Kwa-Zulu Natal

In a Nutshell
A melting-pot of Zulu, European and Indian cultures, KwaZulu-Natal is a province of vivid contrasts - and magnetic appeal to holidaymakers. Besides two new World Heritage sites - the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park and the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park - the province offers sun and sand, warm waters, tropical wetlands, rolling fields of sugar cane, game parks, spectacular mountains and - for the enthusiast - relics of some of the great battles of South African history.

BEST OF KWAZULU-NATAL 6 DAY TOUR - This unbelievable package includes 2 or 3 nights at a private game reserve with the chance of viewing turtles in their ancient breeding grounds...

Area 92 100 sq kms

Population 9.1 million people

Regions

• Holiday Coast - Durban and its North and South Coast is South Afric'a premier holiday playground, offering year round warm water bathing in a sub tropical climate

• Midlands - also known as 'Eshamoya', this verdant farming area stretching north-westwardsfrom Pietermaritzburg to resorts along the Southern Drakensberg is one of the country's most picturesque regions

• Berg & Battlefields - dominated by the majestic Drakensberg range, the region on both sides of the Tugela River was the scene of many dramatic battles between Boer, Brit and Zulu.

• Zululand - this pristine region contains several top quality game reserves, a world heritage site and no fewer than five different eco-systems.

Best time to visit; Early Autumn through Winter to Spring. Summers can be very hot and humid. Game parks are best visited in winter; but the Indian Ocean is warm enough to swim in all year round.
(Note that malaria is endemic in the low-lying areas of coastal Zululand and Maputaland)

Getting there

By air: Durban Airport is approx 16kms from the city centre and is connected by a shuttle bus (tel 031 201 1133) to the City Air terminal. International airlines flying into Durban include SAA and British Airways. Domestic airlines from Durban to other centres are SAA, BA/Comair and Nationwide. (For information, tel 031 451 6667)
Oribi Airport, Pietermaritzburg offers a daily service to and from Johannesburg. Other airports with services to Johannesburg include Richards Bay and Margate

By train: New Durban Station is the terminus for mainline trains from Johannesburg and Cape Town via Pietermaritzburg. The TransKaroo arrives daily from Johannesburg and the TransKaroo weekly from Cape Town.
(For information tel Metrorail 031 361 7609; for bookings tel 031 361 7621)

By Bus: Greyhound (tel 031 309 7830) and Translux (tel 031 361 8333) inter-city coaches arrive and depart from the Durban Bus station, 1-15 to the railway station, and run via Pietermaritzburg. The Baz Bus (031 304 9099) operates from the Tourist Junction. Margate Mini Coaches (039 312 1406) run between Durban, the International Airport and Margate.

By Road: Durban and Pietermaritzburg may be reached by road via the N3 from Johannesburg, the N1 from Cape Town via Bloemfontein, and the N2 from Port Elizabeth via the Transkei

Getting around

The best way to see the province is by car. All major destinations are within a few hours drive of Durban and Pietermaritzburg along good roads.
Greyhound (tel 031 309 7830) operates buses up and down the coast to Richards Bay and Port Shepstone and inland to Pietermaritzburg, Ladysmith, Estcourt and Newcastle.
Cheetah (033 422 673) operates a daily service between Durban airport/city centre and Pietermaritzburg. There is also a shuttle bus between Durban and Umhlanga Rocks (031 561 2860
There are regular air flights between Durban, Port Shepstone, Richards bay and Newcastle

Visitor Information

Tourism KwaZulu-Natal 031 304 7144 www.tourism-kzn.org
Tourist Junction 031 304 4934
Pietermaritzburg Tourism 033 345 1451
Drakensberg Tourism Association 036 448 1557
Eshowe Tourist Information 035 474 1141
KZN Nature Conservation Service 033 845 1001 for game reserve bookings

Car Hire (from Durban airport)
National Car Rental 088 011 323
Avis 031 408 1777
Budget 031 304 9023
Hertz 031 469 4247
Imperial 031 469 0066

Tourist Routes

Battlefields Route, Dundee 082 8021643
Bushman's Experience, Estcourt 036 352 6253
Drakensberg Drive, Winterton 036 468 1314
Midlands Meander, Howick 033 263 6008
Route 617 Drakensberg, East Griqualand 033 701 1471
Sani Saunter, Underberg 033 701 1628
Southern Explorer Margate 039 312 2322
Thousand Hills Experience 031 777 1874
Tuzi Gazi Coastal Route 035 788 0040
Zululand Birding Route 035 474 1234

Golf

KwaZulu-Natal offers superb golfing, with many courses of top championship quality, at reasonable prices. Some of the best are:

• Royal Durban Golf Club, in the middle of Greyville Racecourse, is one of SA's finest. (031 309 1373)
  
• Durban Country Club, along the seafront (031 313 1777)
  
• Mount Edgecombe Country Club, two courses situated in the sugar cane plantations (031 502 2396)
  
• Selborne Country Club, at Pennington, situated between the sugar cane and the sea (039 695 2701)
  
• Zimbali Country Club, on the North Coast, created by Tom Weiskopf in spectacular surroundings. Luxury hotel nearby. (032 538 1041)

Useful numbers

Sea Rescue 031 337 2200
Mountain Rescue 031 307 7744
Weather Bureau 082 162
Sharks Board 031 566 0400

Links to Useful Sites

www.tourism-kzn.org

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