Kwa Zulu Natal

Kwazulu Natal-The Heart of the Zulu Kingdom in South Africa

Before getting into the reasons you should come here, a little basic geography about KwaZulu-Natal. It is a providence in the country of South Africa, and is located on the Eastern edge of the country. It's borders include a vast piece of Indian Ocean Coast line, as well as three other South African Provinces, as well as three different country borders. There are three different areas to this province, sub tropical along the coastal areas, forests and damp grasslands towards the interior of the country, as savanna towards the northern regions. There are deep ravines near the coast, hilly plateaus and mountain ranges, as well as a solid Basalt wall rising almost 10,000 feet in the air near the border of Lesotho.

As the name suggests, this providence is also home of the might Zulu Nation, a nation with a rich history, culture and beliefs. They have a distinct look about them, and are perhaps most famous for their battle against the British Empire in the later part of the nineteenth century. They also have a rich culture, and many different and intertwining beliefs.

Kwazulu Natal is a place of many different wonders, both cultural as well as for the wildlife, and has one of the largest concentrations of game reserves in South Africa, including the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve, the oldest reserve in Africa. Opening in 1895, Hluhluwe, Imfolozi, and the Corridor Reserve that links the two comprise over 95,000 hectares, One of the largest in the country. Here you will not only be able to see Africa's big five, elephants, rhinos, lions, buffalo and leopard, but also Zebra, giraffe, and wildebeests. There are a wide variety of smaller carnivores, including the world's most endangered species, the African Hunting Dog. This park is also home of the largest population of white rhinos, and was home to an organization called Operation Rhino, started in the 1950-60s, and made the preserve world renown.

At the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve many different activities await you. In addition to seeing Africa's famous animals, there are over 300 different species of birds,. There are many different kinds of adventures, from self guided walking and driving tours, boat cruises, and guided safaris in open four wheel drive vehicles. There are rafting opportunities, and even hide away places along well established watering holes to view animals up close, as well as picnicking spots in many locations.

There are many different accommodations while you are visiting the park, both in and out of the park. The accommodations in the Park are controlled by the KwaZulu Natal Wildlife Management, and are called the Mpila, and Hilltop Camps. They offer lodging facilities from full luxury accommodations, to self catering sites. There are an abundance of options for loding int eh small town of Hluhluwe, only 25 kilometers away. While Hluhluwe has just about every thing a visitor needs, there are also some at the camps within the park, including petrol, restaurants, a bar, and even laundry facilities. There are also curio shops, selling offerings from the local tribes, as well as much needed supplies.

In addition to the National Reserves, that are also a number of private reserves in the region, also offering a wide range of services and amenities. One of these is the Thanda Private Game Preserve. Originally degrading cattle farms, this preserve went through three years of rehabilitation, to bring the land back to what it was, and then to reintroduce the wildlife species that once lived in the area. In fact, this private reserve was the first in KwaZulu-Natal to have a successfully breeding pack of African Wild Dog.

There are some advantages to visiting a private reserve. They are usually much smaller, and provide only limited, guided tours, cutting down on the amount of traffic in and around the preserve. This assures that natural wildlife habitat, and assures your safety. Having a qualified guide, who is carrying a fire arm, can get you up close and personal, and they are often lead by locals to the area. In fact, most of the people working here have been so since the park first opened, and helped the owners reintroduce many of the wildlife. Staying at a private reserve can allow you to see creatures at all times of the day and night, with some special night adventures to let you experience the hunting habits of the largest of the carnivores.

Whether at a private game preserve, or one of the National Preserves, it is a good idea to plan you visit ahead of time. Many the accommodations are have a five star luxury rating, so the tend to fill up fast. During the Summer months, the safaris and tours tend to fill up just as quickly, you need to make sure that you plan ahead so you won't miss out on any special opportunities to see wildlife.

You can book your travel during the peak tourist months, or you can also visit during the off season. Be sure you pack well, and it is a good idea to check with the what the climate is going to be like for the time of year you are visiting. During much of the year the temperatures stay around 70-80 degrees, but in the Winter, there are places where the temperature drops well below freezing at night. You should also make sure you are all up to date on your shots, and you may want to get some extra protection from certain African Related diseases.