Washed by the warm waters of the Indian
Ocean, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) with its subtropical coastline,
sweeping savannah in the east and magnificent Drakensberg mountain range in the west, generously caters for just
about every taste imaginable.
Known as the "Kingdom of the Zulu", this province is
a melting pot of African, European and Indian cultures.
KwaZulu-Natal boasts two World Heritage Sites – the
Greater St Lucia Wetland Park and the Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park. KZN (as it is often abbreviated) offers fantastic
beaches, sunny weather, game parks, rolling green hills,
numerous
sugar
cane
plantations
and relics of the great battles in South African history.
KwaZulu-Natal is best known as South
Africa’s
local holiday destination, with holiday-makers from the
other eight provinces flocking to its magnificent beaches.
KwaZulu-Natal forms South Africa’s east coast, stretching from
Port
Edward in the south, to the Mozambique boundary,
in the north. From its early days, the province has been the scene of
many fierce battles
- being the bone of contention between the Zulus and
the Voortrekkers; the British Empire and Boer settlers (Anglo-Boer War);
the Zulus and
the British Empire. KwaZulu-Natal has the largest population
in the country with some nine million people living on 92 100 km2 of
land.
Seventy-five per cent of its inhabitants are black, mainly
Zulu-speakers. Some 15 per cent of the population are Indian, while
white people make
up the remainder.
The KwaZulu coast has one of the greatest harbours on
the African continent, Durban, which geographically divides
the North and South Coasts. Visitors to KwaZulu-Natal
can either disembark at Durban International Airport
or the Durban harbour, or make use of the extensive national
road network.
KwaZulu-Natal is known to be a province that experiences
eternal summer, although temperatures do differ from
region to region. This province has a tropical climate
and rainfall is generous during the summer months.
During the Christmas holiday season, it can get extremely
hot and humid along the coastline, although temperatures
are milder as one moves inland.
Durban enjoys an average temperature of around 27
degrees C (81 degrees F) during the month of January,
and a daily maximum of roughly 22 degrees C during
July.
Bustling
Durban is
the hub of the province’s business and industry
and pulses with all the energy of a major port city.
Luxury hotels abound on Durban’s beachfront, and this city is
often referred to as South Africa’s Miami Beach. Durban is one
of the fastest-growing urban areas in the world. Its port is the busiest
in South Africa
and also one of the 10 largest in the world.
Pietermaritzburg has a strong colonial heritage, however,
this vibrant town has a great mix of Indian, Zulu
and English-speaking people. The city is often referred
to as the best-preserved Victorian City in the country.
Source: South Africa Tourism
• The uShaka Marine World theme park, oceanarium,
dolphinarium and oceanographic research institute on
Durban's Point.
• Dolphin spotting or lazing the days away on the coastline
between the Umdloti and Tugela Rivers - the Dolphin
Coast.
• Some of South Africa’s best beaches can be found along
the Natal coastline, Umhlanga
Rocks, Ballito,
Shaka’s Rock (on the North Coast), Uvongo, Shelly
Beach, Margate and
Port
Edward (on the South coast) – to
mention just a few. These beaches offer safe swimming
and fantastic surfing possibilities. Durban also
boasts spectacular beaches including Addington Beach,
South and North beaches and Dairy beach.
• The Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park, one of the largest game parks
in South Africa and home to the Big Five, as well
as cheetah and wild dogs.
• The eMakhosini Valley, birthplace of King
Shaka. The new Valley of Zulu Kings tells visitors
all about the Zulu nation.
• The Greater St.
Lucia Wetlands, with some
of the highest forested dunes in the world, and an
abundance of fish and birds.
• Travelling the Hibiscus Coast between Umkomaas
and the Wild Coast on the Banana Express train.
• The Royal Natal National Park offers many scenic highlights,
including the Amphitheatre, Mont-aux-Sources and
the Tugela Falls.
• The Battlefields Route in northern KwaZulu-Natal has the highest
concentration of battlefields and related military
sites in South Africa. Charming accommodation is
also available in towns like Dundee, Ladysmith and
Newcastle.
|
