Kwa Zulu Natal is one South
Africa’s largest provinces. It lies south of Mozambique in the
east of the country. A fair size chunk of the balmy Indian Ocean coastline
falls within this province. There’s a strip of holiday development
in Durban, and on the beaches to the north and south. This is where
most of the domestic holidaymakers go and it’s a region to be
avoided during the school holidays. At other times there are some
green and tropical game reserves to explore, swathes of superb beaches,
and an ocean full of frolicking dolphins and whales. Durban is hot
and steamy with a tropical feel. The neon-lit Golden Mile and high-rise
holiday flats are the haunt of beach-starved Jo’burgers.
It is also a fragrant city, with an exotic blend of Indian and African cultures. Indian settlers arrived here 100 years ago to work on Natal’s
sugar plantations. The mosque is the biggest in the Southern
Hemisphere and there are some interesting Indian markets and bazaars.
Durban is home to the famous Durban curry which can
be sampled at a number of excellent restaurants. Durban is also an
important deep water harbour and is the first port of call for ships
coming from Asia and the Suez.
The rocky valleys and rural hills of Zululand have some superb
national parks, notably Hluwhluwe-Imfolozi. This park is best known for its successful
rhino project, ‘Operation Rhino’, which brought the white
rhino back from the brink of extinction. It’s an unusual park,
in that it’s hilly, making for great viewing of the Big Five.
The Greater Saint Lucia Wetlands National Park is the third largest
wilderness area in the country. It was declared a World Heritage Site for
its important eco-systems. The lake itself teems with crocodiles,
and sharks bask in the estuary mouth. It's one of the only places in
the world where crocs and sharks share the same water. There are
some pristine beaches at Cape Vidal and at Sodwana Bay, also the country’s most popular spot for scuba diving. Further
north, Maputuland’s game sanctuaries epitomise the best of
the African wilderness, and there are some unique and peaceful
wetland reserves. The habitat here ranges from coastal dune forests
to open bushveld and supports a wide diversity of game and birdlife.
Between the coastal playground and the majestic Drakensberg Mountains
is a region of gentle pastoral beauty known as the Midlands Plump cows graze on the battlefields of the Zulu and Anglo-Boer
wars. The most violent battle occurred when the Zulu leader, Shaka, murdered
the Boer leader, Piet Retief, sending the settlers into a panic.
The Zulus were badly defeated at the terrible Battle
of Blood River, where thousands of Zulus died due to overwhelming
firepower. The river turned deep red with their blood.
Snow-capped
in winter, the Drakensberg National Park is the country's grandest
mountain range and another World Heritage Site. It is known to the Zulu
people as Quathlamba - the barrier of spears. The soaring
beauty of the cloudridden Drakensberg inspired JRR Tolkien and the
rugged and beautiful landscapes were woven into The Lord of the Rings.
The peaks, reaching higher than 3 000 metres, have
names like Giants’ Castle, Cathedral Peak and Bushmen’s
Nek. Fast-flowing rivers are frequented by anglers hoping for a
record-breaking rainbow trout; climbers scale the jagged peaks where
eagles and bearded vultures fly; hikers and horse-riders follow
nature trails. The less energetic can just drink in the birdsong, the
crisp clean air and the stunning views.
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