Although they may not be as well known as the Kruger National Park, KwaZulu-Natal is home to a number of game reserves that offer Big Five experiences, including the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve and private game reserves. Choose self-drive or guided game drives or walks.

The province also offers the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, an amazing water wilderness about 280km north of Durban (a few hours' drive) that includes Lake St Lucia, the St Lucia and Maputaland marine reserves, the Coastal Forest Reserve and Kosi Bay Nature Reserve. There is about 220km of almost untouched coastline plus almost 333 000ha of gorgeous scenery, with habitats ranging from coral beaches and reefs to freshwater and saltwater marshes, coastal forests, high dunes and lush coastal plains … plus, South Africa’s biggest population of hippopotamus. It is home to game, natural beauty and interesting marine life.

KwaZulu-Natal is also a mecca for military history buffs – this is a province where some of South Africa’s most famous (and infamous) battles took place: the Boers defeated the Zulus at the Battle of Blood River in 1838; and a Zulu army humiliated the might of the British army at Isandlwana in 1879, immediately followed by the Battle of Rorke’s Drift, where a handful of British soldiers held off the same victorious Zulu army. The province also witnessed major battles between the Boers and the Brits in the Anglo-Boer wars of the late 19^th century and early 20^th century.

KwaZulu-Natal is the ancestral home of the Zulu people and Zulu is the most widely spoken African language in South Africa. The name of Shaka Zulu, the great warrior king, is widely known, and the 19^th century battles between the Zulu and British Empire in KwaZulu-Natal are rooted in British and South African history. Reconstructed theme villages, where you can experience the culture, food and history of the Zulus, can be found throughout the province.

Sodwana Bay, a marine protected area, is one of the best scuba-diving sites in the world.