Kwazulu-Natal

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KwaZulu Natal Region.

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Leisure options provide a multitude of choices to keep you endlessly entertained. From Durban, you can catch a shuttle to
Margate, at the hub of the South Coast Golf Circuit.
When you're not playing golf, fishing or lying on the beach, you can visit a crocodile farm, a nature reserve or follow an arts and crafts trail. Another short flight takes you to the historic city of Pietermaritzburg, gateway to the Natal Midlands and the charming Drakensberg resorts. No holiday in the province would be complete without a visit to at least one of the KwaZulu Natal game reserves, renowned throughout the world.

 

 Durban.
 

Appropriately enough, the Zulu name for Durban is Thekwini, meaning "The Place Where the Earth and the Ocean Meet". But apart from an effervescent ocean lined with golden beaches, Durban offers a subtropical carnival atmosphere and summer sunshine all year round. From around the globe, day in, day out, pleasure-seekers converge on the city to play on the golden, palm-fringed sands. In addition to the attractions of sea, surf and sport, leisure options encompass an eclectic range.
At excellent one-stop shopping centres, you can buy anything from photographic equipment to couturier clothes and rare antiques. Flea markets and craft trails attract leisurely browsers, and discount stores offer quality merchandise at bargain basement prices. Within a stone's throw of the city centre, oriental bazaars, fragrant with spice and incense, offer silks, saris, unusual jewellery and ornaments. Pubs, discos and action bars are firm favourites.
Theatres and concert halls present classical, avant-garde and ethnic programmes, and art galleries display works created by the internationally famous and up-and-coming local talents. Restaurants represent every facet of the city's cosmopolitan nature and cater for every palate and pocket. At the end of the day, what could be better that strolling on the beach to the rhythm of the waves?

 

 KwaZulu Natal Coast.
 

Throughout the year, holiday-makers flock to their favourite coastal haunts to cultivate a tan, ride the waves, eat, drink and generally have fun. Besides the sweeping beaches and calm lagoons where surfing, snorkelling, fishing and swimming are enjoyed, you can play golf, bowls and tennis or just soak up the sun. From Durban to the rugged Wild Coast, the highway links popular seaside resorts in rapid succession. The road snakes through subtropical bush, cane fields and hills garlanded with hibiscus blooms. North of Durban, the coastline stretching from the Tugela Mouth to the Umdloti River is aptly known as the Dolphin Coast. Close inshore, shoals of bottle-nose dolphins gambol in the waves, providing endless entertainment with their engaging antics. 
Arguably the gem of the entire Natal North Coast is the Umhlanga Coastline. The Umhlanga Coastline offers a combination of quiet village life with first world amenities and a cosmopolitan buzz. It also offers a diversity of activities in exotic and magnificent landscapes.

 

 Zululand & the Elephant Coast.
 

Further north, KwaZulu Natal's game sanctuaries epitomise the best of the African wilderness. This is one of the few places where good game viewing can be enjoyed in close proximity to the pleasures of scuba diving and deep-sea fishing. Habitats from coastal dune forests to open bushveld support a wide diversity of wildlife, from the elephant to the tiny suni. Bird life is equally prolific. Most parks offer peaceful surroundings, comfortable accommodation, game drives, hiking and walking trails.
The Elephant Coast forms the north-east region of South Africa's unique KwaZulu Natal Province, stretching northward from Lake St Lucia (a world heritage site), to the borders of Swaziland and Mozambique. The region is so named because it is home to South Africa's largest herd of indigenous African Elephants.

 

 Natal Midlands.
 

Between the coastal playgrounds and the majestic Drakensberg, there is an area of gentle pastoral beauty known as the Midlands. The highway meanders through rolling wooded hills and grassy plains scattered with towns, villages and hospitable country inns. On lush farmlands, plump cattle and thoroughbred horses graze. Although the great herds of highveld game which once wintered here are gone forever, game sanctuaries throughout the region support large numbers and varieties of wildlife.
Snow-capped in winter, the Drakensberg is the country's grandest mountain range and an ever-popular holiday destination. Known to the Zulu people as Quathlamba: "the barrier of spears" the mountains provide a magnificent backdrop to the region.

