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KWA-ZULU NATAL |
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Kwa-Zulu
Natal
On Christmas Day 1497, the beautiful coast of KwaZulu
Natal (formerly Natal) was sighted and named by Vasco de Gama. The recorded
history of the province until the Union of South Africa is full of conflict
and defiance. It is home to the Boer-Zulu and the Anglo-Zulu Wars, which saw
the Zulu Kingdom subjugated. Blood River, Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift are
places that have became legendary because of these battles.
The diversity of the landscapes of the KwaZulu Natal has
created a microcosm in this province. The spectacular Drakensberg Mountains
in the southeast, with summits of more than 3,000 metres, evoke a feeling of
ageless Africa. They form ramparts along the coast, insulating the inland
regions from the Indian Ocean. The coast presents a different face with the
wetlands and subtropical beaches, awash with water warmed by the Agulhas
current, and its ports such as Durban – the industrial heartland of the
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DURBAN |
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Durban
South Africa’s
third largest city, Durban, is also an industrial centre of major
significance and the country’s principal port for general cargo. Durban was
founded in the year 1823 as a tiny trading settlement. It was named “Durban”
in 1835 in honour of the governor of the Cape, Sir Benjamin d’Urban. Factors
contributing to the city’s popularity as a holiday venue include its
subtropical climate that ensures a year-round season, as well as its
glorious shoreline stretching away to the north and south with splendid
beaches backed by lush indigenous vegetation.
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BATTLEFIELDS |
ZULULAND |
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Zululand
Ask
anyone anywhere in the world to name an African nation and the answer will
probably be "Zulu". Such is the fame of this mighty nation, whose home is
Zululand, north of the Thukela River.
Zululand has been the theatre of war for centuries, with most conflicts
already hidden by the mists of time. Here the Zulu nation was forged by the
military genius of their progenitor, Shaka Zulu. The new nation fought the
Voortrekkers who came to settle their land. Then they fought the invading
British and despite dealing a horrific blow to the British military pride at
Isandlwana, were finally broken by modern power. Mosts of the towns in this
area are agricultural centres, but all have a rich history. Thanks to a
well-developed infrastructure of roads, communications and accommodation,
you have wonderful access to Zulu cultural, mountain trails, dives on
tropical reefs, rhino, and extremely colourful history.
Isandlwana
The battle of
Isandlwana marked the beginning of the Anglo – Zulu war of 1879: The central
invading column of the
British army, under Lord Chelmsford, crossed the Buffalo River into Zululand
at Rorke’s Drift on 20 January 1879 and pitched camp on the slopes of a
strangely shaped hill called Isandlwana, a Zulu word for the reticulum of an
ox which the hill was supposed to resemble. With
little or no experience of Zulu military tactics, the ill-prepared British
were caught off-guard and, on the morning of 22 January, found themselves
under attack by 25,000 Zulus. Within an hour, most of the 1200 soldiers in
the British army were killed.
Battle of Rorke’s Drift
In the aftermath of
Isandlwana on 22 January 1879, an Impi of 4,500 Zulu warriors mounted an
assault on a British Garrison of 140 men stationed at the border post at
Rorke’s Drift. After 11 hours of ferocious fighting, the remnants of the
Zulu Impi departed in defeat, leaving 600 dead. 17 British soldiers died. 11
Victoria Crosses and 5 Distinguished Conduct Meals were awarded to the brave
men manning the Garrison.
Blood River
The site
of the Battle of Blood River is holy ground for the Afrikaner people. The
battle was fought on 16 December 1838 to avenge the assassination of Piet
Retief and his men by Dingane’s impis (armies) at uMgungundlovu, the royal
kraal, after a treaty had, by all accounts, been signed to cede land to the
Voortrekkers. The Voortrekker laager of 57 wagons has been reconstructed in
bronze to commemorate the battle that Dingane lost to Andries Pretorius. It
was named Battle of Blood River because the river turned red with the blood
of 3 000 Zulu fallen during the battle.
