Visitors
to Zululand are ideally based for a rich variety of day excursions.
Some of the world's best game parks, a World Heritage site, the
Royal Zulu capitals
of Mgungundlovu
and Ondini, the country's
deepest and largest port - Richards
Bay,
as well as the fun of Durban's cosmopolitan pursuits are all within
easy reach
to make a memorable day's outing.
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| Hluhluwe-iMfolozi
Game Park |
Established,
in 1895, this Park is Africa's oldest game sanctuary and before
that it was protected as the exclusive hunting preserve of the
Zulu kings.
The Park's pride and joy is the success of Operation
Rhino in the 1960's which saw the rescue of the White
Rhino from the brink of extinction.
The Park offers the Big Five as well as an
amazing diversity of smaller species such as kudu, nyala, impala,
zebra, giraffe, warthog, baboons and wild dogs.
It also has a rich bird and plant life and some spectacular
scenery.
Game viewing hides near watering holes and
picnic sites are situated throughout the Park,
providing the visitor with ample opportunity to leave their
vehicles (at their own risk) and experience nature at close
range.
One of the more popular picnic sites is at Maphumulo
which overlooks a backwater created by the construction of Hluhluwe
Dam, and has trestle tables in a shady, grassed area from which
visitors often see crocodiles basking on the nearby banks.
Hilltop Camp in the northern section of the
Park has a fine restaurant, bar and shop where visitors can
escape the heat of day when most animals become elusive.
The information centre at Hilltop keeps an updated map of the
day's latest game sightings - ideal for use as a guide to plan
one's next route.
Sontuli Loop in the south western corner of
the Park between the White and the Black Mfolozi rivers is generally
rated highly for game viewing because of its open terrain which
is favoured by the grass-grazing White Rhino.
The Black Rhino is a browser - living off shrubs
and bush - and is usually found in wooded thickets.
A large area abounding the White Mfolozi River in the south
has been declared a wilderness area and is
only open for three-day wilderness trails.
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Gate
Opening & Closing Times
Summer (Nov-Feb): 05h00
- 19h00
Winter (March-Oct):
06h00 - 18h00
Distances
Nyalazi Gate: 27kms to Mtubatuba
Memorial Gate: 17kms to Hluhluwe
Cengeni Gate: 30kms to Ulundi
www.kznwildlife.com
Contact Tel:
033 845 1002
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| Hluhluwe-iMfolozi
Park is home to the world's largest population of Rhino (over
2 000 black and white rhino) as well as the rest of The Big
Five - lion, elephant, buffalo and leopard.
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| iSimangaliso
Wetland Park |
iSimangaliso
Wetland Park has an astonishing
variety of habitats that include grasslands, forests, wetlands,
mangroves, dune forest, massive stretches of beach and off-shore
coral reefs.
Lake St Lucia - the largest estuary in Africa
- is a 38 000 hectare expanse of tidal and semi-tidal water.
Also found here is the largest single population of hippo (about
800) - little wonder that it was declared South Africa's first
World Heritage Site in 1999.
Birdlife is prolific and includes flamingoes,
pelicans, herons, terns, ducks, geese and storks.
Swimming in the lake is prohibited due to the
high number of crocodiles present however the beach at Cape
Vidal is popular with divers exploring its coral reefs
as well as with families who enjoy swimming and snorkeling
in the protected bay and roaming miles of golden beaches.
Migrant humpback whales and dolphins
are often sighted cavorting along the coast (June to November)
and, during summer, endangered leatherback
and loggerhead turtles regularly nest on the
beaches at night.
Mission Rocks, 16kms north of the estuary,
provides picnic sites and ablution facilities for day visitors.
The rock pools provide hours of fascinating
exploration during low tide and dune-top lookout point presents
spectacular views of the lake, the Eastern
Shores and the sea.
There are about 1 200 crocodiles in the lake
was well as some 800 hippos. The best way to
see them in their natural environment is on of the flat-bottom
tour boats which operate from St Lucia estuary.
