KwaZulu-Natal : Zululand
Overview
Once home to the mighty King Shaka,
Zululand is situated in the northern
regions of the KwaZulu Natal province and stretches from the Tugela River in the South to St Lucia in the North.
Zululand is one of the best
areas in South Africa to experience the multitude of sights and delights that the
sub-African continent has on offer. From the mangrove swamps and limpid lagoons
alongside the warm blue waters of the Indian Ocean, to the rolling grass hills and
indigenous forests inland, the Kingdom of the Zulu has something to offer and entice
any traveler.
Things to do and see
With its 350 km coastline and many game lodges and reserves inland,
Zululand
is one of a very view places in the
world where excellent game viewing can be enjoyed
in close proximity to scuba diving and
deep
sea fishing.
Zululand is home to an astonishing variety of wild game and the
area teems with private and provincial game reserves which are dedicated to the
conservation of its large and diverse wildlife. Game that can be viewed in the area
includes the Big Five, the lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo.
Because of
its many lagoons and vast coastline other species that may be found in the area
include hippo's, crocodile and if you are really lucky you may even spot a female
leatherback turtle laying her eggs in the sand. Apart from the many game-watching
facilities, hiking one of the many nature trails in the area is another way of getting
close to mother nature. The birdlife in the
Zululand area is equally
diverse and prolific and with over 360 species of birds in the area,
Zululand
is a bird lovers paradise.
Conservation areas include the following : Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve, Mkuze
Game Reserve, Phinda Private Game Reserve, Sodwana Bay Nature Reserve, Kosi Bay
Nature Reserve and Ithala Game Reserve. The largest estuarine system in Southern
Africa can be found in the St Lucia Wetlands Park, which is well worth a visit.
With its long coastline, the Indian Ocean offers its own array of activities. For
those who are not content with sunbathing on one of many unspoilt beaches, the area
offers other adventures including snorkeling, scuba diving, and big game fishing.
Or you may opt to do some canoeing, board sailing or peaceful lake fishing at one
of the many lagoons in the area.
Zululand is also steeped in history and for those travelers wanting
to get to know more about the fascinating history of the area, there are many museums,
monuments and historical sites to visit. Many of these sites offer live shows and
a true life experience of the traditional way of life in Zululand.
Climate
The
Zululand area has a subtropical climate with a high annual rainfall
which falls mainly during the summer months of
October to April. Daytime temperatures are quite high ranging between 21 and 29 degrees Celsius in summer
and 11 and 22 degrees during winter. During the summer months high humidity levels
can be expected.
Accommodation
Being a very popular
tourist destination, the accommodation in the
Zululand
area is generally of a very high standard. Accommodation options range from exclusive
game lodges to comfortable self catering chalets and apartments. Accommodation can
also be found in a variety of hotels, guest houses and bed and breakfast establishments.
Camping and caravanning are also popular accommodation choices.
Towns and Cities
Zululand is home to the following towns and cities :
Babanango
Empangeni
Mtubatuba
Mtunzini
Paulpietersburg
Pongola
Richards Bay
Ulundi
Vryheid.