KwaZulu-Natal

• The country’s favourite holiday destination
• Stunning beaches and warm, balmy water
• Exciting Big Five game reserves

KwaZulu-Natal is one of the country’s 11 provinces and is situated on the country’s eastern coast. It is a favourite destination for both locals and foreigners, mainly because of the subtropical climate, beautiful beaches and warm, Indian Ocean lapping the sandy shores. Apart from these lovely resorts, there are the World Heritage Sites of the Drakensberg Mountains and the St. Lucia Wetlands.

KwaZulu-Natal is also home to various Big Five game reserves, including some of the oldest and most illustrious in the country. It is also a melting pot of various cultures, traditions and customs – from the proud Zulu nation to the large Indian population, especially in Durban surrounds.

Special features include:

• Stunning beaches
  The region’s lush coastal belt is divided into different regions: the Dolphin Coast or North Coast; the South Coast or Hibiscus Coast and the Sugar Coast, though regions like Zululand have beaches famous for their unspoilt beauty
  
• Drakensberg Mountains
  The Drakensberg mountains or uKhahlamba, meaning Barrier of Spears, is a breathtaking 200km range of mountains spanning the eastern parts of the country, lying mostly in KwaZulu-Natal. It is a World Heritage Site and apart from impressive natural beauty, contains over 35 000 San rock art images. It is also home to the world’s second highest waterfall
  
• Big Five game reserves
  KwaZulu-Natal is home to famous game reserves like the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve that is credited with helping to bring back the black rhino from the brink of extinction. Other well-known reserves are Mkuzi, Itala, Phinda and Ndumo
  
• Durban
  The country’s third biggest city is a bustling port boasting great beaches and a cosmopolitan air. The Golden Mile refers to the sunny stretch along the beach, a magnet for surfers and swimmers from around the country. The city is much influenced by the large Indian population, adding to the city’s vibrant atmosphere
  
• Greater St Lucia Wetland Park
  This beautiful area and protected nature reserve is another protected World Heritage Site, containing the largest estuarine body of water in the country. The greater park contains five ecosystems, home to an amazing wealth of fauna and flora, including highly endangered sea turtles that come annually to nest on the beaches.