The tour starts at
approximately at 08h30 and departs to the Isandlwana Battle site, where the
greatest defeat in British colonial history took place. The lodge historian
describes the dramatic events of the day. At approximately 12h00 the tour
continues to Rorke’s Drift where a picnic lunch is enjoyed. The events of
Rorke’s Drift are described, as well as a short tour of the museum. As the
dramatic events of the day of the Rorke’s Drift battle unfold, guests begin
to envisage the tragedy and the bravery of this extraordinary battle that
took place during a solar eclipse. The guests return to the lodge after the
Rorke’s Drift tour.
Shakaland Zulu-Experience
The authentic Zulu
village takes the participants into the past of the Zulu tribes. Visual
explanations of typical Zulu traditions are presented: Beer-brewing,
spear-making, hut building, pottery, weaving and headwork as well as
lectures on traditional dress, Zulu etiquette and the layout and social
structure of a Zulu kraal. The village is far from being merely an
attraction – it is an enriching experience affording visitors a better
understanding of the Zulu people and their intriguing customs.
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HLUHLUWE - IMFOLOZI PARK |
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Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
is a natural treasure trove of fascinating fauna and flora, with species
including lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, black and white rhino, cheetah,
hyena, African wild dog and a wide variety of antelope species and many
others. Over 300 bird species have been recorded. A number of picnic sites
are scattered at key points around the park, and three self-guided walks
with magnificent views can be enjoyed by visitors. Guided walks into “Big 5”
country are also available on a daily basis. Imfolozi lies in the heart of
the Zulu Kingdom, where ancient trails lead through the thornveld and along
the mighty rivers of Africa’s oldest established Wilderness area. Once the
exclusive royal hunting ground of King Shaka, this rich tapestry of natural
and cultural history still beats with the rhythms of Africa. “Operation
White Rhino” in the 1950’s won the park world recognition for its white
rhino conservation and its specialist Game Capture Unit. Imfolozi is also
well known for the four-day Wilderness walking trails, which began around
the same time. The Hluhluwe section in the north is characterised by
towering grassland hills and diverse terrain and vegetation and is
exceptional for its rich variety of bird and animal life. Open-vehicle
safaris, self-guided auto trails, morning and afternoon guided walks in the
big-game country and boat cruises on the Hluhluwe dam are some of the
activities offered. Please note the gate times for Hluhluwe-Imfolozi: 05h00
until 19h00 during the summer (1 November – 28 February) and 06h00 until
18h00 during winter (1 March – 31 October).
Dumazulu Cultural
Village
DumaZulu meaning the
“Thundering Zulu” is located in the heart of Zululand, near to the famous
Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park and St. Lucia estuary. The kraal residents form part
of the “Living Museum” and carry out age-old manufacturing traditions
including spear, shield and clay-pot making; basket weaving; intricate bead
work and Sangoma bone throwing. The cultural experience culminates in
spectacular and vibrant Zulu dancing.
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MAPOTULAND |
iSIMANGALISO NATIONAAL PARK (voormalig Greater
St. Lucia National Park) |
Kosi
Bay
The Kosi Bay Nature
Reserve surrounds the Kosi Lake system and provides access to scores of
nature lovers and anglers who relish the pristine beauty of the region. This
area features some of the largest remaining tracts of swamp and dune forest,
coastal grassland and the biggest stand of naturally occurring raphia palms
in South Africa. Kosi Estuary boasts substantial mangrove swamps and is the
only location in the country where all six mangrove tree species may be
found. Jointly managed by the local community and the KZN Wildlife, the
“Buhle Bemvelo Enkovukeni Mangrove Sanctuary” is worth visiting. Proceeds
from this project compensate the local people for the diminished resource
use in the sanctuary. Several endemic mammal species occur around Kosi Bay,
the most visible of which is the Tongaland red squirrel.
