Things to see & do in KwaZulu Natal

The province of KwaZulu Natal in eastern South Africa is relatively young, formed in 1994 when the Zulu Bantustan of KwaZulu and the province of Natal were merged. Although organised vacations often pass through here, bingeing on a few of its highlights before moving on to Swaziland, Kruger National Park or the Blyde River Canyon, KwaZulu Natal can happily support a fortnight’s break all by itself.

This province is a perfect package, replete with varied treats and activities. With a huge shoreline along the Indian Ocean, containing UNESCO recognised wetlands, it has vast empty beaches, whale watching, bird spotting and snorkelling over coral reefs sorted. It can also compete with Kruger for prolific wildlife, including the Big Five, and is home to Africa’s oldest game reserve. For anyone up for an active break, hiking and cycling in the dramatic Drakensberg Mountains are superb. For a moving history fix, you can visit the battlefields of the 19th century Zulu Wars and see prehistoric rock art.

Given that KwaZulu means ‘place of the Zulu’, it’s really worthwhile visiting a local village with a Zulu guide while here, to learn more about life for a typical Zulu family in the 21st century, through food, music and dance. You may be able to stay in a traditional ‘rondavel’ thatched hut, too. There’s plenty to fill a fortnight, then, with lots of accommodation, too, so you can camp out or lodge lounge as you like.

During the 19th century many battles were fought between the Zulu, the Afrikaners (Boers) and the British for physical and cultural domination of this region. The battlefield sites, including Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift from the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879, are interesting and moving to visit, and play a significant role in the rich cultural heritage of KwaZulu Natal.

Taking up much of the Elephant Coast, the iSimangaliso Wetlands are the country’s first UNESCO site and the largest protected wetland in southern Africa. Home to a 220km sweep of pristine beaches, dunes and swamp forest, the region is a birding hotspot, sheltering over 500 species. There is great snorkelling here over coral reefs and you can head into the dune forests to whale viewing platforms to see the humpback and southern right whales passing by the shore, migrating north during June and July and south in September and October. The small town of St Lucia is bordered both by the sea and Lake St Lucia, Africa’s largest estuary, known for its crocodile and hippo populations (hippos are sometimes seen lolloping through St Lucia town). Kosi Bay, a system of four interlinked lakes, lies at the very north of the park, where you can canoe and bird watch.

In the north of KwaZulu Natal, uMkhuze Game Reserve has lots of different habitats, including mountains, stretches of acacia savannah, swamps and woodlands. It shelters a great diversity of wildlife, including black and white rhinos, elephants, giraffes, blue wildebeest and various antelopes.