//
Province in South Africa
Photo: (WT-en) Fluglotse2000 at English Wikivoyage aka. User:Africaspotter, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
KwaZulu-Natal (Zulu Kingdom) is a province in the east of South Africa, bordering Mozambique in the north and the Eastern Cape in the south.
Inland area that saw many conflicts between the Zulu, British and Boer forces.
Very poor rural communities live in this nature wonderland of Umkhanyakude District Municipality, home to the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Ndumi Game Reserves, the superb Lake Sibaya, Sodwana Bay, the delightful Kosi Bay Nature Reserve and a host of smaller nature reserves and private game lodges.
Undulating grassy downland with countless hills and rivers. Spectacular scenery, great fishing and canoeing, narrow gauge railways, excellent camping and caravaning.
Spectacular and easily accessed beaches and good holiday resorts. Sugar-cane country, Zulu history, surfing, microlight flying, deep-sea fishing, dolphin viewing. Excellent climate year round, the waters flowing down the coast rarely being less than 25°C.
A 160-km stretch of sub-tropical forest and beaches, dotted with holiday resorts, stretching from Durban as far south as Port Edward. Includes three notable nature reserves (Vernon Crookes, Oribi Gorge, Umtamvuna). Well known for the mid-winter sardine run.
Massive and spectacular mountain range at the western edge of the Battlefields and Midlands regions, along the border with Lesotho. Peaks exceed 3000 metres above sea level. Climbing, hiking, wilderness trails, mountain biking and fly fishing.
Hills, valleys, and historic battlefields. Hot and humid along the coast, cooler and wetter inland. Game reserves include the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park. Richards Bay is a major port for the export of coal and minerals and home to a massive aluminium smelter.
By taxi
Taxis are generally a convenient way of getting around for most tourists and locals. There are quite a few options, and the more reliable ones are
By train
There is a Metrorail suburban rail network around Durban and the North and South Coasts, and inland to Pinetown.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Durban · International · DUR
Loading places around the airport…
named in 1835 in honour of Sir Benjamin D’Urban, Governor of the Cape. Excellent beaches and surfing, 3-km Marine Parade, yachting harbour. South Africa’s main cargo port. Sub-tropical, often sultry and hot. Strong Indian influences.
a coal-mining town and the site of the Battle of Blood River in 1838
the oldest town of European settlement in Zululand. Good base to see the Zulu culture. Inland, cooler than Durban in summer.
dating back to 1838, the original capital of the Voortrekkers’ Natal. Rich in history, a warm and well watered climate, good boating, canoeing, fishing, scenic drives, and beauty spots.
home to Howick Falls, a large waterfall that occurs when the Umgeni River falls 95 m.
a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is one of the most diverse regions in KwaZulu-Natal
the Tugela Falls, the world's second highest waterfall, can be found here
a UNESCO World Heritage Site that contains the largest and most concentrated group of paintings in Africa south of the Sahara
grassland, scarp and swamp forest— you can view a rare swamp forest from elevated boardwalks
the only state-run park in KwaZulu-Natal where each of the big five game animals can be found
its interconnected lakes form part of the greater iSimangaliso Wetland Park and support a large population of birds, including kingfishers, herons, and storks
at the bottom of the Oribi Gorge where the Mzimkulu River and Mximkulwana River meet
has a reptile park, Safari game drives, and Zulu dancing
Articles and travel topics about KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa.
Travel tipsFollow the Cricket World Cup 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Plan match cities, stadium access, cross-border visas, and fan travel budgets.
8 min read
InspirationThe best places to visit in December across sun, snow and culture, comparing Lapland, Chiang Mai, Vienna, Costa Rica and Cape Town.
7 min read
ItinerariesLearn how to plan a trip around major sports events in 2027, covering ticket deadlines, rooms, flights, and costs for the world's biggest tournaments.
7 min read
Nature & adventureThis article is intended to provide the already qualified scuba diver with information which will help to plan dives in the waters of the east coast of South Africa, whether as a local resident or a visitor.
Wikivoyage
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.