Things to do in Kwa Zulu Natal
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Beach Cafe
Durbs’ hot beach hang-out. Soak up the sun in a deck chair or sun lounge, or chill out with a cocktail on the restaurant deck, overlooking the beach and life guards.
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uShaka Marine World
Divided into several areas (Sea World, Wet’n’Wild World and uShaka Beach), uShaka Marine World boasts one of the world’s largest aquariums, the biggest collection of sharks in the southern hemisphere, a seal stadium, a dolphinarium, marine animals and exhibits, a mock-up 1940s steamer wreck featuring two classy restaurants, a shopping centre, enough freshwater rides to make you seasick, and a beach featuring activities from surfing lessons to kayaking.
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Cargo Hold
A seafood encounter of the most novel kind. On the Phantom Ship in uShaka Marina, your dining companions are fish with very large teeth – the glass tank forms one of the walls to a shark aquarium. Well-known for casting some high-quality fish dishes with international flavours.
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Wilson's Wharf
Wilson's Wharf is a reasonably hip waterside development, with a clutch of decent eateries, boat-charter outfits, shops and a theatre. Enter by car opposite Fenton St.
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Zack’s
Offering cafe-style dining, this stylish (chain) eatery serves good bistro fare washed down with a blast of fresh sea air.
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Harvey Wallbanger’s
A smart, trendy spot on the top floor, above its very own restaurant.
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Eastern Shores
The Eastern Shores, has four scenic routes – pan, vlei (marshland), coastal dune and grassland – that reflect their different features and ecosystems. About 14km north of the entrance is Mission Rocks, a rugged and rock-covered shoreline where, at low tide, you can view a fabulous array of sea life in the rock pools (note: you cannot swim here). At low tide, you can walk 5km north to Bats Cave, a bat-filled cave. About 4km before Mission Rocks is the Mission Rocks lookout (signed), which provides a wonderful view of Lake St Lucia and the Indian Ocean. Twenty kilometres north of Mission Rocks (30km from St Lucia Estuary), taking in the land between Lake Bhangazi and th…
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Royal Natal National Park
Spanning out from some of the range’s loftiest summits, the 8000-hectare Royal Natal National Park has a presence that far outstrips its relatively meagre size, with many of the surrounding peaks rising as high into the air as the park stretches across. With some of the Drakensberg’s most dramatic and accessible scenery, the park is crowned by the sublime Amphitheatre, an 8km wall of cliff and canyon, that is spectacular from below and even more so from up on high. Here the Tugela Falls drop 850m in five stages (the top one often freezes in winter). Looming up behind is Mont-aux-Sources (3282m), so called because the Tugela, Elands and Western Khubedu Rivers rise here; th…
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Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse
If God were to top off the beauty of the Drakensberg with an artificial gourmet treat, Cleopatra Mountain Farmhouse would be it. This luxury retreat is owned by renowned South African chef, Richard Poynton. Guests (a maximum of 24) enjoy a nightly six-course menu of quality produce prepared innovatively and accompanied by rich, creamy sauces. Each of the 11 rooms here is decked out in a theme – from Tuscan to garden – and features quirky touches, such as a picket fence bedhead and Boer memorabilia. The experience comes at a price, though, but this is the one place worth forgetting the wallet…and the calorie count. (As an exception, we have not listed high-season rates her…
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Beachfront
You'll either love or hate the Durban beachfront and sandy beaches. If you dip into the city's summer surf and sun, you have a playground of more than 6km of warm-water beaches (protected by the requisite shark nets). The 'Golden Mile' Beaches run from Blue Lagoon (at the mouth of the Umgeni River) to uShaka Marine World on the Point. The 'private' beaches near the casino and uShaka Marine World are accessed through the venues themselves.
But Durban's beachfront ain't for everyone. To some, its smorgasbord of bars and restaurants and hectic holiday atmosphere are garish and tacky. If you do take the plunge, always swim in patrolled areas, which are indicated by flags.
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Msunduzi Museum
The Msunduzi Museum, formerly known as the Voortrekker Museum, is a complex incorporating the Church of the Vow, the home of Andries Pretorius, a Voortrekker house and a girls’ school, the museum’s administrative building. The Church of the Vow was built in 1841 to fulfil the Voortrekkers’ promise to God at the Battle of Blood River. The words of the Vow are in the Modern Memorial Church, located next door. More recently, history has been rewritten; the museum has had a name change and heralds itself as a multicultural institution, incorporating Zulu and Indian displays.
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Highmoor Nature Reserve
The park office of Highmoor Nature Reserve is off the road from Rosetta to Giant’s Castle and Kamberg. Turn off to the south just past the sign to Kamberg, 31km from Rosetta. It’s more exposed and less dramatic than some of the Drakensberg region, but its undulating hills make for pleasant walks. It’s also one of the few places you are driving ‘on top of’ the escarpment, albeit the lower climes of the Drakensbergs. There are two caves, Aasvoel Cave and Caracal Cave, both 2.5km from the main office, and Fultons Rock, which has rock paintings (a 4km easy walk).
There are no chalets here, but campsites are available.
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Rorke’s Drift Orientation Centre
If you have seen Zulu, which was filmed in the Drakensberg, the scenery around Rorke’s Drift may come as a bit of a disappointment. The landscape is still beautifully rugged, however, and the Rorke’s Drift Orientation Centre, on the site of the original mission station, is excellent. The Zulu know this site as Shiyane, their name for the hill at the back of the village. The Rorke’s Drift-Shiyane Self-Guided Trail brochure (R3) is a helpful reference. Two local Zulu guides, Thulani Khuzwayo and Siyabongo Mbatha give a tour of the area.
