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KwaZulu Natal Road Trip

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

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7 Tips for a successful Whale Watching Trip

Whale watching—seeing some of the largest animals on Earth in their natural habitat—can be a thrilling activity. Being prepared for your whale watch and knowing what to expect can help make your trip a successful one. Follow these tips to get the most out of your experience. Book Your Trip With a Reputable Company Louise Murray / Robert Harding World Imagery / Getty Images Whale watching can be a thrilling adventure. It may also be a long, expensive trip, especially if you have children. If you’re going whale watching, take some time to research the tour operators so that you’ll have a fun, successful trip. Follow the company’s guidelines as to when to arrive for boarding the boat. Make sure you arrive with plenty of time to stand in line for tickets and get on board. Whale watching should be a happy, relaxing experience; rushing around at the beginning makes for too hectic a start of your day. Check the Weather and the Marine Forecast Imagno / Contributor / Getty Images Maybe you love adventure and the idea of cruising through rough seas and getting splashed with waves is your idea of a great time. Whale watch operators will not go out if the seas are unsafe, but most captains and crew don’t get seasick! If you’re not sure about rough seas or whether or not you’ll get motion sickness, you’ll probably want to go whale watching on the calmest day possible. Check the weather forecast and also the marine forecast for details about conditions out on the water. If the forecast is for high winds or seas, it’s likely you will have a rocky trip. Check the Sightings Mark Carwardine / Getty Images Whales are wild animals, so sightings can never really be guaranteed. Some companies “guarantee” sightings, but this usually means that they’ll provide a complimentary ticket to return on another day if no whales are sighted. You may want to check on the latest sightings in the area to see what species have been nearby recently and how many whales have been seen. Many companies will offer this information on their website. If there is a whale research organization in the area, check their website as they may be more likely to offer an objective report of recent sightings. Instead of focusing on how many whales you’re seeing or what they are doing or not doing, enjoy the whole experience. Take it all in. Smell and breathe in the fresh ocean air and observe the birds and all the other marine life you see on the trip. Pack for a Day at Sea Michael Runkel / Getty Images Remember that it can be 10–15 degrees cooler on the ocean and rain showers may happen during the trip. Dress in layers, wear sturdy, rubber-soled shoes, and bring a rain jacket if there’s even the slightest chance of rain in the forecast. Wear plenty of sunscreen and a hat—and make sure it’s a hat that won’t blow away! If you wear glasses or sunglasses, it’s always a good idea to use an eyeglass lanyard (also called a retainer) when out on the water. You definitely don’t want to risk your glasses falling overboard. Think About Taking Motion Sickness Medicine Russell Underwood / Getty Images If you are not sure how you will react to the motion of the ocean, think about taking motion sickness medicine. Many whale watches are several hours long, and this can be a very long time if you are not feeling well. Remember to take motion sickness medicine before you board the boat (usually 30–60 minutes prior) and take the non-drowsy version so you don’t end up sleeping the entire trip! Bring Your Camera Aliyev Alexei Sergeevich / Getty Images Bring a camera to record your experience. Also, bring plenty of batteries and make sure you have a clear memory card or lots of film in case the sightings are spectacular! Keep in mind that the average point-and-shoot camera might not deliver the speed and magnification needed to get the best pictures, especially if the company is following whale watch guidelines that dictate they watch whales from a distance. If you have a 35mm camera, a 200–300mm lens provides the most zoom and stability for whale watching. Remember to get some fun shots of you and/or your family with the ocean in the background or interacting with the naturalist/crew on board! If At First You Don’t Succeed… Pascale Gueret / Getty Images Remember that the photos you see on brochures and websites are likely the best photos taken from many years of whale watches. While you may see similar things, they are likely not everyday sightings. The one thing that can be guaranteed about whale watching is that every trip is different. If you don’t see a certain species the first time, try again another day or another year, and you’ll likely have a completely different experience! Source Credit: www.thoughtco.com