Kwazulu-Natal Travel
Aptly called South Africa’s garden province, KwaZulu-Natal is one of the country’s most popular holiday destinations. This verdant region includes South Africa’s lush subtropical east coast. Washed by the warm Indian Ocean, it stretches from Port Edward in the south, and northwards to the Mozambique boundary. In addition to the magnificent coastline, the province also boasts sweeping savanna in the east, and the majestic Drakensberg mountain range in the west.
Visitors to KwaZulu-Natal can either disembark at Durban International Airport, which handles more than 2,5 million passengers a year, or at Durban harbour. Alternatively, they can make use of the extensive national road network.
Provincial profile
Durban is one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the world. Its port is the busiest in South Africa and is one of the 10 largest in the world.
KwaZulu-Natal is the only province with a monarchy specifically provided for in the Constitution.
In 1999, the Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park was declared a World Heritage site.
Separating KwaZulu-Natal from Lesotho, the Drakensberg runs 200 km along the western boundary of the province.
Richards Bay Minerals is the largest sand-mining and mineral-processing operation in the world.
Richards Bay is the centre of operations for South Africa’s aluminium industry.
Some of South Africa’s best-protected indigenous coastal forests are found along the subtropical coastline of KwaZulu-Natal such as at Dukuduku and Kosi Bay.
KwaZulu-Natal has more than 9,9 million people living on 92 100 km2 of land (Mid-Year Population Estimates, 2006). The principal language spoken is isiZulu, followed by English and Afrikaans. Remnants of British colonialism, together with Zulu, Indian and Afrikaans traditions make for an interesting cultural mix in the province.
