Day Excursions in Zululand

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 uMgungundlovu 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.

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi 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 iMfolozi 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 iMfolozi River in the south has been declared a wilderness area and is only open for three-day wilderness trails.

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

More information
www.kznwildlife.com
Contact Tel: 033 845 1002


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.

The Greater St Lucia Wetland Park

The Greater St Lucia 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 St Lucia 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.

Gate Opening & Closing Times
Summer (Oct-March): 05h00-19h00
Winter (April-Sept): 06h00-18h00
Friday and start of long w/e: 06h00-21h00

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

The sand dunes along the 280kms of Park coastline are the highest vegetated dunes in Africa.

Crocodiles have the right of way in Lake St Lucia.

Within St Lucia there are several craft markets which sell a variety of curios.

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".

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

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.

www.visitZululand.co.za is the official website of the uMlalazi Tourism Association
Contact details: Tel: (+27) 035 473 3359
email: ronel@umlalazi.org.za
© uMlalazi Tourism Association