THE REGIONS WE VISIT

 

The borders of the province of KwaZulu-Natal stretch from the southern borders of Swaziland and Mozambique to the Umtamvuna River 160 km South of Durban. The only province with a monarchy specifically provided for in the constitution it is a culturally diverse region. Scenically diverse it includes untamed wilderness regions, broad, sandy beaches and sunshine almost throughout the year, lush subtropical vegetation, the farmlands, towns and hills of the midlands and the soaring mountain peaks of the mighty Drakensberg mountain range. 

• Inland and North of the Tugela River is the area known traditionally as Zululand. Starting in 1816 this is where the famous Zulu Nation under King Shaka rose to power and numerous historical sites, cultural villages and craft centres are to be found in this region. Also present are many game reserves and sanctuaries and the close proximity of the ‘Big Five’(plus many smaller animals) to pristine beaches, superb scuba diving, deep sea fishing and unsurpassed birdwatching make this a ’must see’ tourist destination. The complete spectrum of game can be seen in reserves such as The Hluhluwe Umfolosi Park, Mkuze and Itala where habitats range from rolling grasslands to bushveld.
• On the Western border of Kwazulu Natal are the mighty Drakensberg Mountains. Traditionally made up of a patchwork of reserves and forestry areas the whole region has now been amalgamated into one huge conservation area - the Drakensberg Park. This park protects the fragile catchment areas of many of the Kwazulu Natal rivers and also offers spectacular mountain scenery and superb hiking opportunities.
• In the North Eastern corner of Kwazulu Natal is the area known as Maputaland.Flanked  in the East by the sea and the West by the Ubombo Mountains it stretches South from the Mocambique border to the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park. Maputaland is a rare remaining area in Africa, where man has not yet caused destruction of the complex set of interlocking ecosystems, a place of great natural beauty and a place of great ecological importance. Running the length of the coastline, just inland of the majestic dunes, lie a series of lake systems. Crocodile, Hippo and a rich variety of bird life can be found. Further inland Elephant, Giraffe, Rhino and antelope can be seen in typical African bushveld, sand forests or swamp forests. Spectacular coral formations along the coastline attract scuba divers and the pristine beaches attract breeding marine turtles. Year after year the giant Leatherback and the loggerhead turtles return to follow an ancient nesting ritual which has been taking place for  thousands of years.

HLUHLUWE UMFLOSI PARK

As one of South Africa’s most celebrated game parks, the Umfolozi-Hluhluwe Park is renowned for its variety of animal and bird life, its wide-ranging topography, and an extremely rich diversity of tree and plant communities. The park covers 96 000 hectares, and comprises three sections - the former Umfolozi and Hluhluwe reserves - proclaimed in 1895 along with St. Lucia Game Reserve, making them Africa’s oldest game reserves - and the linking corridor reserve, proclaimed in 1989. The reserve is internationally renowned for its White Rhino, having the largest population in Africa.  It also has the highest concentration of Black Rhino in Africa.  Also well established in the reserve, are Bushbuck, Zebra, Blue Wildebeest, Waterbuck, Red and Grey Duiker, Steenbuck, Mountain Reedbuck, Klipspringer, Impala, Kudu, Nyala, Buffalo, Giraffe, Baboon, Warthog, Spotted Hyena, Black-backed Jackal, Cheetah, Leopard and Lion.   The area lies between the White and Black Umfolozi rivers.  The vegetation of the area includes lovely open grassland areas for game viewing, interspersed with woodlands of Tamboti, Buffalo Thorn, Marula and Umbrella Thorn.  3

MKUZI RESERVE

The Mkuzi Reserve is situated in northern Zululand and is 36 000 hectares in extent.  The Reserve offers a wonderful cross section of fauna and flora.  The park embraces 7 vegetation types including Savannah, Closed Woodland, Riverine Forest and Fig Forest.  The Mkuzi Reserve is particularly favoured for it’s abundant bird life with more than 400 species.  These include the White-backed Vulture, Crested Guinea Fowl, Natal Francolins, Stilt, Green-spotted Wood Dove, Black Cuckoo, White-fronted Bee-eater and Greater Honey Guide.  Mkuzi is a small gem of a reserve and a beautiful wilderness retreat.

