KwaZulu-Natal info

In the 1830s the northern part was the kingdom of Zululand and southern part was briefly a Boer republic called Natalia. In the 1840s the latter became the British Colony of Natal, though Zululand (KwaZulu in Zulu) remained independent until 1879. It is called the garden province and is the home of the Zulu nation. Located in the southeast of the country, it borders three other provinces and the countries of Mozambique, Swaziland, and Lesotho, along with a long shoreline on the Indian Ocean.

The province has three different geographic areas. The lowland region along the Indian Ocean coast is extremely narrow in the south, widening in the northern part of the province. The central region is the Natal Midlands and is an undulating hilly plateau rising towards the west. Two mountainous areas, the Drakensberg Mountains in the west and the Lebombo Mountains in the north. The Drakensberg is a solid wall of basalt rising over 3,000 m (9,800 ft) skyward near the Lesotho border, whilst the Lebombo Mountains are ancient granite mountains forming low parallel ranges running southward from Swaziland. The Tugela River flows west to east across the center of the province and is the region's largest river.

 

Bays in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Amanzimtoti is a coastal town just south of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa....


The town of Ballito on the KwaZulu Natal North Coast, is an ideal base if wanting to spend a day visiting game reserves seeing the big five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino), visiting a crocodile farm, just lazing away in the sun, or surfing the tropical waves....


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The Berea is a ridge above the city of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa on the northern side which overlooks the city centre and the Indian Ocean....


Bergville is a small town situated in the foothills of the Drakensberg mountains, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa....


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The Bluff is situated just south of Durban in the province of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. "Bluff" means a cliff, headland, or hill usually by a body of water.  ...


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Africa's bewitching seaside playground in the sun, Durban has from its earliest days possessed a special charm...a certain mystique that adds 'something extra' to the meeting of warm Indian Ocean, radiant golden sands and lush sub-tropical greenery. The creation of Durban Metro beckons visitors to this sublime paradise with yet another bonus...the addition of three invaluable elements to our ever- evolving, ever-widening portfolio of irresistible attractions. To offer the broadest possible spectrum of unforgettable experiences, we've brought to your holiday doorstep the magnificent environment and cultural wonders of the Valley of a Thousand Hills, long and tranquil beaches of The South and up-market ambience of the historic and culturally-rich Sugar Coast....


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Durban is locatedon the east coast of South Africa on the warm Indian Ocean Coast. It is a large modern city with a warm all year round climate. Close to large game reserves for a big 5 safari or just relax on our miles of clean and unspoilt beaches. Visit a traditional Zulu Cultural Village or uShaka Marine World. We have Fun in the Sun and a colourful African experience waiting for you....


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One of Durban's established suburbs close to the famous Musgrave Centre with its many shops, offices, restaurants and cinemas. Close to the beach....


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Hibberdene is a small coastal town on KwaZulu-Natal south coast in South Africa. It was named after C. Maxwell-Hibberd, the former postmaster-general of Natal....


The Elephant coast region of Zululand , Hluhluwe, allows visitors to experience unspoiled Africa ... to come as close to the savage splendour of this magnificent land as nature allows. Less than three hours drive from Durban, it is the perfect stepping off point for the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve and the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park - two of the oldest game reserves in Africa....


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The Greater St Lucia Wetland Park is one of the jewels of the South African coastline. Located on the north-eastern coast of KwaZulu Natal, stretching from Kozi Bay in the north to Cape St Lucia in the south, the park was the first in South Africa to be declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco)....


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Margate is a seaside resort town in the south of the KwaZulu-Natal coast, just about 20 kilometres southwest of Port Shepstone. The river which flows into the sea at Margate is called "Nkhongweni" (place of entreaty) because the original inhabitants were reputed to be so mean that travellers had to beg for hospitality....


Meerensee, a suburb of Richards Bay, a harbour town on the North Coast of Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa....


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Nottingham Road is a small town located in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands of South Africa....


Pietermaritzburg is the capital and second largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa....


Pongola is geared for tourism with a small airport, hotel, guest houses, curio centre, community craft stalls and museum....


Port Edward is a small resort town situated on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, near the Eastern Cape Province border....


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Port Shepstone is situated on the mouth of the largest river on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, the Mzimkulu River (the great home of all rivers). 120 kilometres (75 mi) south of Durban, it is the administrative, educational and commercial centre for southern Natal....


Ramsgate is a resort and retirement town on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa just south of Margate. The name was given by a surveyor to the coastal farm at the mouth of the Bilanhlolo River, (the marvellous boiler). In 1922 the only person living here was a romantic character called Paul Buck, a painter and violin maker who called the place Blue Lagoon....


