KwaZulu-Natal

This province is worth a two-week trip in its own right, and Durban is a well-served flight hub so incorporating one or two of the province’s attractions into a country-wide itinerary is also possible and popular.

A typical circuit would include the stark and stunning Drakensberg Mountains, the Battlefields where some of the best guides in the country will wring emotions out of you as they describe the battles at Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift, public and private game reserves full of big game and beautiful scenery, and the coastline with its remote beach lodges in the north, the shores of the Lake St. Lucia UNESCO World Heritage Site and the many resort towns around Durban.

While tours do pass through the province, to get a full flavor we really recommend self-driving, or, if just visiting one or two destinations, private transfers.

Highlights of KwaZulu-Natal

Drakensberg Mountains Trip

Royal Natal National Park is found in the Northern Drakensberg and is famous for the Amphitheater, as well as the Tugela Falls that plunges over a 500 m wall of rock. There are many hiking trails in the region to explore this outstanding scenery.

Anglo-Zulu Battlefields Trip

With a good guide book to hand, the battlefields of Rorke's Drift and Isandlwana can be explored on your own. It is perhaps best to start at Isandlwana, overlooking the battlefield from the ridge occupied by the Zulu commander, before making your way down to the sphinx-shaped hill where the heart of the battle unfolded.

Sani Pass & Lesotho Trip

Lesotho is isolated from KwaZulu-Natal by the towering Drakensberg Mountains, and the Sani Pass is the only way through them. The road cuts the slopes, switching through tortuous hairpin bends and offering dizzying views of valleys far below.

Some of our favorite places in KwaZulu-Natal

Great places to stay in KwaZulu-Natal