KwaZulu-Natal

KwaZulu-Natal, or Zulu Kingdom, is widely known as South Africa's "garden province." The South Coast region of the province (which includes the towns of Scottsburgh, Margate, and Port Edward) is especially popular among discerning travelers for its superb beaches, placid lagoons, and luxury resorts. World-class diving is available at the off-shore Aliwal Shoal (among many other locales on the South Coast), a fossilized sand dune where scuba mavens can safely swim with schools of fish as well as sharks. The northern coast of KwaZulu-Natal is home to game sanctuaries where African wildlife roams free amid forested and bushveld landscapes.

The heart of the province is a haven of eco-tourism and cultural authenticity known as Zululand. A visit here offers countless opportunities to learn about the traditions and history of Zulu culture. Signs of the region's colonial past survive in the Victorian and Edwardian architecture that distinguishes Pietermaritzburg, situated in the midst of Zulu country.

The rolling farmland of the KwaZulu Midlands is home to the Midlands Meander, a year-round arts-and-crafts route composed of more than 70 studios, galleries, and quaint country hotels. The route stretches north to south from the Mooi River to the town of Hilton.

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