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This is one of the most popular resorts on the sunny KwaZulu Natal South Coast, famous for its strelitzia (bird of paradise) flowers. An attempt was made to use the bay to export sugar but it offered scant shelter from rough seas. However, boats found rich fishing grounds nearby at the Aliwal Shoal. A lighthouse was built in 1892 to mark the shoal, but was eventually moved to Port Shepstone. The village soon became a thriving resort and trading centre as it is today. Apart from a fine beach with shark-protected bathing and tidal pools, Scottburgh has a crocodile breeding farm, miniature railway and a bird watching hide in the coastal forest....


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Our main attraction is miles of beautiful beaches but for the more active, there is off-shore angling, deep sea fishing, sports clubs and ten national golf courses nearby. Visit Oribi Gorge and go abseiling, white water rafting or try the world's highest swing. Meander along the arts and crafts route or go for a tranquil nature walk. We are 30 minutes away from the Wild Coast Casino and transfers are available from Margate Airport....


Situated within the greater St Lucia Wetland Park, Sodwana Bay, a world heritage site, is renowned for its scuba diving, snorkelling and deep-sea fishing. 2-mile reef has 14 rocky reefs, covered with coral, and a wide variety of tropical fish. Anton's at the southern tip of this reef is truly spectacular....


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Southbroom is an exclusive village kissed by stretches of golden beaches and endless sugar-cane hills, with an annual temperate climate and unparalleled lifestyle, the perfect place for a holiday or just a getaway....


St Michael's-On-Sea is a small seaside village on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal and lies between Margate and Port Shepstone, near Uvongo....


St. Lucia is known as the gateway to the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park and therefore ideally positioned as a base for further exploration. St. Lucia South Africa is the ideal stop-over on your journey to or from the famous Kruger National Park....


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The beautiful village of Umdloti, on the North Coast of Kwa-Zulu Natal. Just opposite is one of the finest bathing beaches in the area, which not only provides breath-taking views, but an abundance of water sports....


Umhlanga is a residential, commercial and resort town on the north coast of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is part of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, created in 2000, which includes the greater Durban area....


The town of Umkomaas on the KwaZulu Natal South Coast in South Africa, with its spectacular sea views, developed on a hill crowning the river's southern bank and became a premier holiday destination. Today, thanks to a shipping hazard and evidence of the havoc it s wreaked, the town's colonial-style architecture is 'base camp' for scuba divers from around the world. Five kilometres offshore from Umkomaas lies the internationally-renowned Aliwal Shoal - a fossilised sand dune of sponges, soft and hard coral - first spotted in 1849 but not adequately highlighted until after it sank the steamer Nebo in 1884....


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Umtentweni is a small coastal resort town lying at the mouth of the Mtentweni River located on the Hibiscus or South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and is named after a species of grass growing on the banks of the river. There is a great swimming beach and lagoon, fishing and surfing as well as many attractions nearby....


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It is here where the bananas grow freely in the salty, humid air, giving this stretch of coastline its name. The air is thick, often uncomfortable for us tourists keen on the crisp, dry air of the concrete jungle. Swinging palms and rocky beaches....


Underberg describes that town's location beneath the Southern Drakensberg Mountains. The southern Drakensberg presents more fly-fishing opportunities than anywhere else in South Africa, with the Underberg Trout Fishing Club holding rights to more than 160km of river plus 60 dams with a surface area exceeding 400 hectares. The Underberg district further boasts three golf courses and numerous rivers for swimming, rafting, canoeing and tubing. Horse trails and polo fields add a further dimension to the available fun and excitement....


Uvongo is a seaside resort south of Port Shepstone at the mouth of the Ivunga River in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa....


Westville is a town in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa that is situated inland between Durban and Pinetown. It now forms part of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, which also includes Durban. The town was laid out on the farm Westville (named in honour of Martin West, the British lieutenant-governor of Natal) which started in 1847. Tongaat - A town taking its name from the Utongani River on whose banks it was formed as a housing project for the sugar industry labour force in 1945....


Winterton is a small town situated on the banks of the Tugela River in the foothills of the Drakensberg mountains, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa....


Zinkwazi Beach, just south of the Tugela River mouth can easily be found just off the N2 highway on the Kwazulu-Natal North Coast, 50 minutes north of Durban. Zinkwazi offers its visitors rolling hills of sugar cane surrounded by sub-tropical vegetation and beautiful unspoiled beaches. It is within easy reach of a variety of Game Parks, Nature Reserves and of the very best destinations offering authentic Zulu Cultural Experiences....


Do you know of a bay in KwaZulu-Natal that is not listed here? Tell us about it!

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