Ok, let’s just admit right off that no province in South Africa can top Cape Town’s Table Mountain with any of their glorious assets. But once we’ve agreed on that little matter, we do have to say that the province KwaZulu-Natal has everyting going for it as a prime South African destination. When tourism bodies proclaim it to be a world in one province, they are in fact spot on.
For one thing, there are amazing coastal getaways in KwaZulu-Natal, pristine and remote, and very alluring. On the South Coast in the visual paradise of Oribi Gorge, you’ll find a cluster of utterly exclusive villas perched high up on sandstone cliffs. The Gorge is exquisitely serene, and from your glass-fronted suite you have indescribable views of the Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve. It’s a wonderful place to which to retreat, and to make use of an exceptional spa. Nature is abundant at The Gorge, so enjoy guided nature drives, visits to ancient rock painting sites and bat caves, diving excursions, horse riding and more.
Also exquisite and set far from the madding crowd, is Thonga Beach Lodge way up on the North Coast. This romantic getaway rests on an unspoiled beach at Mabibi Bay. From your luxury chalet set in tropical dune forest, it’s just a few steps down to the beach where ocean turtles come to lay their eggs each year. In season, Thonga’s guides will accompany you to the beach after dark to watch this most awesome process. Diving, kayaking and swimming with dolphins, whale sharks and manta rays are also part of the fun, but if all of that that sounds too strenous, you can stick with barefoot luxury and body-bronzing on an endless and almost unpeopled stretch of beach dotted with pretty shells.
Kosi Forest Lodge hugs the North Coast quite near Mozambique. This special hideout sits unobtrusively in a sand forest on the banks of a glass-smooth lake, where it’s just you and unadulterated nature. A fantastic range of activities includes guided walks in raffia palm forests, canoe trips, and day trips to remote and pristine beaches.
KwaZulu-Natal is also prime safari territory. The Mkuze Falls Big Five Game Reserve is beautifully situated above a waterfall in Zululand, and provides an exciting safari. Stay in a luxury chalet or in an air-conditioned tent, and meet the big five in the African bush. The luxurious Thanda Private Game Reserve in the Hluhluwe area also offers a wonderful safari that includes beach trips, hippo and croc tours, deep-sea fishing and diving excursions. In the St Lucia area, Hluhluwe River Lodge is a nature lover’s dream, offering game drives to the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve, birding, botanical tours, horseback safaris, hiking and boat cruises. Take the entire family to this most appealing and hospitable lodge. White Elephant Safari Lodge is situated in the Pongola Game Reserve – the oldest in South Africa. This luxury tented camp is set above glistening Jozini Dam, and as a conservation partner in the Space for Elephants project, White Elephant offers exhilarating elephanting safaris.
The KwaZulu-Natal battlefields capture the stories of heroic battles fought between the Zulu and the British. Superb tours of the historic battlesites of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift are offered at Fugitives’ Drift Lodge & Guest House, set in a scenic nature reserve. Further to the west in the Spioenkop Game Reserve, lies Three Trees at Spioenkop, a Colonial-style guest house in the foothills of the Drakensberg. The owners are steeped in the history of the area, and especially the Battle of Spioenkop. They’ll take you on fascinating tours, and breathe life into an embattled period of South Africa’s history.
Mail Us about accommodation and attractions in magnificent KwaZulu-Natal, or call us on 0860 102 907 (local) or +27 21 797-7122 (international).
