Rediscover KZN
As Coronavirus brought South Africa to a virtual standstill and the lockdown pressure ease we can now consider travelling and touring again. Going on holiday in your own province or country is an excellent option as you can still enjoy exploring somewhere new, without the hassle of travelling abroad.
KwaZulu Natal has always been a firm leader in the South African tourism space, boasting two World Heritage Sites, the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park (iSimangaliso) and uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park. The province is also known for its beaches, fishing, mountains and savannah populated by big game.
ATKV Natalia Beach Resort
The inviting silver sands and sparkling blue waters of ATKV Natalia Beach Resort could be your next getaway.
With a semi-private beach and lifeguards, safe and secure accommodation facilities and takeaway restaurants, not to mention the beautiful sea view, the resort is pleased to welcome you back to your favourite home away from home.
And, if you pitch your tent at ATKV Natalia, you will really be spoiling yourself – but, why not? You deserve it. The best news is that our new two-person camping rates make it even more affordable.
Visit www.atkvresorts.co.za for more information.
KZN Battlefields
The history enriched KZN Battlefields, situated in the northern and central parts of the province, is the largest cluster of battle and war-related sites in the country, that of the Anglo-Zulu War and the First Anglo-Boer War.
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The area includes Isandlwana in Zululand, Rorke’s Drift (southeast of Dundee) and Ladysmith’s Spionkop, with all areas offering detailed recordings and memorabilia depicting what happened at these the sites while battles raged on during these wars.
Although visitors have the option of a self-guided tour of the sites, there are various guided tours, accommodation and eateries in the region. We advise that you go out with hats, sunblock and lots of water, as this region can get very hot and dry, depending on what time of the year you visit.
The Drakensberg
The uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park was declared a World Heritage Site in 2001, and consists of almost the whole range of the Drakensberg Mountains, an area of 243,000ha. It is located in the green midlands of KZN, on the eastern border of Lesotho and South Africa.
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- The magnificent World Heritage Site is a place of breathtaking beauty, and is one of the most popular destinations in the country. The spectacular mountain range with soaring basalt peaks are some of the highest in the country.
- The Drakensberg offers a smorgasbord of valleys, waterfalls and streams for the nature-lover to explore. It’s also home to the richest collection of rock art, the last signs of the San people. The oldest painting on a rock shelter wall is about 2,400-years-old, while more recent creations date back to the late nineteenth century.
- It is also home to the world famous Amphitheatre which spans a rock wall of approximately five-kilometers in length and 500 metres in hight. Above this is the Mont-aux-Sources peak where the Orange river begins to the Atlantic ocean and Tugela river cascades down the face of the Amphitheatre on it’s way to the Indian ocean – it is the second highest waterfall in the world.
- Visitors can enjoy fishing, hiking, biking trails, rock climbing, abseiling and river rafting, or just relax in one of the many resorts while being surrounded by this regions beautiful mountain scenery.
The Midlands
Stretching from just beyond Mooi River in the north, Hilton in the south, Karkloof in the east and the foothills of the Drakensberg in the west, the Midlands is in the heart of KZN and an easy one-hour drive from Durban. This is the ideal place to visit where life is lived at a far gentler pace.
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Every bend in the 80km Midlands Meander route uncovers new surprises and exciting activities. The lush, green hills of this area offer unique arts and crafts stalls, fresh offerings from family friendly farm stands, beautiful canopy tours and outstanding accommodation and restaurants.
One of the many popular attractions of the Midlands Meander, and well worth a visit, is the famous Howick Falls. Lying on the Umgeni River in Howick, the 95m tall waterfalls are the same height as Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. They are also known as “KwaNogqaza” which means Place of the Tall One in Zulu.
The falls are breathtakingly beautiful to watch from the viewing deck as thousands of gallons of water rush to form a broiling, turbulent pool at the bottom. The scenery is mystifying and relaxing at the same time, and the adventurous can walk from the viewing platform along Morling Road to the falls.
With many discounted, special offers currently being presented by the tourism and hospitality industry, there is no better time than now to make a booking at one of the many top-class accommodations, hotels and guesthouses. Whether you decide to take in game reserves, rolling green hills, relics of the great battles in South African history or a relaxing beach holiday, Kwa-Zulu Natal has it all to offer plus fabulous weather.
We uncover just some of the many charms that await you in the warm sugar and spice province of KwaZulu Natal.
iSimangaliso Wetland Park – St Lucia
The small town of St Lucia may be quaint but the iSimangaliso Wetland Park has a vast amount to offer and promises visitors exceptional experiences. From wetlands to Savannah grasslands to the abundance of wildlife that roam around, it is easy to understand why St Lucia is the most visited town in Africa. You can get up close and observe hippo’s, crocodiles and hundreds of bird species in the estuary, or visit both Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park and the iSimangaliso Wetland Park in a day.
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From open game drives, night drive safaris, bush and beach safaris, hippo and croc boat cruises, snorkeling at Cape Vidal, going in search of Loggerhead and Leatherback turtles along the beach (only between November to end of February), or enjoying Zulu cultural tours, bicycle tours, whale watching, deep sea fishing or horse riding St Lucia – this is a holiday destination that offers it all.
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The iSimangaliso Wetland Park was declared South Africa’s first World Heritage Site in 1999 and recognizes its global value as a place with great natural beauty, important biodiversity and a site of vital ecological processes.
Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve
If you are searching for a break that includes nature and some extreme adventure, the Oribi Gorge is the place. With it’s twenty-four kilometres of high sandstone cliffs, the Umzimkulwana River carves out a beautiful gorge boasting dramatic scenery with lush forests and fabulous hiking trails. It also offers some extreme sporting activities for the brave and daring.
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With numerous picnic spots on the banks of the river, you can spot leopards, troops of baboons and various small antelope. You can get up close to nature as you explore this valley on one of the many nature trails, and if you are a birding enthusiast, the Oribi Gorge is a hot spot. There are more than 250 different bird species identified within the reserve, including five species of kingfisher and seven species of eagle.
For the wild at heart, you can abseil off the edge of the cliff and drop a 110 metres into the gorge below. This is one of the world’s best natural commercial abseil areas and you can also try the gorge swing, ziplining, white-water rafting, mountain biking and paintball wars for added adrenaline fixes.
The Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve is open for day visitors and offers overnight accommodation. It is only a two hour drive from Durban and lies 21 kilometres inland of Port Shepstone. It is certainly worth exploring.
