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WORLD ▫
AFRICA ▫
SOUTH AFRICA ▫
KWAZULU NATAL
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Kwazulu Natal
KwaZulu-Natal, often referred to as "KZN", is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994 the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and all pieces of territory that made up the Bantustan of KwaZulu.
In the 1830s the northern part was the kingdom of Zululand and southern part was briefly a Boer republic called Natalia. In the 1840s the latter became the British Colony of Natal, though Zululand (KwaZulu in Zulu) remained independent until 1879. It is called the garden province and is the home of the Zulu nation. Located in the southeast of the country, it borders three other provinces and the countries of Mozambique, Swaziland, and Lesotho, along with a long shoreline on the Indian Ocean.
Geography
The province has three different geographic areas. The lowland region along the Indian Ocean coast is extremely narrow in the south, widening in the northern part of the province. The central region is the Natal Midlands and is an undulating hilly plateau rising towards the west. Two mountainous areas, the Drakensberg Mountains in the west and the Lebombo Mountains in the north. The Drakensberg is a solid wall of basalt rising over 3000m skyward near the Lesotho border, whilst the Lebombo Mountains are ancient granite mountains forming low parallel ranges running southward from Swaziland. The Tugela River flows west to east across the center of the province and is the region's largest river.
The coastal regions typically have subtropical thickets and deeper ravines and steep slopes hosts some true Afromontane Forest. The midlands have moist grasslands and isolated pockets of Afromontane Forest. The north has a primarily moist savanna habitat, whilst the Drakensberg region hosts mostly alpine grassland.
The former Eastern Cape enclave of the town of Umzimkulu and its hinterland have been incorporated into KwaZulu-Natal following the 12th amendment of the Constitution of South Africa. The amendment also made other changes to the southern border of the province.
Climate
KwaZulu-Natal has a varied yet verdant climate thanks to diverse, complex topography. Generally, the coast is subtropical with inland regions becoming progressively colder. Durban on the south coast has an annual rainfall of 1009mm, with daytime maxima peaking from January to March at 28ºC (min: 21ºC), dropping to daytime highs from June to August of 23ºC (min: 11ºC). Temperature drops towards the hinterland, with Pietermaritzburg being similar in the summer, but much cooler in the winter. Ladysmith in the Tugela River Valley reaches 30ºC in the summer, but may drop below freezing on winter evenings. The Drakensberg can experience heavy winter snow, with light snow occasionally experienced on the highest peaks in summer. The Zululand north coast has the warmest climate and highest humidity.
Borders
KwaZulu-Natal borders the following areas of Mozambique, Swaziland, and Lesotho:Maputo Province, Mozambique - far northeastLubombo District, Swaziland - northeast, east of ShiselweniShiselweni District, Swaziland - northeast, west of LubomboMokhotlong District, Lesotho - southwest, north of Thaba-TsekaThaba-Tseka District, Lesotho - southwest, between Mokhotlong and Qacha's NekQacha's Nek District, Lesotho -...
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7 hours |
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The streets, squares, monuments and memorials of historic Cape Town provide the setting for the first part of your tour. Here, on the Footsteps to Freedom City Walk ©, look back in time at how Africa, Asia and Europe conspired to create cosmopolitan Cape Town. Absorb the sights, sounds, and smells of the city. This leisurely stroll incorporates most of the significant historic attractions in central Cape Town such as Greenmarket Square, the Grand Parade, Castle of Good Hope, City Hall, District Six Museum, Slave Lodge, Parliament, Company's Garden and St George's Anglican Cathedral. (Tour enters the District Six Museum and St George's Anglican Cathedral). After a break for a light lunch at one of the sidewalk cafes (not included), set off for the township of Langa. Here you can look forward in time as you walk and talk with Xhosas of the Cape. Hear about their rites and rituals, culture and traditions, challenges and dreams. See their children, homes, churches, feel and smell township life. This tour is not about rushing around the Cape Flats ticking township names off a list. Rather, to pause, engage and interact. Your journey is about connecting and reflecting, and most importantly it is about people. The Footsteps Township Combination © tour starts at the official Cape Town Tourism Office. This is within easy walking distance of Foreshore hotels (10 minutes) and the V and A Waterfront (20 minutes). Undercover parking is available at the nearby Picbel Parkade in Strand Street. Tours depart in all weather conditions - fair and foul, please dress accordingly and wear comfortable shoes.
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| Overnight Tour to the Natal Battlefields |
2 day / 1 night |
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It was among the picturesque hills and rock formations of this sweeping landscape that fearless, spear-wielding footsoldiers of the all-conquering Zulu kings first encountered the rampant British Empire's sophisticated fire-power. This is where each faced the unfamiliar guerilla-warfare tactics of the Boer - descendants of the west European settlers who five generations earlier had claimed divine right to this 'Promised Land'.
Isandlwana
At Isandlwana Hill, a British force of some 1,700 men was virtually wiped out by a Zulu army of over 20,000 men under the command of Ntshingwayo Khoza and Mavumengwana Ntuli.
Rorkes Drift
Some 100 British soldiers defended this position against 4,000 Zulu warriors in a 12 hour engagement.
Fugitive's Drift
On this lonely hillside the two men who were responsible for saving the Queen's Color from the Isandlwana camp were killed are buried. The site is located 15 km beyond Rorke's Drift. The Fugitive Trail follows the route along which the handful of survivors fled from Isandlwana to Fugitives Drift.
Ladysmith
Ladysmith is located on the banks of KwaZulu-Natal's Klip River. Proclaimed in 1850, it was named after the Spanish wife of Sir Harry Smith. It became a prosperous staging- post for fortune-hunters en route to the Transvaal gold- fields and diamond discoveries at Kimberley. Ladysmith made world headlines at the turn of the previous century when it was besieged for 118 days during the most crucial stage of the Anglo-Boer War.
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| Indian Ocean Wild Shark Encounter - Scuba Dive or Snorkel |
8 hours |
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Leave your preconceived ideas at home and come see for yourself the oceans' number one predator in the wild. Forget the glass walls of an aquarium or the steel bars of a cage dive, this is a true shark encounter - just you, the ocean and the sharks!
This is an extreme activity for advanced scuba divers or adrenaline seeking snorkelers. If you are not feeling too brave, it is also possible to stay on the boat and view the sharks from the surface.
The types of sharks often encountered include Tiger Sharks and Black-Tip Sharks, with over 95% success rate for these two species. Don't forget that this is South Africa where wildlife is in abundance - the Tiger Sharks are big and the Black-Tips plentiful, often congregating in large groups of 50 or more individuals.
Not as common, but definitely a possibility, is to see other species such as Copper Sharks, Dusky Sharks, Hammerheads and Zambezi Sharks. Oh ... did we mention this is South Africa!?! You never know when an awesome Great White Shark will cruise by, so keep your eyes open and be prepared!
Depending on the sea conditions and experience of participants on the day, each dive is approximately 60 - 90 minutes and the site will depend on sea conditions and presence of sharks.
Please note:
This is a baited shark dive with no cages. There is a safety diver in the water at all times as well as a crew member onboard viewing from the surface. The company has been operating these tours for 7 years without incident, and your guides are experts on shark behavior.
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