KwaZulu Natal

According to a survey conducted for the period October 1997 and September 1998 by Decision Surveys International on behalf of the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism Authority, the province is the most popular tourist attraction for domestic travellers. About 8,7 million domestic tourists visited the area during the period surveyed.

Durban and surroundings

The Tourist Junction in Durban's historical station building provides access to tourist information, accommodation bookings for the KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service and South African National Parks as well as theatre reservations.

The Golden Mile skirts the main beaches of the Indian Ocean. Attractions include an amusement centre, paddling pools, paved walkways and fountains.

Durban has more than 50 reserves, developed parks and specialized gardens, the most renowned being the Municipal Botanical Garden.

Seaworld on Durban's beachfront has a wide variety of sea life, including sharks, dolphins and seals. Fish and sharks are hand-fed and dolphin and seal shows are held daily.

The Fitzsimons Snake Park offers lectures and venom-milking demonstrations.

MiniTown is a model city depicting Durban's best known buildings, the airport, harbour and train station.

Museums include the Natural History Museum, the Natural Science Museum, the Old House Museum and the Old Fort.

The Shree Ambalavaanar Alayam Temple (The Second River Temple) in Cato Manor was the first Hindu temple on the African continent. It is a national monument.

The Juma Mosque is the largest mosque in the southern hemisphere. Daily tours are available.

Annual events in and around the city include the popular Comrades Marathon between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, an international surfing competition and the July Handicap horse-race.

Umhlanga Rocks, just north of Durban, is notable for its skiboating facilities. The annual Skiboat Festival takes place in April. The Natal Sharks Board offers shark dissections and interesting displays. Guided tours of the Hawaan Forest are on offer. Hawaan is the last relic of coastal forest in the region and contains rare indigenous trees.

The Umgeni River Bird Park overlooks the Umgeni River and ranks among the world's best. Many varieties of birds, indigenous and exotic, inhabit walk-in aviaries.

Dolphin Coast

The coastline between the Umdloti River and the Tugela is aptly called the Dolphin Coast, as Indian Ocean bottlenose dolphins can be seen here all year round. The larger humpback dolphins are also found here but rarely seen. Many of the first Indian immigrants settled here and the markets, mosques and temples bring an authentic Eastern flavour to the region.

Tongaat is in an area where sugar was first planted in 1854. The town's Indian ambience is accentuated by two prominent Hindu temples - the Juggernath Puri Temple and the Vishwaroop Temple.

Other coastal towns on the Dolphin Coast include Shaka's Rock, Salt Rock, Ballito, Verulam, Stanger, Darnall and Umdloti.

Zululand and the North Coast

The Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park is one of the largest game parks in South Africa and hosts the Big Five, as well as the elusive cheetah and wild dogs.

The eMakhosini Valley, birthplace of King Shaka, is the venue for a tourism and economic development project. Known as Makhosini, Valley of Kings, the joint public-private sector project aims to preserve the culture and history of the Zulu people. Construction of the first lodge in the Valley, called 'Nexele's House', started at the end of March 2000. Tourism KwaZulu-Natal has injected a sum of R1,36 million as seed capital for the development of the lodge.

Ulundi lies at the hub of the old Zulu Kingdom. The KwaZulu Cultural Museum houses interesting displays relating to Zulu history and archaeology. The beehive huts and the layout of the original Zulu village have been reproduced.

Umgungundlovu used to be the royal capital of King Dingaan and is currently being reconstructed. A tour provides the opportunity to observe Zulu building techniques and experience the social life of the Zulu people.

Authentic Zulu villages such as Shakaland, Kwabhekithunga Kraal and Stewart's Farm offer accommodation and the opportunity to experience traditional Zulu culture.

The Lubombo Corridor is one the SDIs spearheaded by the Government to unlock economic potential in previously neglected areas. The Corridor will stretch from the St Lucia Wetland Park in KwaZulu-Natal, along the Indian Ocean coastline to Ponta do Ourao in Mozambique, and will embrace the Jozini Dam and game reserves in Swaziland. The area supports 3 048 different plant and animal species and six ecosystems. In addition to 25 major tourist attractions, there are 11 game reserves and the World Heritage Site, the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, as well as Border Cave, which is in a cliff face in the Lubombo mountains, near the Swaziland border. The Cave has long been one of the most important sites for archaeologists seeking the beginnings of modern man.

After the Wild Coast, it is the second corridor to focus on tourism, instead of tourism being a spin-off investment. The initiative was launched in May 1998.

The Greater St Lucia Wetlands have some of the highest forested dunes in the world. The St Lucia Lake and its surroundings comprise a wetland of global importance. It is a fishing and bird-watcher's paradise.

The Kosi Bay Nature Reserve is part of the Coastal Forest Reserve between Mozambique and Sodwana Bay. The adjacent Indian Ocean provides exciting snorkelling and fishing opportunities. There is a four-day guided walking trail around the estuarine system.

Lake Sibaya is South Africa's largest natural freshwater lake, covering some 77 km. Bird-watching and walks through the coastal forest are major attractions.

Sibaya Lake Lodge, the first South African ecotourism development jointly owned by private enterprise and the local community, was officially launched in September 1999. The development is administered by the KwaChithumuzi Tourism and Development Trust.

Maputaland is a region of coral, unspoilt beaches, freshwater lakes, sand forests, wetland systems and bushveld. Activities include game-viewing, snorkelling, diving, boat cruises, canoeing and walking safaris.

The coral reef in the Sodwana Bay National Park attracts hundreds of scuba-divers throughout the year and in summer power-boaters arrive for some of the best marlin-fishing in the world.

