When I think of the key reasons people travel to South Africa,
KwaZulu-Natal offers them all – so I thought it would be interesting to
run through those reasons and show you how KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has the
answer.
Scenery. South Africa’s stunning landscapes and gorgeous
coastline is a major draw card, and it’s safe to say that KZN has some
of the best scenery in the country. Top of the list would be the
Drakensberg Mountains, towering and impenetrable (their Zulu name
translates as “Barrier of Spears”). They are a UNESCO World Heritage
Site, and offer a variety of experiences to the visitor, from short
hikes to overnight trails, and from wildlife to millennia-old San
rock-art. From mountains that touch the sky, we move through to golden
beaches that meet the ocean. Along the Elephant Coast are mile upon mile
of deserted beach, fringed with luscious coastal forest and pitted with
the nests of endangered turtles: an inspiring landscape if ever there
was one.
Culture.
With its eleven official languages and many, many different tribes and
ethnic groups, South Africa loves to showcase its culture. In KZN, as
the name suggests, this means the Zulu culture. A proud tribe, built on
the military might that gave the British a bloody nose at Isandlwana
(more of which later), the Zulus are making great efforts to preserve
their traditional customs and practices, and a visit to a traditional
homestead is one way to see this in action; it’s also very likely that
at some point during your time in the province you’ll be treated to a
display of the energetic, athletic and entrancing Zulu dancing.
History.
The history of South Africa, from the advent of European settlers right
through to the end of apartheid is tumultuous and holds a special
fascination. KZN’s major slice of that history is the Anglo-Zulu and
Anglo-Boer wars. Names like Isandlwana, Rorke’s Drift and Spionkop
resonate through the intervening century, and are dramatically bought to
life by absolutely superb battlefield guides. Immediacy is the key to
these battlefield tours: you’re standing on the exact spot where this
soldier and that Zulu warrior clashed: in many cases we know their names
and their backgrounds, we know how they fought and how they died. It’s
incredibly moving.
Cosmopolitan
City Life. Cities like Cape Town are a huge draw for visitors to South
Africa, and Durban is right in the front rank of South African cities.
Recent redevelopment, thanks in part to the FIFA World Cup, has seen
Durban transformed. Next to the harbour is the impressive uShaka Marine
Park, start of a boulevard of several miles linking the fantastic
beaches of the city (Durban’s Golden Mile) with the impressive Moses
Mabhida Stadium. Visitors can fly into the gleaming new international
airport and stay in a growing array of smart, boutique hotels, and eat in stylish restaurants. As a place to bookend your travels around the
province, Durban is hard to beat.
Relaxation. South Africa is all
about relaxing, chilling out and enjoying great weather, wonderful food
and gorgeous local wines; fortunately KZN is well able to deliver on
this front as well. Just outside Durban you’ll find the Midlands, a
beautiful area of gently rolling countryside, dotted with perfect little
country getaways. These hotels have made a real name for themselves
offering beautiful accommodation and the most amazing food – wholesome,
decedent meals paired with selections from extensive and impressive wine
cellars. It’s an amazing way to unwind for a couple of days (though not
too much longer if you’re keeping an eye on your waistline!).
Wildlife.
I’ve left wildlife till last because for so many people it’s a major
highlight of their trips to South Africa: saving the best for last! I’ve
already mentioned the wildlife of the Drakensberg Mountains – you’ll
find herds of enormous, mystical eland here as well as the Lammergeier
(or Bearded) Vulture. But it’s big game safari that most people want to
see, and KZN really delivers. It’s a province right at the forefront of
eco-tourism and conservation. The vast Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Reserve in the
heart of KZN can claim to be the place the rhino was saved from
extinction, as all the initial rebreeding work for the white rhino took
place here in the 50’s and 60’s. Nearby Phinda Private Game Reserve was
one of the first game reserves to take farmland and return it to its
indigenous condition, letting the natural vegetation grow back and
reintroducing the wildlife that had been absent for decades; the result
is a wonderful reserve with excellent opportunities for viewing big
game.
So when you add it all together, you can see that
KwaZulu-Natal really does have it all. A two week trip round the
province will allow you to experience the very best it has to offer and
is a microcosm of everything that’s best about South Africa.
No comments:
Post a Comment