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Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Kwa-Zulu Natal

Dramatically beautiful and surprisingly diverse, KwaZulu-Natal, in the northeast of the country, packs in many of South Africa’s most popular attractions, despite its small size. Here, visitors can enjoy the World Heritage-listed Drakensberg mountains with their jagged-backed peaks and spectacular scenery, Durban’s golden beaches and surf breaks, a thriving Zulu culture, and exhilarating wildlife adventures. KwaZulu-Natal is home to Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, the oldest game park in Africa, as well as pampering private game reserves where lucky visitors might spot the Big Five (leopard, lion, elephant, buffalo, and rhino). Along the coast, nature lovers can explore the stunning scenery of iSimangaliso Wetland Park, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, and dive the coral reefs of Sodwana Bay. Throw in historic Boer War and Anglo-Zulu battlefields and Durban’s multicultural urban delights, and it’s easy to see why this is the province where South Africans love to play. The Drakensberg The Drakensberg The Drakensberg, from an Afrikaans word meaning “Dragon Mountains,” is a place of breathtaking beauty and one of the most popular destinations in the country. Jagged-backed peaks rise above dense forests and deep valleys, and cascades feed clear mountain streams. This spectacular region includes uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with soaring basalt peaks that are some of the highest in the county and San (Bushmen) rock paintings, as well as Royal Natal National Park with the Amphitheatre, a five-kilometer-long rock wall with one of the world’s highest waterfalls tumbling from above. The 3,282-meter-high Mont-aux-Sourcesrises beyond, and is the source for some of the nation’s mighty rivers. Nearby, visitors can see herds of eland, bearded vultures, and superb Bushman rock paintings in Giant’s Castle Game Reserve. Another highlight of the region is Cathedral Peak with some of the region’s most beautiful mountain scenery. This area is also home to the venerable Cathedral Peak Hotel, which has been pampering guests since 1939. Outdoor enthusiasts come to these velvety green mountains to fly-fish for trout, hike and bike the wilderness trails, rock climb, abseil, and raft the mountain rivers. To best appreciate the dramatic landscapes, visitors can soar over the area in a hot air balloon. Natal Drakensberg Map Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park Established in 1895, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (formerly Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve) is the oldest game park in Africa and one of only a few parks in KwaZulu-Natal where visitors can see the Big Five: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino. Including the wildlife corridor connecting the two sections of the park, it covers more than 96,000 hectares and is famous for its rhino conservation efforts – both black and white rhino are found here. The park lies deep in Zululand and was once the royal hunting grounds of King Shaka. Today, the park offers a rewarding safari experience with an impressive diversity of flora and fauna and typically less crowds than Kruger National Park. The Hluhluwe section in the park’s north is mountainous, while the iMfolozi section reveals sprawling savannah with taller trees along the riverbanks. In addition to the Big Five, wild dog, cheetah, zebra, blue wildebeest, hippo, hyena, and more than 300 species of birds are among the animals that make their home here. The best game viewing is in the cooler and drier months from May through October, however the summer brings lush growth and newborn animals. Guests can opt to stay within the park in modest chalets, safari tents, and a range of lodges. More lodging options are available just outside the park. 3 iSimangaliso Wetland Park iSimangaliso Wetland Park About 250 kilometers from Durban, World Heritage-listed iSimangaliso Wetland Park (formerly the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park) protects the largest estuarine system in Africa. iSimangaliso means “miracle and wonder” in Zulu, and the name is fitting for this beautiful biodiverse park. The eight interconnected ecosystems here include coral reefs, croc-filled rivers, lakes, swamplands, savanna, and coastal dunes. Thanks to this diversity of habitats, wildlife is abundant and varied. All in one day, visitors can snorkel, dive, or kayak along coral reefs where leatherback and loggerhead turtles swim; spot an incredible array of birds; and see leopard, buffalo, zebra, and rhino on a game drive. The park is also home to the highest concentration of crocodiles and hippos in Africa. Also in the park, secluded Kosi Bay offers empty seascapes of sun-bleached shores and shimmering lagoons. The area is also known for its traditional fishing techniques – fish are trapped here in woven baskets. Sodwana Bay National Park Sodwana Bay National Park On the Elephant Coast, Sodwana Bay National Park is one of South Africa’s best diving destinations. Part of iSimangaliso Wetland Park, the reserve lies on the shores of the Indian Ocean with South Africa’s southernmost coral reefs shimmering just offshore with schools of colorful fish. Divers can see caves, pinnacles, and both hard and soft corals, as well as an incredible array of aquatic life including lionfish, crayfish, moray eels, rays, and many species of sharks. Whale sharks also swim these waters. Loggerhead and leatherback turtles nest on the beaches here, and nature lovers can join turtle tours to see them in season. Apart from SCUBA diving and snorkeling, other popular activities here include sports fishing for marlin and sailfish, horseback riding on the beach, and hiking the coastal nature trails. Nambiti Private Game Reserve Nambiti Private Game Reserve Gerry Zambonini / photo modified About a three-hour drive from Durban, near the spectacular Drakensberg mountains, Nambiti Private Game Reserve offers exciting guided safari adventures in search of the Big Five: leopard, lion, elephant, buffalo, and rhino. Scenery here ranges from sprawling savannah and grasslands, with unimpeded views of game, to lush riverine bush, and the wildlife is plentiful. In addition to the Big Five, the reserve protects more than 40 different species of game such as cheetah, zebra, kudu, and hippo, as well as a diverse array of birdlife. Day visitors are welcome, and those who wish to stay overnight can choose from six self-catering or full-board five-star lodges, some with swimming pools, as well as a raised luxury tented camp. This

