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Planning your first KwaZulu-Natal road trip? Then you’ve just landed on the perfect page to help you with that! KwaZulu-Natal on the east coast of South Africa is highly undervalued as a tourist destination, and often overlooked in favor of destinations like the Kruger National Park and Cape Town. Having grown up in this amazing province we may be a little biased, but through exploring it ourselves have discovered that this sunny corner of South Africa offers it all – a vibrant and diverse culture, majestic mountains, untamed big five bush experiences and possibly the most unspoiled beaches in the country. Not to forget that KwaZulu-Natal’s winter weather (April-July) is the best in the country!   KwaZulu-Natal highlights: Unspoiled sandy beaches and warm water. Malaria-free big five game reserves. Two UNESCO World Heritage Sites (iSimangaliso Wetland Park and the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park). A vibrant and diverse blend of cultures. World-class diving and surfing destinations. We would love you to come and explore this magical province for yourself, and have put together a list of our top picks in the province to get those travel juices flowing! Our dream KwaZulu-Natal road trip is a circular self-drive route covers 1600 km and takes in all of the highlights of KwaZulu-Natal including the berg, big five bush and spectacular beaches. KwaZulu-Natal quick facts: Summer (November-February) weather is generally hot and humid, with some rain. February is the hottest month with temperatures in the low 30’s (°C). Winter (April-July) is the best time of year to visit where the weather usually consists of mild, clear days and cool nights, with temperatures in the upper teens to mid-20’s (°C). International airport: King Shaka International Airport. Main city: Durban (eThekwini). Stop 1: Explore the city sights of Durban and Umhlanga. The Durban beachfront is one of the city’s main attractions and a perfectplace to start your KwaZulu-Natal road trip. The famous Umhlanga lighthouse is an iconic feature on the Umhlanga coastline. City life in KwaZulu-Natal is all about the beach. Explore Umhlanga and Durban, spending time on Umhlanga’s beach promenade or hit Durban’s Golden Mile by bicycle. Stop for coffee, an ice cream or highly recommended Afro’s Chicken lunch along the way. Visit some of the area’s attractions including uShaka Marine World, the KZN Sharks Board, Gateway Theatre of Shopping, the Victoria Street Market or if it is a weekend, some of the fantastic craft and foodie markets (e.g. I Heart Market or Wonder Market) in and around town. Recommended length of stay: two full days (three nights). Route suggestion: King Shaka International Airport is a thirty minute drive out of Umhlanga, or forty minutes from the Durban CBD. Pick up a rental car at the airport and head straight to your accommodation to unpack and refresh. We’d recommend basing yourself in Umhlanga as it provides easy access to Durban’s attractions with more of a nightlife and range of restaurants to choose from.  Stop 2: Go on a watery safari on Lake St Lucia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lake St Lucia is home to the highest concentration of Hippos in South Africa. Evening walks on the unspoiled beaches of the Eastern Shores. iSimangaliso’s Lake St Lucia is a must-do on any KwaZulu-Natal road trip. If you are pressed for time, this is one stop not to miss! The expansive waterways of South Africa’s largest estuary are home to a wealth of fish, bird and plant life, not to mention the highest density of hippos and crocodiles in southern Africa. Take in a truly African sunset from the water, or spend time exploring the pristine coastline and big game wilderness areas that surround Lake St Lucia. St Lucia town is the ideal base from which to explore this area, and is well-equipped for tourists with a range of accommodation, restaurants and travel and tour operators (read more in our detailed guide to St Lucia). For guided experiences, we would highly recommend a late afternoon estuary boat cruise, joining a night drive on the Eastern or Western Shores, a snorkel safari at Cape Vidal or beach and bush horse riding from Bhangazi Gate. From mid-May to the end of September, a boat-based whale watching trip to view migrating humpback whales is also a must. Then take some time to explore the Eastern and Western Shores game sections at leisure, leaving plenty of time to enjoy any of the number of picnic and elevated view sites in the park to really get a feel for the enormous size of Lake St Lucia. There are plenty of attractions around St Lucia town too including excellent birding from the Estuary Boardwalk and bush trails through the iPhiva small game section. As if this wasn’t enough, Hluhluwe/Imfolozi Game Reserve is an easy day trip from town and there are plenty of operators who offer tours through the park from St Lucia town. Recommended length of stay: a minimum of two full days (three nights) will barely scratch the surface of everything this area has to offer, so we’d suggest spending closer to four or five.  Route suggestion: From Umhlanga, St Lucia is a 2 hour 30 minutes drive via the N2 national freeway and R618 regional road (via Mtubatuba). A bit of a detour, the indigenous forests around Eshowe are well worth a stop if you have the time.   Stop 3: Encounter Africa’s big five in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve. The Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve is the oldest game reserve in Africa. Elephants enjoy the soft grass near the banks of the river KwaZulu-Natal has a number of world-class big five game reserves that offer unparalleled game viewing opportunities without the crowds of the Kruger National Park. South Africa’s oldest established game reserve, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi is particularly special for the role it has played in rhino conservation in the country. There is also the opportunity to join a multi day wilderness walk through the park – on foot, sleeping under the stars in a pristine wilderness area is a life-changing experience that we’d highly recommend. Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve is an Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife managed-park. There is both self-catering or catered accommodation available for guests and the