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As a region of beautiful nature reserves, fascinating history and spectacular scenery, and within

striking distance of the magnificent Drakensberg Mountains, the region of KwaZulu-Natal is one of South Africa’s premier holiday destinations.

The region was formed in 1994 with the merging of the Zulu Bantustan of KwaZulu and Natal provinces. It is located in the southeast of the country, with a long shoreline on the Indian Ocean, sharing borders

with three other provinces, as well as the countries of Mozambique, Eswanti and Lesotho.

Although Pietermaritzburg is its capital, its biggest city is Durban, which is also the third largest in South Africa behind Johannesburg and Cape Town. Durban boasts a wealth of world-class facilities including accommodation, transport and attractions, making it a popular tourist destination.

Climate

KwaZulu-Natal enjoys year-round sunshine with a temperate, subtropical climate. Despite the variance of its topography - which ranges from the 3,000-metre peaks of the Drakensberg mountains in the west to

the wetlands of the Elephant Coast in the north-east - the region enjoys hot and humid summers from October to April and mild winters between May and September. Sea temperatures seldom dip below 19°C.

Introducing

Durban & KwaZulu-Natal

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC

25 25 25 23 20 18 18 19 20 21 22 24

AVERAGE MONTHLY TEMPERATURES (°C)

Population 11.39 Million

Main town/city Pietermaritzburg

Currency South African Rand (ZAR)

Time Zone UTC + 2

Flight time from London 11 hours 50 minutes

From Johannesburg 1 hour 10 minutes

From Cape Town 2 hours

Statistics

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Durban:

• Durban is home to the world’s tallest bungee swing, which peaks at 288ft on the roof of the 56,000-capacity Moses Mabhida Stadium.

• The Gateway Theatre of Shopping – just north of Durban – is the largest mall in the southern hemisphere. It has more than 90 restaurants and 350 stores, 18 movie theatres, an indoor fun fair, a skate park designed by skating legend Tony Hawk, and the highest fountain in Africa.

• Durban was originally called Rio de Natal by Vasco da Gama when he visited in 1497. Natal in Portuguese means ‘Christmas’ and ‘native’ in English.

• King Shaka International Airport was named after the early 19th century leader of the Zulu nation and reportedly cost R7.6 billion to build – making it South Africa’s second most expensive transport project after the Gautrain.

KwaZulu-Natal:

• South Africa has 11 official languages, but in KwaZulu-Natal, around half of people speak English and a third speak Zulu.

• Hluhulwe-Umfolozi, Africa’s oldest game reserve, can be found in KwaZulu-Natal. The region also offers some of South Africa’s finest game-viewing, birdwatching and nature experiences.

• Every year, the Sardine Run takes place off the shores of KwaZulu-Natal, as billions of sardines dart up the coastline, drawing in sharks, dolphins, whales and birdlife.

• The region is home to the highest mountain in South Africa - The Drakensberg’s Thabana Ntlenyana – which peaks at 11,424ft.

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Interesting facts

1. Visit the Zulu Battlefields

Learn more about KwaZulu-Natal’s fascinating heritage by exploring the historic Zulu Battlefields, including the legendary Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift, where just over 150 British soldiers defended the trading-post-turned-field-hospital against 4,000 Zulu warriors – events immortalised in the 1964 film Zulu.

2. Follow in Nelson Mandela’s footsteps

See the Nelson Mandela Capture Site - the place in Howick where the former South African president was seized before being sentenced to 27 years’ imprisonment on Robben Island. Follow this up by trailing along the Inanda Heritage Route to where Mandela cast his vote in the country’s first democratic elections.

3. Head out on safari

Take a beautiful drive up the coast from Durban to explore the 237,221-acre Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park where you can enjoy a game drive in search of a whole host of wonderful wildlife, including the prized ‘Big Five’ (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, cape buffalo).

4. Go diving at Aliwal Shoal

Just south of Durban, you’ll find Aliwal Shoal – one of the world’s most spectacular dive sites. World-renowned for its variety of shark species, this rocky reef offers a colourful and thrilling underwater excursion.

5. Delve into delicious cuisine

Whether you want to savour traditional Zulu delicacies or authentic Indian curries, you can enjoy them all in Durban’s multi-cultural melting pot. Don’t leave without trying Bunny Chow – a hollowed-out white loaf filled with curry.

Aliwal Shoal

10 things you shouldn’t miss in KwaZulu-Natal

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Zulu Battlefields

Howick capture site

Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park

Local Cuisine

6. Venture into the Drakensberg Mountains

Take a day trip to the Drakensberg Mountains with a professional guide to see 2,000-year-old bushman paintings hidden within the mountains and the site where Nelson Mandela was captured in 1962.