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Emdoneni News

All about Weddings

Chat to us about weddings at Emdoneni! Contact us on office@emdonenilodge.com | +27 (0)35 562-7000 / 7001 8 Tips for feeling your best on your wedding Day You’ve put all your time and energy into making sure every detail is perfect and everyone involved is happy, so now it’s time to make sure you’re feeling your best for your wedding day! With the rush of decisions and coordination, self-care might have dropped down on your to-do list, so let this be the reminder you need to put it back on top. Planning ahead for things you can do in the days/weeks leading up to your wedding and scheduling time for things that make you feel good on your actual wedding day is key. These are our favorite bridal self-care tips to help keep your energy up and keep your mental and physical stress down so you can enjoy your wedding day to the fullest! 1. TRY ON YOUR FULL LOOK AHEAD OF TIME You will have enough details to think about the morning of your wedding, but wondering whether your bridal look is everything you’ve dreamed of shouldn’t be one of them! That’s why you should try on your full look — dress, hair, makeup, and accessories — well before the wedding day. Take it from women who have been there, you’ll feel so much better knowing that all the accessories you bought coordinate perfectly, the hairstyle you saw on Pinterest really is that pretty in real life, and your makeup flawlessly ties everything together. If you’re getting bridal portraits done, you have the perfect reason to try on your full look (and the added bonus of seeing it on camera). If you’re not getting bridal portraits done, schedule a girls’ dinner for that evening so you can wear the makeup and/or hairstyle out at least once! 2. GET ENOUGH SLEEP THE ENTIRE WEEK A lot of people tell brides to make sure they get enough sleep the night before their wedding, but we all know one night of good sleep isn’t enough to make you feel your absolute best. Most of us take at least two days to recover from one night of poor sleep, so make it a goal to get 8 hours of sleep every night for the entire week before your wedding. Yes, that’s much easier said than done, but it’s important for your nervous system to have adequate time to rest, especially with the added stress of wedding planning. If you’re having trouble shutting off your brain, spritz some essential oils, like lavender or chamomile, on your pillow or do some pre-sleep yoga. You’ll have plenty of time to not sleep on your honeymoon, so indulge in some quality beauty rest as much as possible before the wedding. 3. STAY HYDRATED The general rule is that you should drink at least half your body weight in ounces of water per day. It helps keep your energy up and gives your skin a gorgeous glow. Plus, it keeps your metabolism firing all day and decreases bloating, so you’ll feel as good on the inside as you look on the outside. If you’re dehydrated, your body has to fight both the physical stress of dehydration and any emotional stress you might feel on your wedding day, which will make it harder to be fully present. So, keep a water bottle handy and ask your MOH to check that it is full all day long. If you want some stylish motivation to drink up, grab one of these super cute bottles for yourself — and maybe for your bridesmaids, too! 4. GET MOVING WITH A QUICK YOGA SESSION Before you pop the bubbly with your girls, head to a local yoga studio for a quick sweat sesh! You’ll get the double benefit of relieving any last-minute stress and releasing endorphins so you’ll be feeling (and looking) happy all day long. We recommend going for a gentle flow class that to get a good stretch and get the blood moving and leaving the cardio-heavy, power-style yoga for another time. You just want to sweat, you don’t want to be exhausted or sore! If you can’t find a class time that works for you, there are tons of free yoga videos on YouTube that you can do in the privacy of your getting ready space. 5. STICK TO YOUR NORMAL BEAUTY ROUTINE The night before or the morning of your wedding is not the time to try out a new beauty routine, such as a face mask you saw on Instagram or a new shape for your eyebrows. If you want to experiment with new products, buy and try them at least two weeks before the wedding so you’ll have plenty of time to see how your skin reacts. We are all in favor of getting your skin to look its best for your wedding, but there would be nothing worse than trying something new the night before and waking up with undesirable results. So, give yourself time to find what makes your skin look best and stick to that all the way up through the wedding day. 6. EAT PROTEIN FOR BREAKFAST You’re going to need a ton of energy to make it all the way to your send-off moment, so set yourself up for success with breakfast that includes lean protein, healthy carbs, fruits, and veggies. Protein, especially, will keep you full and energized and will help keep your blood sugar from crashing if you want to indulge in champagne and sweet treats while you’re getting ready. For a super quick and simple breakfast option, blend up protein smoothies with frozen fruits, greens, milk, and protein powder for you and your girls. Or, opt for a heartier meal like an egg scramble with sauteed veggies and a side of yogurt with fruit. No matter how busy your morning gets, do not skip breakfast and do not leave your options up to chance. Your mom wasn’t joking when she said that breakfast is the

