KwaZulu-Natal self drive vacations
While Cape Town and the Garden Route shout loudest on the self drive circuit, don’t overlook lovely KwaZulu-Natal. Wild and rugged, this province the size of Portugal offers spectacular Indian Ocean beaches, conservation leading game reserves and historic battlefields – all underpinned by the colourful beads and dramatic dances of traditional Zulu culture.
It’s a perfect destination for more adventurous drivers, or if you’ve already been to South Africa and are looking for an alternative to Cape Town and the Garden Route for your second visit. The roads here are still well maintained, light on traffic and well signposted, but rural roads are often gravel and you’ll be traveling through remote – yet spectacularly beautiful – scenery.
Our South Africa self drive Vacations
South Africa vacation
Explore Cape Town, the Winelands and the Garden Route
From
£2300 to £4500
15 days
inc UK flights
Zululand safari vacation, South Africa
Experience wildlife reserves, beaches and Zulu culture
From
£2035
11 days
ex flights
Garden Route vacation, tailor made, South Africa
Wildlife, mountains & sandy beaches, adventure and people
From
£1525
12 days
ex flights
Classic South Africa self drive vacation
Ideally suited for the first-time visitor to South Africa
From
US $4347
16 days
ex flights
Kwa Zulu Natal self drive South Africa vacation
South Africa's best kept secret, a must for second time visitors
From
US $6457
15 days
ex flights
Cape Town & winelands vacation, South Africa tailormade
Explore this city, meet its people, and taste fabulous wine and food
From
£1320
7 days
ex flights
Self drive vacation in South Africa
Immerse yourself in natural beauty, history & wilderness
From
£1800
10 days
ex flights
South Africa wine tasting self drive vacation
Drive through South Africa's "Mother City" in 7 days
From
£1175
7 days
ex flights
South Africa honeymoon, self drive
Cape Town, the Winelands, natural beauty & wildlife safaris
From
£1900
13 days
ex flights
South Africa family adventure vacation, tailor made
Family self-drive vacation, featuring whales & wildlife
From
£1400
11 days
ex flights
Kwa Zulu Natal self drive vacation
Explore Kwa Zulu Natal: Rich in culture, history & scenery
From
£2660
15 days
ex flights
Wheelchair accessible South Africa self drive vacation
Explore Cape Town, the Winelands and the Garden Route
From
£2300 to £4500
15 days
inc UK flights
self-drive trip into Limpopo, South Africa
A self-drive trip into Limpopo, South Africa's hidden gem.
From
£2150
12 days
inc UK flights
South Africa self drive vacation
Beach and bush experience in South Africa
From
£2820
13 days
ex flights
KwaZulu-Natal self drive highlights
The Battlefields
KwaZul- Natal’s history is far from peaceful and the warriors of the Zulu Kingdom still retain their reputation as fearsome fighters. Rightly so, the Anglo-Zulu War and the later Boer Wars, driven by the discovery of diamonds and gold in the region were intense, bloody and unforgiving. Take a tour of the battlefields at Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift and let your local historian guide bring to life stories of the conflicts that shaped South Africa during the 19th Century.
Big Five safaris
KwaZulu-Natal is home to some of the Africa’s leading game reserves, including the oldest on the continent, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi which has been credited with saving the white rhino from extinction. Careful conservation working alongside local communities is the keyword here. Camps in Tembe Elephant Park for example, protecting some of Africa’s largest pachyderms on the ‘Ivory Route’ border with Mozambique, are run in part by the local Tembe tribe.The Drakensberg Mountains
Perhaps the most spectacular sight in the Drakensberg Mountains – or the ‘Berg’, to quote the local nickname – is the Amphitheatre. In the heart of the Royal Natal National Park in the Drakensberg’s northern reaches, this 5km arc of rock soars up to 3,000m into the air in a dramatic escarpment that can be seen for miles. If you’re adventurous the hike to the top offers epic views, as well as a chance to spot mountain baboons and even the endangered bearded vulture, if you’re lucky.Durban
South Africa’s busiest beach resort has been undergoing somewhat of a transformation over recent years. This cosmopolitan city, home to Zulus, Afrikaaners, Portuguese, Italians, Greeks, Germans and the largest population of Indians outside the Indian subcontinent, is likely to be your first stop on a KwaZulu-Natal self drive itinerary. You can expect golden Indian Ocean beaches safe for swimming, ubiquitous bunny chow (hollowed-out bread filled with curry – a Durban speciality), and boutique shops alongside bustling Indian markets.
