• Pietermaritzburg
• Durban

KwaZulu Natal, with its hilly landscape along the coast and the Drakensberg Mountain Range, is a kaleidoscope of natural wonders and a magnet for hikers and nature lovers all over the world. The ultra-modern facilities, fascinating multi cultured people, a history rich in heroic deeds and bloody battles is all set against a majestic backdrop of sun, sea, mountains and sky.

This province is covers an area of 92,100 square km. With 7.7 million inhabitants, KwaZulu-Natal is the province with the second highest population density in South Africa. The largest city, Durban, is a cosmopolitan city of some three million people.

The beaches are world-renowned and leisure facilities, such as the fabulous uShaka Marine World, are plentiful. Explore famous battlefields in the footsteps of famous military strategists – Shaka, Winston Churchill, Mahatma Gandhi and General Louis Botha.

The main languages spoken in KwaZulu Natal are Zulu (79%) and English (16%).  There are two capital cities, Pietermaritzburg and the traditional Ulundi.

The pristine area of the Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park was declared South Africa’s first World Heritage Site and is home to hippos, crocodiles and a variety of water birds. Sub-tropical forests, lagoons, golden beaches, rocky coves, the warm Indian Ocean waters and warm, sunny weather make KwaZulu-Natal’s south coast a popular year-round holiday resort for both local and international visitors. There are four beaches, Margate, Ramsgate, Marina Beach and Hibberdene, that  boast international “Blue Flag” status.

For the golf-enthusiast, this coast is close to paradise. Aptly known as ‘The Golf Coast’, there are nine excellent 18-hole golf courses, two of which are rated in the top 12 in the country.

The North coast, also known as the Dolphin Coast, stretches from Zimbali to the mighty Tugela River. This is where you can enjoy watching the antics of the bottlenose dolphins that frolic close to the  shore and are visible year-round. Horse-riding, angling, golf and walks can all be enjoyed along this coastline.

Kwa-Dukuza is the burial place of the great warrior Shaka Zulu, and Nobel laureate, Albert Luthuli is also buried nearby. The Harold Johnson nature reserve offers an African medicine trail. One can also visit historic battle sites such as Fort Pearson.
There is a large Indian community in the North Coast. Spicy foods and temples can be seen in town. 

DRAKENSBERG/UKHAHLAMBA
It is also known as the 'Barrier of Spears' by the Zulu people, while the Dutch Voortrekkers named it 'The Dragon Mountain'.

The Drakensberg is a barrier between Lesotho and KwaZulu-Natal. Sani Pass, is the only access point at the top, where the highest pub on Africa, at 3 000 metres above sea level is located.
The uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park comprises 243 000 hectares of mountainous region, and is rich in biological diversity. Thousands of paintings by the San bushmen are visible on the rock face. In December 2000, the park was declared a World Heritage Site.
There are many hiking routes on both the lower and the upper slopes. Some 290 species of birds, 48 species of mammals and rare plant life can be seen in the park.

The Drakensberg Mountains have breathtaking basalt cliffs, frequently snow-capped in winter. These form a massive barrier separating KwaZulu-Natal from Lesotho. The Brakensberg is a popular holiday spot as it is intensely beautiful with the diversity of bushveld, lush forests and cascading waterfalls. Combining sheer natural beauty with a wealth of biological diversity, this 24 300 hectare mountainous region has been preserved since the San Bushmen roamed these slopes. There is an abundance of rock art depicting their daily life on the rock face and in December 2000 the park area was declared a World Heritage Site. Here you can see hundreds of species of birds, mammals, or the rare varieties of plant life. KwaZulu-Natal is truly deserving of its reputation as one of our country’s prime tourism destinations.

ZULULAND

Hiking and nature trails and visits to a shebeen, a sangoma (traditional healer), or the battle-site of Ulundi (Anglo-Zulu war) are among some of the main attractions in this part of the province. Eshowe is the oldest town in Zululand. Norwegian missionary-settlers opened the KwaMondi Mission in 1860. Fort Eshowe was built around the mission. The town of Vryheid (Freedom) was once the capital of the Nieuwe Republiek, and incorporated into the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek., Tudor and Edwardian architecture can be seen in various landmarks in the town. Vryheid became a focal point for German immigration.

• Durban
• Bushman rock paintings
• Shlushluwe-Nature Reserve
• Great St. Lucia Wetland Park
• Royal Natal National Park
• Dumazulu Traditional Village