Zululand

The northern KwaZulu-Natal region around the small towns of St. Lucia, Hluhluwe and Mkuze offers countless highlights, making it one of the most important tourist regions in South Africa. Big Five game reserves, secluded beaches, endless lake landscapes and exciting Zulu culture offer a wealth of attractions. You should plan to spend at least two nights in the area, and depending on your interests, more nights may be advisable, especially in the South African winter. Zululand has a slight, seasonally varying risk of malaria.

St. Lucia and iSimangaliso Wetland Park

The iSimangaliso Wetland Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and stretches from the cozy tourist town of St. Lucia to the Mozambican border. On boat trips, you can experience hippos, crocodiles and the unique birdlife at the confluence of salt and fresh water. The beaches are endless and deserted, the Indian Ocean invites you to swim all year round. The Eastern Shore Section of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park offers a unique beach and bush experience. This unique evergreen refuge stretches from the small town of St. Lucia up to the unique beach of Cape Vidal and is home to hippos, elephants, rhinos, antelopes, leopards and impressive birdlife.

Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park

The Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park is the oldest wildlife conservation park in South Africa and perhaps also one of the most beautiful. The park is divided into the northern Hluhluwe section and the southern Imfolozi section. Thanks to the subtropical climate, it is usually lush and green here, even in the dry season. The population of white and black rhino is particularly noteworthy, but you can also spot the rest of the Big Five and many other African wild animals here. The number of accommodations in and around the park is quite limited, and the quality is either rudimentary or very upmarket. Fortunately, the park can easily be discovered as a day or half-day tour from St. Lucia. There are guided game drives in open off-road vehicles or you can drive in with your own rental car. The months of May to October are the ideal time to go on safari in the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi due to the lower rainfall. From November to April it can be hot and humid.

Northern Zululand

Sodwana Bay is South Africa's diver's paradise and is easy to reach thanks to the continuous paved road. Nevertheless, this sun-drenched gem has so far been spared mass tourism. The beaches here just before the Mozambican border are unique and even in winter it can get really hot here. The other game reserves in the region are also well worth a visit, such as the Mkuze, Ithala or Ndumo Game Reserve. However, some of these are quite remote and may not be home to as much big game. There are also some reconstructed traditional Zulu villages to visit in Zululand, so-called kraals. However, these usually offer little more than boring theater performances. If you want to get to know authentic and contemporary Zulu life, all you have to do is drive to one of the many small villages and visit the local market, for example. The Zulus are friendly people and very open to visitors.