Elephant Coast
Encompassing South Africa’s first UNESCO site – the iSimangaliso Wetland Park – the Elephant Coast offers a swathe of protected white sand beaches fringed by coral reefs, hippo-filled wetlands and some of South Africa’s best bird watching. Head north to Kosi Bay for boat trips through mangrove-lined estuary channels and excellent snorkelling, or track turtles further south on Thonga Beach. Luxury lodges, supporting local communities and conservation, abound here.Midlands Meander
Stretching from Pietermaritzberg to the foothills of the Drakensberg Mountains, this beautiful driving route through rolling countryside and quaint, rural villages was the brainchild of local artists and tourism entrepreneurs. Now a thriving cottage industry, a drive along the Midlands Meander connects you with basket weavers, potters, wood carvers, food producers and wineries, all linked by a network of locally run accommodations, hiking and biking trails.Our top South Africa self drive Vacation
South Africa vacation
Explore Cape Town, the Winelands and the Garden Route
From
£2300 to £4500
15 days
inc UK flights
Tailor made:
This trip can be tailormade throughout the year and can be adapted to suit your interests, budget and requirements as necessary
This trip can be tailormade throughout the year and can be adapted to suit your interests, budget and requirements as necessary
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about South Africa self drive or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
Practicalities
Like the rest of South Africa, you’ll be driving on the left in KwaZulu-Natal, usually picking your car up in Durban either directly after your international flight lands, or after a short (70 minute) connecting flight from Johannesburg.
While the main roads are tarmac, well maintained and well signposted, you’ll find that most rural roads are gravel, and will require some careful driving if you’re not used to the surface. Make sure you keep your seatbelt on and don’t use your mobile phone when driving – both legal requirements in South Africa.
Your bespoke tour operator will be on hand throughout your journey should you have any problems, and should provide you with detailed route plans, maps, advice and ideas to help you make the most of your trip.
While the main roads are tarmac, well maintained and well signposted, you’ll find that most rural roads are gravel, and will require some careful driving if you’re not used to the surface. Make sure you keep your seatbelt on and don’t use your mobile phone when driving – both legal requirements in South Africa.
Your bespoke tour operator will be on hand throughout your journey should you have any problems, and should provide you with detailed route plans, maps, advice and ideas to help you make the most of your trip.
Best time to go on a KwaZulu-Natal self drive vacation
Warm year-round, sub-tropical KwaZulu-Natal enjoys hot and humid summers (from October to April) and mild, dry winters (from May to September). The further inland you travel, the cooler the climate becomes, particularly at night. Generally, the best time to go for game viewing is the dry winter months, as animals tend to congregate in small areas around the reserves’ shrinking waterholes, although you’ll need some warm layers if you’re trip also takes you into the Drakensberg Mountains at this time. This is also the best time to see humpback and southern right whales migrating up the coast from Antarctica towards their breeding grounds off the coast of Mozambique. They make the return journey from September to December. May, June and July also heralds the Sardine Run, where huge shoals of sardines migrate northwards along the KwaZulu-Natal coast, accompanied by vast numbers of dolphins, sharks and marine birds. April and May is particularly pleasant across the region, while November sees the mountains carpeted in wild flowers.
Simon Mills, from one of our leading South Africa self drive specialists, Native Escapes, shares his favourite time to visit KwaZulu-Natal: “I love driving in the Southern Hemisphere Autumn – so April and May, as the leaves turn and the days are bright and sunny. Places like the Drakensburg Mountain really come into their own then. The routes in this area and Battlefields and the Midlands are really lovely; fantastic driving and wonderful views.”
More about South Africa self drive
South Africa’s diversity of landscapes, and its vast size means there’s something for everyone, at any time of year.
Garden Route self drive vacations in South Africa extend this classic chunk of coastline into an on-the-road odyssey including Cape Town, wine tasting in the Winelands and whale watching in Hermanus.
protection
Photo credits: [Page banner: Devon Janse van Rensburg] [Zulu dancer: Chris Bloom]
[The Battlefields: Chris Bloom]
[Durban: Captureson]
[View from hide: Steve Slater]
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