| |
| uThukela
- 'The angry one' |
|
Zululand
is located in northern KwaZulu-Natal along the eastern seaboard
of South Africa.
Thukela River - the largest river in the province - is the historical
southern boundary and crossing it still has the excitement akin
to entering a new frontier.
The wide sweep of large coastal sugarcane plantations almost
immediately makes way for the rolling hills and green folds
of grassland and forested valleys - so typical of the Zululand
landscape.
Here modern commercial agriculture makes way for the timeless
tableau of African farmsteads, dotted with traditional thatched
houses, small patches of crops and cattle grazing on fenceless
pastures. |
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| MAP
OF ZULULAND |
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| BY
ROAD |
| The
main N2 coastal Toll road links Durban in the south
with Zululand but a number of good alternative routes
run parallel and east and west. Generally the Toll Road
is the quickest and most practical route but travellers
on the slower meandering roads are often rewarded with
magnificent scenery and fascinating glimpses of everyday
life.
Inland motorists have several options when planning
a route to Zululand. They can either travel on the N3
till Durban and then drive northwards on the N2 toll
road or they can take the N34 via Vryheid and Melmoth
with the option of exploring the Battlefields area and
Route 66.
Motorists from the north can travel southwards on the
N2. Coastal motorists should continue on the N2 which
they can exit at the Mandini, Dokodweni or Mtunzini
toll plazas.
|
KwaZulu-Natal
Road Reports:
082 239 2500 |
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|
| DISTANCE
TABLE (kilometres) |
| |
Durban |
Joburg
via Durban |
Joburg
via Vryheid |
iMfolozi-Hluhluwe
Game Reserve
- Nyalazi Gate |
iMfolozi-Hluhluwe
Game Reserve
-
Cengeni Gate |
Cape
Town |
Mtunzini |
Eshowe |
Ulundi |
Richards
Bay |
King
Shaka
Intern'l
Airport |
| ESHOWE |
150 |
730 |
550 |
165 |
122 |
1890 |
45 |
|
90 |
90 |
112 |
| MTUNZINI |
140 |
720 |
600 |
120 |
166 |
1880 |
|
45 |
135 |
45 |
105 |
| GINGINDLOVU |
130 |
710 |
575 |
144 |
147 |
1870 |
22 |
25 |
115 |
67 |
90 |
| MELMOTH |
195 |
775 |
505 |
85 |
77 |
1935 |
90 |
45 |
45 |
135 |
158 |
|
| DISTANCE
TABLE (miles) |
| |
Durban |
Joburg
via Durban |
Joburg
via Vryheid |
iMfolozi-Hluhluwe
Game Reserve
- Nyalazi Gate |
iMfolozi-Hluhluwe
Game Reserve
- Cengeni Gate |
Cape
Town |
Mtunzini |
Eshowe |
Ulundi |
Richards
Bay |
King
Shaka
Intern'l
Airport |
| ESHOWE |
95 |
460 |
345 |
105 |
76 |
1182 |
28 |
|
56 |
56 |
70 |
| MTUNZINI |
90 |
450 |
375 |
75 |
104 |
1175 |
|
28 |
84 |
28 |
66 |
| GINGINDLOVU |
85 |
445 |
360 |
90 |
92 |
1170 |
14 |
16 |
72 |
42 |
56 |
| MELMOTH |
122 |
485 |
317 |
53 |
48 |
1210 |
56 |
28 |
28 |
84 |
99 |
|
| BY
AIR |
| Zululand
is serviced by two airports. In May 2010 the new King
Shaka International Airport was opened north of Durban,
making air travel very convenient as this is less than
100kms on excellent double carriage highway to Zululand.
Daily flights are scheduled from all the major cities
in South Africa as well as several international centres.
Richards Bay is the closest but flights are less regular
and the only connection is with OR Tambo International
Airport outside Johannesburg. At present SA Express
is the only airline flying into Richards Bay.
Car hire facilities and tourist information are also
well served at both airports. |
King
Shaka International Airport:
031 451 6666/7
Richards Bay Airport:
035 786 0119
Domestic
flights
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|
|
| BY
BUS |
Designed
for the independent backpacking traveller, Baz
Bus connects a major network of travel destinations
across South Africa - Zululand included. Their 19-seater
semi-luxury buses can be boarded or disembarked at any stage
of the Baz Bus route. BazBus has buses out of Eshowe (either
en route to Swaziland or Durban) daily excluding Saturdays.
Greyhound
Bus has daily buses travelling between Gauteng and Richards
Bay and Empangeni.
Greyhound
also has a daily service between Durban and Empangeni. The
bus leaves Durban Station at 9am everyday of the week and
arrives at the Art and Cultural History Museum in the centre
of Empangeni just after midday. It returns daily at 17h35
and arrives at Durban Station at 20h40.
|
Baz
Bus:
+27 21 422 5202
email:
info@bazbus.com
Greyhound
Bus info
083 915 9000
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|
| WEATHER |
Zululand
is the ideal all-year holiday destination. It enjoys a sub-tropical
climate and the mean maximum temperature is high throughout
the year - about 30°C in January and February and over 25°C
for over nine months of the year.
Some of the more elevated inland areas tend to be less humid
and cooler than the coast.
It is a summer rainfall region and the mean annual rainfall
can be as high as 1400 mm.
The Indian Ocean is warm throughout the year, averaging about
22°C. The warm Mozambique current flows south from the tropics
and high energy waves - up to several metres in height - are
typical of this coast. |
|
|
| HEALTH |
Zululand
is a malaria-free destination. Visitors wishing to travel further
north (closer to the Mozambique border region) are advised to
obtain information regarding precautions prior to their departure.
For your own comfort visitors are advised to take non-drug measures
to prevent mosquito bites. The mosquitoes which carry malaria
generally bite between dusk and dawn so closing doors and windows
during this time is advisable. Also use insect repellent on
exposed skin, wear long-sleeved light-coloured clothing with
long trousers and socks and sleep under a mosquito net.
Visitors hiking in long grass should take precautions against
ticks. Applying a good insect repellent is advised.
|
|
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| SURVIVAL
GUIDE |
As
in other countries there are a few basic precautions visitors
should take to ensure their stay is pleasant and as safe as
possible. Tourism KwaZulu-Natal and the KwaZulu-Natal South
African Police Service have issued the following tips:
• Do not publicise your valuables, such as cameras, cell
phones, jewellery. Always lock them in the boot of your car.
• At night, avoid isolated dark places.
• Be aware of your surroundings and always know where
you are going. Try to reach your destination before sunset.
• Establish how to observe the cultural protocol of a
region.
• Use registered, qualified guides and get advice from
the local tourism office for the best routes to follow.
• Always use adequate sun protection cream
• Adhere to speed limits and road traffic rules.
• Report incidents of loss or theft at your nearest police
station.
|
Emergency
numbers
Police: 10111
Police (for cell phone users): 112
Ambulance: 10177
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