The largest tour boat is the Santa Lucia which leaves
from the Siyabonga Craft Market two or three
times a day for a guided tour up the narrows.
At the St Lucia Crocodile Centre visitors are
able to see a variety of crocodiles. Feedings every Saturday
at 15h00. |
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| Gate
Opening & Closing Times
Summer (Oct-March): 05h00-19h00
Winter (April-Sept): 06h00-18h00
Friday and start of long w/e: 06h00-21h00
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Distance
from gate to:
Cape Vidal - 35kms
Mtubatuba - 27kms
N2 - 30kms |
Contact
numbers:
St
Lucia Tourism: 035
590 1247
Santa Lucia cruise:
035 590 1340
Crocodile Centre: 035
590 1386 |
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The
sand dunes along the 280kms of Park coastline are the
highest vegetated dunes in Africa. |
Crocodiles
have the right of way. |
Within
St Lucia there are several craft markets which sell
a variety of curios. |
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|
| DURBAN
- Gateway to the Kingdom of the Zulu |
Durban
is South Africa's second largest city - a multi-cultural
hub situated around Africa's busiest port.
Its people are drawn from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Strong Eastern, Western and African
influences are visible everywhere - in architecture,
cuisine, music, fashion and in the local patois.
The beachfront, often referred to as The Golden
Mile, offers safe all-year-round bathing and
ocean sports, with top hotels, restaurants, shops and
bars in close proximity.
The flagship of Durban's revitalised waterfront is the
uShaka
Marine World, a marine theme park which opened
in 2004, and which has a wreck of a 1920's steamer as
its centrepiece. Deep within the bowels of the steamer
are breathtaking underwater aquarium galleries providing
magnificent views of predators, such as Ragged Tooth Sharks,
Remoras, Karanteen and sand Steenbras.
In addition, a dolphinarium, seal stadium, penguin rookery
and a turtle lagoon bring the beauty of life in the western
Indian Ocean within reach of everyone.
And if that isn't enough, visitors are spoilt for choice
with tube rides, speed slides, lagoon snorkeling, shark
diving, oceanwalking, restaurants and a shopping village!
For a shopping experience with a distinctly
Durban flavour, visit the Grey and Victoria St district
for a melting-pot of African and Indian wares - anything
from a traditional medical cure for any ailment to a rainbow
selection of the finest silks.
A number of exceptional malls are available and for the
traveller from Zululand, the
Gateway in Umhlanga and the
Pavilion in Westville are conveniently situated
close to the N2.
Also well worth a visit is the Durban
Botanic Gardens, situated at the foot of
the Berea. This venerable colonial institution has a fine
mixed arboretum of African, Asian and American trees,
as well as a section dedicated to the plants of KwaZulu
Natal, a breathtaking orchid house and
its famous cycad collection which includes
the Ongoye
cycad, Encephelartos woodii, - "the rarest
plant in the world".
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One-stop
tourist Centre
Tourist Junction at 160 Pine St is Durban's visitor
information Centre. It is open 7 days a week and
provides information on tourism attractions throughout
the Kingdom of the Zulu. |
| Museums
and Art Galleries
From the history of indentured Indians to the
relics of the apartheid era, Zulu artifacts and
surfboards of the past, Durban has a museum catering
for a wide range of interests.
•The Natural Science Museum - City
Hall, Smith St
•The KwaMuhle Museum of Apartheid History
- 132 Ordinance Rd
•Maritime Museum - Small Craft
Harbour, Esplanade
•The Campbelll Collection of Zulu History
- 32 Marriot Rd
•Durban Art Gallery - City Hall,
Smith St
•Bat Centre of Contemporary Art - Small
Craft Harbour, Esplanade
•KZNSA Art Gallery - 166 Bulwer
Rd, Glenwood.
• African
Art Centre - Florida
Rd, Morningside |
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A
visit to uShaka Marine World on Durban's beachfront
will be the highlight of anyone's day visit to Durban
and provides enough activities - from lagoon snorkeling,
diving with sharks, a spectacular dolphin show and the
fascinating penquin rookery - to keep visitors of all
ages busy for hours. |
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