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7 benefits of aromatherapy massage

Aromatherapy is a form of Eastern medicine that has been in use for over 4,000 years. There are many powerful benefits of using aromatherapy massage for both physical and mental health. Here are 7 of them. 1. Better circulation With an aromatherapy massage, parts of the body are gently manipulated, which increases blood flow to the muscles and vital organs. An aromatherapy massage enhances the flow of blood via the absorption of oils through the skin and into the bloodstream. Essential oils used to encourage circulation and strengthen capillaries are cypress, frankincense, grapefruit, juniper berry and sandalwood. 2. Decreased anxiety A massage combined with aromatherapy can calm the senses and induce relaxation. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, aromatherapy massage decreases anxiety levels by stimulating the release of endorphins, which are the body’s natural painkillers and stress reduction hormones. Essential oils used to eliminate anxiety are rosewood, sandalwood and vanilla. 3. Enhanced mental awareness The scents of essential oils and stimulation of massage on the body activates the olfactory nerves in the brain, which amplifies serotonin production and enhances a person’s mental capacity. Essential oils that are used to stimulate the body and mind include juniper berry, sage and vetiver. 4. Headache relief Individuals who suffer from constant headaches may possibly find relief with an aromatherapy massage. Essential oils typically used to conquer headache pain include peppermint and ylang ylang. 5. PMS relief Premenstrual syndrome affects millions of women each month, plaguing them with bloating, fatigue and increased sensitivity to pain. Fortunately, the unpleasant markers of PMS are known to be eliminated via aromatherapy massage. Oils that are used to treat PMS symptoms are birch, jasmine and patchouli. 6. Restful sleep To help prevent bouts of insomnia, calming methods like aromatherapy massage are recommended to induce sleep. When used as a tool to encourage sleep, it’s advised to receive an aromatherapy massage in the later afternoon or evening. Oils that promote restful sleep are lavender, marjoram and spikenard. 7. Toxin removal The gentle manipulation of the body along with the purifying scents of essential oils encourage lymphatic drainage, which assists in the elimination of toxins. Lemongrass and myrtle are a couple of essential oils helpful in the removal of toxins from the body. Caution Many common health issues have been known to improve with the use of aromatherapy massage. Please note that individuals with bleeding disorders, heart failure and kidney failure are advised not to receive this type of massage. Book your Aromatherapy Massage at Emdoneni Spa now for the ultimate relaxation treatment! Aromatherapy Massage 60 min A gentle, therapeutic full body massage using a blend of aromatic plant oils to induce relaxation and equilibrium in the body. Contact Emoneni Spa at: office@emdonenilodge.com +27 (0)35 562-7000/7001 +27 (0)82 713-3686 Source Credit: www.yellowpages.ca

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Emdoneni News

5 reasons to go on a walking safari

Did you know we offer guided walking tours? On the tour, visitors can look forward to learning more about the local geology, approaching the mild-natured zebra, and seeing impressive antelope species like the nyala, wildebeest, red duiker, grey duiker and impala. Being part of their habitat in such a real, tangible way is humbling and exhilarating, promising an entirely different perspective of the African abundance. Contact us at office@emdonenilodge.com for more information. There’s nothing like your first encounter with a dangerous wild animal on foot: the excitement, fear and thrill of this primal experience is much more memorable than a hundred game drives where you’ve ticked off the big five. Escaping the confines of your 4×4 and exploring the bush on foot opens a whole new world of the wild. Here are 5 reasons to get out of the car and put your hiking boots on: 1. A new perspective on wildlife Being on foot changes how you view animals. You may have previously dismissed impalas as boring when you see herds of them on game drives, but when you encounter them on a walking safari, you can’t help but marvel at their beauty, speed and grace. You realise how much work it is just to stay alive in the bush, and you can feel how vulnerable prey animals are: at any given moment they could be eaten, which endows you with a new sense of respect. 2. You learn more about the bush You do find out about the behaviour of animals on game drives but you learn a whole lot more on foot, especially if you have a good guide. Delve into the stories behind a pile of old bones, learn about the place of animals, insects and plants in bewilderingly complex ecosystems, discover that trees are more interesting that you think and find out about seeds that are almost magical in their evolutionary adaptations 3. Micro details You don’t see as much big game on foot as you do on game drives, but you do get the chance to be immersed in a fascinating world of plants, seeds, insects, reptiles and small animals: all the things you don’t see on drives. You also become much more sensorially aware when you’re walking as opposed to driving: you’re constantly alert to the sounds of alarm calls and the smells of the bush, which means that you take in a lot more detail than you would in the car. 4. Learning tracking On some walking safaris, you’ll have a tracker along with your guide, who will teach you some of the basics of this master skill. Learn to read tracks in the sand to follow animals through the bush, how to identify the smell of rhino wee or work out when ablution time was by poking through middens. Tracking is interesting and fun, and adds another dimension to your wildlife experience. . The chance to slow down You can’t take cell phone calls or answer emails on your smartphone while on a walking safari. If you’re a technology addict, then this is the holiday for you: you’re forced to unplug, switch off and be totally connected to nature. Credit source: africageographic.com