A land of lakes and
sunshine, of golden dunes and mysterious swamps is located in the north of
KwaZulu Natal. Bound by the rugged gorges and ravines of the Lubombo
Mountains in the west, Mozambique to the north and the Indian Ocean to the
south, these 900,000 hectares of wilderness are an enormous fragile land of
contrasts, palms, pelicans and hippos. It is a transition zone between the
tropics and subtropical KwaZulu Natal and has 21 different ecosystems. The
region includes three huge lakes (St Lucia, Sibayi and Nhlange), the Tembe
Elephant Park, Fomothini Pan, swamps, Ndumo and Mkuzi game reserves, the
wide Pongola floodplain (dotted with one waterfowl-crowded pan after
another) and the beautiful St Lucia complex. The Elephant Coast deserves to
be classed with the biggest of southern Africa’s wild areas such as Kruger,
the Okavango Delta, the Central Kalahari and Hwange).
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Situated in
northern KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, the coastal village of St. Lucia is
the gateway to the greater St. Lucia Wetland Park, incorporating Mkuze,
Sodwana Bay and Kosi Bay. In close proximity to St Lucia is the
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve, home to the Big 5 and the largest population
of Rhino in the world.
The Greater St.
Lucia Wetland Park is a registered member of the Ramsar Convention and is a
recently appointed World Heritage Site. Known as the jewel of KwaZulu Natal,
with five distinct ecosystems and a unique biodiversity found nowhere else,
it is not hard to see why the earliest name for St. Lucia, given by
Portuguese explorers, was “River of the Sands of Gold.”
To go hand in hand
with St. Lucia’s 300 sun-filled days a year, the area boasts magnificent
self-guided walking trails through sub-tropical forests, grasslands and
lily-covered pans which abound in animal life.
Lake St. Lucia, the
largest estuarine water body in Africa, can be explored by means of a boat
safari, bringing the visitors into close proximity with hippo lazing in the
waters and crocodiles basking in the sun on the estuary’s banks. Pelicans
and Goliath Herons are prolific along the shores. The natural unspoiled
coastline is bounded by the world’s highest vegetated sand dunes. Whales and
dolphins frequent the coastline, which is also the natural breeding ground
of the Leatherback and Loggerhead Turtles. The warm Mozambique current
attracts a kaleidoscope of tropical fish that feed off coral reefs.
Mkuzi
Game Reserve
More
than 380 bird species have been recorded at Mkuzi, including fish eagles,
kingfishers and a host of ducks and waders. The bird-watching hide at Nsumo
Pan is a highlight of the reserve. On game-viewing drives and guided walks
through a wide variety of habitats, you may see rhino, giraffe, zebra, kudu
and impala, among other species
Phinda Privaat Natuurreservaat
Cradled within the
arms of the Lubombo Mountains to the west and the Indian Ocean to the east,
Phinda is situated in Zululand, within one of Africa’s most ecologically
diverse regions. There is an extraordinary range of ecosystems and wild
life. From its awakening as a vision born of far-sighted conservationists,
Phinda has earned worldwide repute for its diversity and scenic wonder. And
today, as the nucleus linking nearby conservation areas in the creation of
the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, Phinda has ensured the bio-diversity of
this remarkable region. Within Phinda’s 17,000 hectares, seven distinct
ecosystems are to be found – palm savanna and montane bushveld, to rare sand
forest and dense thornveld – each with its own typical flora and fauna. And
in one of the continent’s boldest reintroduction programmes, elephant, white
rhino, lion and cheetah have been resettled at Phinda where they now roam
alongside leopard, nyala, giraffe and a host of other antelope. Phinda is
acclaimed as South Africa’s most responsible wildlife tourism project, with
its goals of wilderness restoration and community participation.
