Safaris in Zululand and near Durban
Kruger, Cape Town and the Garden Route are undeniably - and understandably - South Africa's biggest pulls for first time visitors. However, the Rainbow Nation is a huge country, and there are so many wonderful places to explore if you look beyond the obvious.
KwaZulu-Natal is one of these places - covered with green rolling hills, thick forests and waterfalls, rich in fascinating and tumultuous tribal history, fringed by beautiful beaches and packed with wildlife. If you're a second-timer to South Africa or you're eager to stray off the beaten track, we can't recommend it highly enough.
Choosing a safari holiday in KwaZulu-Natal will give you a real twist on the traditional route and provide you with plenty of chances to get a glimpse of the Big Five. Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, in the very heart of Zululand, is famous for its white rhino population and a brilliant spot for a self-drive safari.
The private game reserves in KwaZulu-Natal are buried amidst the lush, wild landscape of the region, which is criss-crossed by rivers and dotted with wetlands. Phinda Game Reserve is a world-class safari destination described as ‘Seven Worlds of Wonder‘ for its diverse wildlife and ecosystems. Here, in addition to Big Five game drives, you can also glide down rivers, track rhino on foot, swim with whale sharks and even go on a scuba safari!
Nambiti, Thanda and AmaKhosi private reserves also offer exhilarating game drives set against stunning backdrop of Zululand, complete with experienced guides and luxury accommodation. Whether you dream about star-gazing from a Hemingway-style safari tent or staying in a rock lodge suspended over a deep valley, there's bound to be the perfect type of safari lodge for you in KwaZulu Natal.
Not only this, but KwaZulu-Natal has a truly remarkable coastline that ranges from the remote and untouched coves of St Lucia Wetlands Park to the busy resort beaches surrounding Durban. It's a coastline of true contrasts, where coral reefs and turtle breeding grounds meet chic bars and shopping malls. This makes it a fascinating region to explore as well as the perfect place for a safari and beach getaway all rolled into one.