7. Walk on the wild side at Oribi Gorge

Discover the dramatic scenery of Oribi Gorge. Its incredible wilderness is also home to the Wild Gorge Swing, which is the highest swing in the world.

8. Witness the annual Sardine Run

If you’re in town in June and July, you might be lucky enough to witness the annual Sardine Run – one of the largest migrations on the planet, where a plethora of silvery pilchards move en masse along South Africa’s eastern coastline.

9. Take a Sharks Board boat trip

The golden beaches along the KwaZulu-Natal coastline are the only ones in South Africa that are protected by shark safety gear. Join a working crew on an early morning boat tour to see the safety system, learn all about these majestic predators and see the Sharks Board team at work.

10. Get sporty

Durban is a top sporting destination and here you can cheer on a number of top local teams. If rugby’s your game, head off to Kings Park Stadium to watch the Sharks, whilst cricket lovers will be in their element at Kingsmead. Durban is also home to the state-of-the-art Moses Mabhida Stadium, which hosted a number of games at the 2010 FIFA World Cup as well as being home to the world’s largest and oldest ultramarathon race – the Comrades Marathon.

Sardine Run

MosesMabhida Stadium

Oribi Gorge

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A taste of KwaZulu-Natal

Bombay Crush GatsbyBombay Crush

Pink and sweet, one of South Africa’s most famous drinks is from Durban: the Bombay Crush. A frothy blend of Rooh Afza syrup, milk and basil seeds along with a couple of scoops of vanilla ice cream, it is a favourite of the city’s Indian Muslims during Ramadan.

Gatsby

Ignore the name’s glitzy connotations, this foot-long sub is anything but glam. Often labelled South Africa’s most iconic street food, this overbearing sandwich is stuffed with all sorts – chips are a common filling but you can expect steak, fish, calamari, chicken, polony (aka bologna), curry, sausage, and eggs. It may sound and look overwhelming but this sandwich to end all sandwiches is intended to be shared with up to four people.

A trip to Durban and KwaZulu-Natal presents the chance to try some new and unique foods. Here’s what your tastebuds can look forward to…

Bunny ChowBunny Chow

Bunny Chow is the hometown dish of Durban, consisting of a hollowed-out loaf of white bread filled to the brim with curry, originating with the city’s Indian South Africans. Various meats can be used to make the curry including mutton, lamb, chicken and beef.

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Covering an area of 591,980 acres along the northern reaches of the KwaZulu-Natal coastline, iSimangaliso Wetland Park incorporates an incredible variety of habitats including the Ubombo Mountains, grasslands, forests, wetlands, mangroves, ancient dunes, magnificent beaches and coral reefs.

The park was designated as South Africa’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 and is a paradise of wildlife with over 6,500 plant and animal species. Visitors can expect plenty of animal encounters whether on a day or night safari, scuba diving or boat trip with inhabitants including hippopotamus, elephants, chameleons, rhinos and turtles.

Guided Walks Boat TripGame Drives

The estuary at iSimangaliso enters the Indian Ocean and contains miles and miles of mangrove

swamps. On our visit, we were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of rhinos, elephants and cheetahs, which was simply an experience I will never forget.

Sarah, Travel Counsellor

iSimangaliso Wetland Park

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Spotlight on:

Night Safari

Scuba Diving

Bird Watching

Everyone experiences Durban and KwaZulu-Natal in their own way, here are some iconic places to include in your local adventure..

THE OYSTER BOXSpend a night or two at the icon 5 Star Oyster Box in Umhlanga and enjoy the beautiful sea views. Enjoy luxury and be sure to try their famous curry feast and High Tea. For those needing some TLC book a treatment at their award winning spa amid the tropical gardens.

DURBAN – RORKE’S DRIFTPack the car and enjoy a leisurely 4.5-hour drive to Fugitives Drift Lodge in Rorke’s Drift - this is the perfect place to stay to experience the luxury in the beautiful Zululand and world-class tours to the Anglo-Zulu War battlefields.

HLUHLUWE-IMFOLOZI GAME RESERVEDrive the family to Biyela Lodge, situated in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve, on an ox-bow lagoon on the White iMfolozi River. Accommodation is in an air-conditioned private villa, with a bath, indoor and outdoor showers and optimal views of the surrounding area. Enjoy afternoon coffee/tea before you depart on a three-hour game drive.

Battlefields,iMfolzi and South Luangwa Must See

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Travel Counsellors Pty Ltd, 11th Floor, Norton Rose Fulbright House, No 8 Riebeek Street, Cape Town, 8001

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