South Coast and interior

The Banana Express is a narrow-gauge steam train running between Port Shepstone and Paddock and back (39 km) twice a week. A shorter route is also available.

Amanzimtoti is popular for its safe swimming beaches and various other activities and attractions.

The Hibiscus Coast stretches between Umkomaas and the Wild Coast. Margate is the largest resort town along this coast and is very popular during the holiday season. The Hibiscus Festival is held in July.

The Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve encompasses forest, rivers, rapids and ravines. There is prolific bird life, including five kingfisher species and seven eagle species which inhabit the reserve, along with a variety of mammals.

Port Edward is known for its safe swimming and good fishing opportunities. Nearby, the Umthamvuna Nature Reserve is noted for its beautiful scenery, bird life and many rare plant species.

Sardine fever strikes the South Coast around the end of June every year, with people flocking to the beaches to scoop them up, while anglers wait for the game fish to arrive.

The Shell Museum at Shelly Beach is well worth a visit for the large display of shells.

Other popular coastal towns include Port Shepstone, Ramsgate, St Michael's-on-Sea, Uvongo and Scottburgh.

Midlands

Pietermaritzburg boasts various museums, including the Voortrekker Museum, the Natal Museum and the Natal Steam Railway Museum, which offers steam train rides on the second Sunday of every month.

The Albert Falls Public Resort Nature Reserve and the Albert Falls Dam provide opportunities for sailing, canoeing and fishing.

Bird-watching, horse-riding and hiking are also popular pastimes.

The Howick Falls are situated in the Valley Nature Reserve, where the river tumbles about 100 m in a single fall.

The Midlands Meander is a drive between Hilton and Mooi River with about 70 ports of call en route, ranging from art studios, potters and painters to herb gardens and cheese-makers.

Midmar Dam is zoned for yachting and powerboating. The 1 000-ha Midmar Game Park is inhabited by rhino, zebra, a wide variety of antelope species and waterfowl.

Drakensberg

The KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service's trout hatcheries are located in the Kamberg Reserve. There are also a number of trails available.

The Lotheni Nature Reserve is notable for its trout-fishing facilities (angling permits required). Relics of the area's history have been preserved in the Settler Museum.

The Himeville Nature Reserve has two lakes stocked with trout. The Swamp Nature Reserve close by attracts a variety of waterfowl, including the rare wattled crane.

The Ndedema Gorge is located in the Mdedelelo Wilderness Area near Cathedral Peak and contains good examples of Khoe and San art.

Sani Pass is the only road between KwaZulu-Natal and the Kingdom of Lesotho. The Giant's Cup Hiking Trail, starting at the foot of the pass, is described as one of South Africa's finest. Giant's Castle Game Reserve is especially known for the more than 5 000 San paintings on the walls of caves. The Bushman site museum is well worth a visit. The Reserve is a bird-watcher's paradise and a birdhide facilitates the viewing of cliff-dwelling species.

The Royal Natal National Park offers many scenic highlights, including the Amphitheatre, Mont-aux-Sources and the Tugela Falls.

The Drakensberg mountain range forms the north-western border of KwaZulu-Natal. A variety of wildlife including antelope, predators, small mammals and reptiles can be seen here. The whole area is a bird sanctuary and the endangered lammergeyer (or bearded vulture) can be spotted. The highest concentration of walks and trails in South Africa are found here. Many of these trails lead to sites once inhabited by the San, whose legacy of rock art can be viewed. Accommodation ranges from self-catering establishments and caravan parks to top-class hotels. Horse-riding, fishing, sailing and scenic drives are added attractions.

Generally, Talana - scene of the first battle of the Anglo-Boer/South African War in 1899 - outside Dundee, attracts between 5 000 and 6 000 visitors per month. In October 1999, after the start of the commemorations and the first re-enactments of the Battle of Talana, 19 000 people visited the battlefield.

Northern KwaZulu-Natal and battlefields

White and black rhino, elephant, crocodile, giraffe, cheetah and leopard, among others, can be seen at the Itala Game Reserve.

The KwaZulu-Natal Battlefields Route has the highest concentration of battlefields and related military sites in South Africa. The Battlefields Route starts at Estcourt and winds north through Colenso and Ladysmith to Newcastle and Volksrust and eastwards to Utrecht, Glencoe, Dundee, Nqutu, Paulpietersburg, Vryheid, Babanango and Ulundi.

All the towns along the Route have their unique charm and range of attractions: arts and crafts, scenic hiking trails, farm resorts, Zulu culture and roadside stalls. Game-viewing, natural hot springs, horse trails and water sport can also be enjoyed.

The Chelmsford Nature Reserve near Newcastle is a bird-watcher's paradise. Powerboating and carp-fishing are added attractions. Game includes springbok, zebra, rhino and blesbok.

The Ladysmith Siege Museum provides insight into the Battles of Colenso, Spioenkop, Vaalkrans and Tugela Heights. Guided tours to nearby battlefields such as Wagon Hill are arranged by museum staff. Other attractions in Ladysmith include the statue of Ghandi, the All Saints Church, the Soofi Mosque and the Spioenkop Dam and Nature Reserve. Other interesting places to visit are Majuba Hill and O'Neill's Cottage, the Monument and Newcastle.

Near Dundee, tourists can visit various battlefields, including Isandlwana, Rorke's Drift and Talana. The Talana Museum depicts various facets of the coal industry, as well as local Zulu, Boer and British history. Rorke's Drift was the setting for one of the most famous battles of the War. The main attraction is the Rorke's Drift Battle Museum.