Nestling in the valleys, fine hotels and leisure resorts offer accommodation in KwaZulu Natal and recreational options second to none. Fast-flowing rivers are frequented by anglers hoping for a record-breaking rainbow trout. Climbers scale the jagged peaks where eagles and bearded vultures fly; hikers and horse-riders follow nature trails. The less energetic shrug off city stress by drinking in the birdsong, the crisp clean air and the stunning views.

 

Accommodation Available in this Region.
 

 

Fairways Lodge
Nestled in the rolling green hills of KwaZulu-Natal's north coast, lies the jewel of the Mount Edgecombe Country Club Golf Estate.
This is one of the most prestigious and secure golf estates in South Africa. Fairways Lodge, an exclusive boutique hotel, overlooks the 10th fairway of Course Two.
This Lodge offers its guests luxurious accommodation, fine cuisine and activities to suit everyone.

 

Thonga Beach Lodge – Mabibi  
Thonga Beach Lodge is set on the pristine shores of the Maputuland coast, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. This 24-bed luxury lodge is the ideal place to discover one of the most unspoilt wilderness beaches left on the African continent. Mabibi is a magical place of coastal forests, grasslands, bush, shimmering lakes and exquisite sandy beaches. Its crystal clear, warm waters offer South Africa’s best snorkeling and fantastic off-shore scuba diving.

Mont Aux Sources Hotel - Northern Drakensberg
Its spectacular mountain setting, and rustic flavour make this hotel a popular destination for weddings, romantic weekends or fun-filled family vacations.
The hotel's reputation for peace and tranquillity is not exaggerated. Here you wake up to bird song instead of the sounds of morning traffic.
Champagne Castle Hotel
Situated in the heart of a World Heritage Site, Champagne Castle Hotel in the Central Drakensberg near Winterton offers you the opportunity to recharge body and soul by combining nature’s nurturing with personalised service, great food and charming facilities.
Hawklee Country House,
Set in 35 acres of undisturbed beauty on the banks of the Lions River, near Nottingham Road, in the heart of the Midlands Meander.
Described by renowned travel writer T P Bulpin as “one of the most amiable portions of the Natal Midlands”, the region remains one of South Africa’s most popular getaway destinations.
 

 

Isibindi Zulu Lodge
Situated in a private game reserve in the ruggedly beautiful Zululand. An architectural celebration of the Zulu nation, the lodge is a peaceful bushveld retreat which also offers a host of activities for our guests wanting to experience a combination of luxurious accommodation, gameviewing, battlefields and Zulu cultural experiences.

Kosi Forest Lodge – Kosi Bay
Kosi Forest Lodge is a 16-bed wilderness lodge located in the Kosi Bay Nature Reserve – a magical place of lakes, rivers, pristine beaches, bush and coastal forests. Kosi Forest Lodge is the only private lodge in the reserve – an unspoilt wilderness that is part of the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, now internationally recognised as a World Heritage Site. The lodge offers excellent accommodation, fine cuisine and has become a firm favourite as a honeymoon destination.

Mkuzi Falls.
This 5 star, 10,000ha, Big Five Game Reserve is situated in majestic Northern Zululand in the South African province of KwaZulu Natal close to the southern border of Swaziland. Dominated by the Shembe and Mahlangosi mountains, the reserve is host to a tremendous diversity of flora and fauna including: lion, leopard, elephant, white rhino, buffalo, cheetah, hippo, crocodile, and an impressive quantity and variety of plains game. Over 400 species of birds provides hours of interest for the keen birder.

 

Contact Information & Publishing Office

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We would like to invite fine country houses, boutique hotels, private game reserves, city hotels, unique self contained
hide-aways

Email : gemsofafrica@webmail.co.za   

Contact mobile number : +27 (0) 83 959 6387

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