hours
Shakaland Zulu Experience
Full Day - Approx. 8 hours
Valley of 1000 Hills
Half Day - Approx. 4 hours