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DRAKENSBERGEN |
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Standing on top of the world in the Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park, surrounded
by craggy peaks, sandstone cliffs, cascading waterfalls, crystal streams,
rocky paths, caves and sweeping grasslands, you can salute the sunrise with
the world at your feet. Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park, now a World Heritage
Site and one of South Africa’s premier eco-tourism destinations, provides an
awe inspiring arena of mountains and clean air where one can savour the
uncluttered freedom that only great open spaces provide. The attractions of
these mountains, which rise to altitudes exceeding 3,000 metres, are
astonishing. The soaring grandeur of the world-famous Amphitheatre at Royal
Natal National Park where a great rampart of rocks seems to touch the sky,
the tranquility and scenic splendour of the southern Drakensberg at Cobham
and Loteni and the San rock art which richly decorates more than 500 coves
throughout the mountains giving testament to a vanished people are just some
of the attractions. The opportunity to watch the bearded vulture feed at
Giant’s Castle or to witness the stately walk of the massive eland antelope
as they forage the grassy slopes of the foothills and to witness the floral
splendour are memories of this magnificent place which you will carry with
you forever.
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Royal Natal National Park
The Royal Natal National Park, along with the adjoining
Rugged Glen National Park, has an area of 8,800 hectares. The most striking
scenic feature in the Royal Natal National Park is the Amphitheatre in the
southern part of the park. This is a mountain wall 5 kilometres long, which
at some point falls vertically down for more than 500 metres. The Tugela
Falls also form part of this section of the park.
Among the most common species of animals are black
wildebeest, mountain reedbuck, rhebok, blesbok, klipspringer and baboon.
Over 180 species of birds have been recorded, including crowned eagles,
bearded vultures, Cape vultures and jackal falcons. There are more than 30
way-marked hiking trails in the National Park.
Giant’s Castle is a scenic mountain wonderland tucked into the central
region of the spectacular Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park, a recently proclaimed
World Heritage Site. Overnight hiking trails and day walks into the
mountains are popular activities in this scenically splendid area. Giant’s
Castle takes its name from the massive ramparts of rock rising above the
lodge. The silhouette of the peaks and escarpment against the sky resemble
the profile of a sleeping giant. A unique vulture hide allows visitors to
watch the bearded vulture and other endangered raptor species feeding during
the winter months, and the Main Caves have magnificent rock art panels that
provide a fascinating glimpse of the life of the vanished San people. Fly
fishermen can enjoy 15 kilometers of superb trout water and birders can look
out for over 170 bird species that have been recorded in the area.
Celebrating its centenary under conservation in 2003, Giant’s Castle Game
Reserve’s grass covered mountain slopes and wooded valleys are vivid green
during spring and summer and fade to russet and gold tones with the onset of
winter. The moody mountain peaks, often wreathed in cloud, especially during
the afternoon when exhilarating thunderstorms cool the heat of the summer
day, are transformed in winter, as they stand etched against the blue
African sky, the peaks often covered with a thick mantle of snow. Please
note gate times for Giant’s Castle: Summer (October to March) 05h00 to 19h00
and Winter (April to September) 06h00 to 18h00.
Sani Pass
The Sani
Pass is a spectacular mountain road that is a well-known entry point into
Lesotho
from South Africa’s Natal Drakensberg Park. It is the gateway to the ‘Roof
of Africa’ scenic route that links the spectacular scenery of the
Drakensberg
with the mountains of northern Lesotho. The
Sani Pass
is the only border post between Kwazulu-Natal and Lesotho. A 4X4 vehicle is
necessary for this road especially if the weather is bad. Never
underestimate the changeability of the weather in Lesotho. A common truth is
that you can have four seasons in one day, so be prepared. Have lunch at the
top of the Sani pass at the highest pub in Southern Africa.
Once, the
Sani Pass was a rough mule trail descending the Eastern Highlands of old
Basutoland into Natal. Tough drovers brought wool and mohair down the Pass
on donkeys and mules to be exchanged for blankets … clothing … maize meal …
the essentials for life in a remote, impoverished country. And a young man
had a dream … of operating a motor vehicle service up this fantastic Pass,
using the 4-wheel drive vehicles he had seen on service in World War II. His
name was David Alexander and he founded this Company in 1955. It has
operated on the Sani Pass ever since.
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