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Tembe Elephant Park
Heading westwards along a dirt road to the N2 from Kosi Bay, South Africa’s last free-ranging elephants are protected in the sandveld (dry, sandy coastal belt) forests of Tembe Elephant Park, a Transfrontier Park on the Mozambique border, owned by the Tembe Tribe and managed by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. Around 230 elephants live in its 30,000 hectares; these are the only indigenous elephants in KZN, and the largest elephants in the world, weighing up to 7000kg. The park boasts the Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino), plus more than 300 bird species.
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Lake Eland Game Reserve
Lake Eland Game Reserve has over 40 species of animals, of which, management claims, you are guaranteed to see 80%. You can head off on a self-drives (R25 per person) or a game drive (R100 per person, maximum seven). A short gorge walk crosses a 130m-high suspension bridge, and fishing and canoeing are available. Twitchers will appreciate the 200 bird species. There are well-maintained log cabins overlooking a small lake, fishermen cottages, camping and dorm beds in a massive pipe! It’s 40km from Port Shepstone; drive 29km along the Oribi Flats Rd off the N2.
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KwaMuhle Museum
The excellent KwaMuhle Museum is a must-see for those interested in understanding South Africa. This was formerly Bantu Administration headquarters, where Durban’s colonial authorities formulated the structures of urban racial segregation (the ‘Durban System’), the blueprints of South Africa’s apartheid policy. There are powerful displays on urban Durban as it was, plus another on Cato Manor, Durban’s contemporary informal settlement and the site of the new South Africa’s ambitious urban-renewal program.
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Ardmore Ceramic Studio
The extraordinary Ardmore Ceramic Studio was started by artist Fée Halset-Berning. She trained Bonnie Ntshalintsahli, the daughter of a farm employee. Sadly, Bonnie has since passed away, but the studio has flourished with a group of highly gifted artists who create the most extraordinary pieces of ceramic art, some functional, others ornamental. So renowned are the pieces, that Christie’s holds an annual auction of selected items. You can see the artists at work in the studio; works are for sale, too.
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Shongweni Resource Reserve
Shongweni Resource Reserve, about halfway between Durban and Pietermaritzburg off the N3, is Rte 5 and Rte 6 of the 1000 Hills Experience. Part of a beautiful river valley and grassland area, it has a number of mammals (including giraffes, zebras and rhinos) and birds. Canoeing is available (R75/90 per half/full day). The reserve has massive safari-style tents erected on wooden platforms perched over the lake’s edge. Each has a small balcony and an outdoor table and basic kitchen facilities. Camping costs R70 per person.
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Natal Sharks Board
This research institute is dedicated to studying sharks, specifically in relation to their danger to humans. With the great white shark – a big shark with a fearsome, but largely undeserved reputation for attacks on humans – frequenting the KwaZulu-Natal coast, this is more than an academic interest. There are audiovisual presentations and shark dissections at 9am and 2pm Wednesday to Thursday and 2pm Sunday. The public can accompany the Sharks Board personnel on their boat trips.
The Natal Sharks Board is signposted; it is about 2km out of town, up the steep Umhlanga Rocks Dr (the M12 leading to the N3).
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Shakaland
There are several Zulu-village cultural experiences in this area. Created as a set for the telemovie Shaka Zulu, the slightly Disney-fied Shakaland beats up a touristy blend of perma-grin performance and informative authenticity. The Nandi Experience (Nandi was Shaka’s mother) is a display of Zulu culture and customs (including lunch); the Zulu dance performance is said to be the best in the country. You can also stay overnight in luxury beehives at the four-star hotel.
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Project Gateway
Project Gateway is a recently launched community-based initiative that runs several projects to help local people, including a shelter for homeless people and a primary school. It’s housed in the former city prison, Old Pietermaritzburg Prison. A craft centre, fabric-printing shop, fashion school and cafe were opening at the time of research. The area around here has a reputation for being a little edgy; go in groups and don’t wander in the surrounding streets.
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Cathedral Peak Nature Reserve
In the shadow of the ramparts of Cathedral Peak, Cathedral Peak Nature Reserve backs up against a colossal escarpment of peaks between Royal Natal National Park and Giant’s Castle, west of Winterton. With the Bell (2930m), the Horns (3005m) and Cleft Peak (3281m) on the horizon, this is a beautifully photogenic park. Hikers must register with the park office before setting off on walks; be sure to obtain instructions and times regarding the hikes, including that to Cathedral Peak.
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Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve
The Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve is inland from Port Shepstone, off the N2. The spectacular gorge, on the Umzimkulwana River, is one of the highlights of the South Coast with beautiful scenery, animals and birds, plus walking trails and pretty picnic spots. The reception office is accessed via the N2 on the southern side of the gorge. Here, too, are some delightful wooden chalets, nestled in the forest – the perfect base for those who wish to spend time in this area.
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Tatham Art Gallery
In keeping with Pietermaritzburg’s self-styled role as the ‘heritage city’, one of its finest sights is the Tatham Art Gallery, which was started in 1903 by Mrs Ada Tatham. Housed in the beautiful Old Supreme Court, it contains a fine collection of French and English 19th- and early-20th-century works. Every 15 minutes, little figurines appear out of the building’s treasured ormolu clock to chime the bells. The gallery shop stocks some excellent crafts.
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Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park is one of South Africa’s best-known, most evocative parks. Covering 96,000 hectares, the park is best visited in winter as the animals then range widely without congregating at water sources (the White iMfolozi and Black iMfolozi Rivers flow here), although the lush vegetation sometimes makes viewing difficult. However, summer visits can also be very rewarding, especially in the open savannah country areas.
The park has lions, elephants, rhinos (black and white), leopards, giraffes, buffalos and wild dogs. The Centenary Centre, a wildlife-holding centre with an attached museum and information centre, is in the eastern section of iMfolozi. It incor…
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