Visit Kwazulu-Natal

The reserves of KwaZulu-Natal boast lush green terrain thanks to the area's coastal rainfall pattern. The woods, wetlands and grasslands combine with mountains, rivers, marshes and pans to create a rich environment, abundant with diverse wildlife.

Close to the coast, wild and remote, the region's private reserves offer visitors some of the best chances to spot cheetah in South Africa. First among these is Phinda Private Game Reserve. Set in the prestigious Hluhluwe National Park, Phinda comprises 17,500 hectares of prime conservation land and is home to the Big Five, over 400 bird species and six unique lodges by luxury safari company, andBeyond.

Elsewhere, the iSimangaliso/Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park is a World Heritage site located on KwaZulu-Natal’s Indian Ocean coast. A region of rich biodiversity, it's home to the highest density of endangered black rhino in the world. It’s also the site of the last major swamp forests in South Africa, which in turn are framed by 25,000-year-old coastal dunes home to some 526 bird species, and a number of significant historical sites.

South Africa & Mozambique: Black spots & white pearls

15-day tailor-made holiday from £8,430 pp incl. flights

This indulgent getaway is the ideal combination of relaxation and exploration. Begin with city sights and safaris in South Africa, then wrap things up with butler service and private plunge pools on Mozambique’s pristine white sands.

KwaZulu-Natal Discovery Self-Drive

10-day tailor-made self-drive from £4,775 pp incl. flights

With KwaZulu-Natal perhaps the most diverse of South Africa’s provinces, this road trip takes in everything from the Drakensberg Mountains and Durban’s beachfront to Zulu battlefields and a Big-Five safari.

South African Safari & Mozambique beach break

11-day tailor-made holiday from £12,135 pp incl. flights

This is the definitive twin-centre getaway, combining a South African Big-Five safari with the white sands and relaxation of a private-island getaway in next-door Mozambique.

South Africa with Red Carnation Hotels

12-day tailor-made self-drive from £3,820 pp incl. flights

Enjoy nights at three of South Africa's finest hotels as you stay right on Cape Town’s picturesque coast, enjoy a wilderness retreat in the Cederberg Mountains and relax at a beachfront hideaway in Durban.

Places to stay in Kwazulu-Natal

Forest Lodge, Phinda Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal

Contemporary safari lodge

Set in a rare and beautiful sand forest, the dense canopy ensures privacy and a calming atmosphere of Zulu Zen. Located between the Mkuze Game Reserve and the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, it is home to unique wildlife, over 380 bird species and the marine diversity off the nearby coast is said t…

Makakatana Bay Lodge, Richards Bay

Traditional lodge

The only privately owned safari lodge set on the banks of Lake St Lucia, Makakatana Bay Lodge is a four-star property, benefitting from the unspoiled wilderness beaches, vast wetlands and game reserves that accompany its location- iSimangaliso Wetland Park World Heritage Site.

Homestead, Phinda Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal

Contemporary safari lodge

Offering the best big five safari in KwaZulu-Natal, Phinda is a large reserve spanning over 22,000 hectares and home to seven unique ecosystems.

Rock Lodge, Phinda Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal

Contemporary safari lodge

Against cliff face and overlooking a lush valley, Rock Lodge resembles a small private castle. Located between the Mkuze Game Reserve and the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, it is home to unique wildlife, over 380 bird species and a marine diversity said to rival the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

See all places to stay