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Emdoneni News

15 Benefits of treating yourself to a SPA Day

There are so many benefits of a spa day for both your mind and body. You should never feel guilty for treating yourself to a spa treatment. Next time you need an excuse (not that you should EVER need an excuse) to take a spa day , whip out this article and share it around so that everyone knows you’re simply taking care of your health. 15 Reasons Why a Spa Day is Good For You – Your skin will be glowing after a delicious sugar or salt scrub. All the dead skin cells will be scrubbed away into oblivion and shiny new ones will be revealed. – Everything about the spa from the lighting to the treatments are designed to make you calm, chilled out and relaxed. After a spa treatment you’ll be walking on clouds. So if work, relationships, or just life in general are stressing you out, a spa day is exactly what you need. – You get plenty of time for quiet reflection when you’re in the spa. Sometimes we get overwhelmed by how “connected” we are in this day in age. A spa is usually a no phone, no laptop, no WiFi zone so you can truly get away from the world. Which, nowadays, is a rare luxury. – The sauna and/or steam room is great for respiratory conditions. It helps to open your airways which can help to soothe asthma, coughs and colds. So really, you need a spa day, for your health. – A good massage can take away aches and pains and help with joint pain conditions like arthritis. Just make sure you let your therapist know of any pre-existing conditions before the massage. I reckon you need to take a spa day at least once a month (easier done if you’re somewhere cheap like Indonesia), for your muscles’ sake. – The steam in the sauna/steam rooms helps you to sweat out toxins and a massage helps your lymphatic system to flush toxins from your body. A spa day is essential for when you’ve done a little too much indulging! Post Christmas, post birthday, post weekend, WHENEVER! Get in there and detox yourself. – Massage stimulates blood flow hence boosts circulation. It can ever help to lower blood pressure. So if you have circulation problems then you need to get some hands on your manipulating your tissues and muscles. – Leg massages can help prevent varicose veins. So if you’re on your feet all day in work then you definitely need to treat yourself to a massage for your perambulating limbs. – A spa treatment can be a great bonding experience for friends, family and couples. Got a mother-in-law you’re not getting on with? Take her for a spa day! Me and my boyfriend love a couples’ massage experience. Need a baby shower idea? Spa day! Honestly, a spa day is usually the answer to any question. – A spa experience can boost body confidence as you’ll HAVE to get fairly used to being naked. Nothing like lying on a therapy table in disposable underwear to make you comfortable with your own skin. The ideas of spas used to freak me out. I didn’t like the idea of being naked or semi-naked in a non-private environment. But now, after trying tonnes of different spa treatments in spas around the world, I’m definitely more body confident. – Depending on the oils used in your treatment a massage or spa treatment can give you energy. Peppermint, lemon, orange and cedarwood are just a few examples of oils that are great for vitality and energy. – Head, feet and hand massages are known to have the ability decrease the frequency of migraines/headaches when done correctly. Headache/migraine is one of the leading reasons for absence from work. SO, a spa day really could help you to be better at your job! – Massage can increase the amount of white blood cells in your system, boosting your immune system and helping to defend against infections. – A facial/facial massage can help refine pores, quench skin and slow the onset of wrinkles. So you’ll feel and look amazing. – FINALLY, massage releases serotonin (the happy hormone) so it’s great for your mental health, state of mind and mood. Chemically, you’ll just feel better after a massage. This is one of the main benefits of a spa day. So go book yourself a spa day with some of your favorite people or just for yourself. With all these physical and mental benefits of a spa day, we don’t just deserve a spa day, we NEED a spa day. Contact Emdoneni Lodge SPA and treat yourself to a well deserved Spa Day!

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