ITALA NATURE RESERVE

Established in 1972 this is one of the newer reserves of the Kwazulu Natal Conservation Services. The landscape varies from low lying grasslands to steep sided forested valleys rising up to massive granite cliffs at altitudes of 1450 metres. This reserve is rich in ethnic history, colonial battlefields, and diverse ecological habitats and offers visitors a unique bushveld experience. Game includes Elephant, Leopard, Giraffe, Cheetah, White and Black Rhino, Nyala, Tsessebe, Eland and Red Hartebeest plus many other smaller species of animals. The area is also rich in birdlife.  From bush camps to the luxurious Ntshondwe Camp all levels of accommodation are catered for and your visit here affords you a unique view of the African Wilderness.

GREATER ST LUCIA WETLAND PARK

The Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park is an area of inspiring natural wonder and provides endless hours of discovery and adventure.  The St. Lucia lake is a 60km long estuary lying parallel to the sea. Contributing to the unique ecology of the lake is the seasonal fluctuations in the salinity levels. The very narrow opening to the sea in the south, evaporation and the variable inflow from the four major rivers which feed this system are responsible for this. The diverse animals and plants in this area are dependent upon complex physical, chemical and biological interactions for fresh water and nutrients. 

Food chains are complex. Crocodiles, Fish Eagle and Pelicans prey on the large fish population.  The fish in turn feed on prawns which live on Zoo-plankton.  The Zoo-plankton depend on plant plankton which thrive in the shallow warm conditions and form the foundation for the rich diversity and abundance of animal life.  The large Hippo population feed on the lush shores at night and distribute large quantities of nutrients into the lake with their droppings.  The shore areas support Nyala, Bushbuck, Waterbuck, Buffalo, Reed Buck, Duiker, Suni, Steenbuck and Bush Pig.

For the bird watchers, this is an avian paradise with over 400 species.  During the breeding season there are spectacular displays.  Adjacent to the sea, 120m high forested dunes, the world’s highest, range along the entire length of the lake.  The variety of tropical plants and animals within these dunes is astonishing.  Between the dunes and swamp forest are open grasslands with attractive flowers and woody thickets.  St. Lucia Estuary is one of the few areas left in KwaZulu-Natal with healthy stands of Ncema grass.  Every year, thousands of people come to St. Lucia Estuary to harvest Ncema.  This plant is important in Zulu culture, being used to make sleeping and sitting mats.  This unique system incorporating the estuary, dune forests, mangrove swamps, grasslands and thickets of woodland offers a spectacular opportunity to any visitor.

On the Maputaland coast is a cluster of small lakes and marshes connected to the sea by a stream known as Doswana (“little one on its own”).  A coastal forest grows around the lakes and birds are plentiful.  Tonga Red Squirrels and several species of mongoose live in the forest, as well as Suni, Red and Grey Duiker, Steenbuck, Reedbuck and Bush Pig.  The spectacular coral formations of Sodwana Bay enthrall divers who are drawn to the magnificent reefs and marine life here.  The unspoiled beaches provide endless opportunities for beachcombing and for marine turtles to lay their eggs.

LAKE SIBAYA

The intensely blue lake known to the Tonga people as Sibaya, meaning “something enclosed” is a prime example of water entrapped in a deep hollow in a sandy coastal plain.  It is South Africa’s largest freshwater lake.  The lake is 28 metres deep and nearly 50 square kilometres in extent.  The water is fresh and crystal clear, presumably fed by underground streams, as no river or streams flow into it, yet  the level remains constant.  The shores of the lake are made of fine white sand. Rustic lakeside camps offer a tranquil haven for outdoor enthusiasts wanting to explore this beautiful area.

Kosi Bay is not a bay but in fact consists of four interlinked clear freshwater lakes in close proximity to the shore. The system stretches over 25km.  The largest lake, Lake Nhlange is eight kilometres long, 5km wide and more than 50m deep. The chain of lakes is rich in fish. Sea Pike, Grunter, Bream and many other fish find a congenial home in these waters.  Bird life too is abundant with 247 species including a substantial population of the magnificent Fish Eagle.

Ndumu Game Reserve is situated in the far north eastern part of Zululand on the Mozambique border. In 1924  10 000 hectares of riverine forest on the southern bank of the Usutu River was proclaimed the Ndumu Game Reserve. Ndumu takes it’s name from a Tonga tribal chief who once lived in the area. Antelope are numerous and there are Black and White Rhino. The primary feature of the reserve however is the astonishing wealth of life in the rivers and shallow pans. Hippo, Crocodile and aquatic birds are plentiful and there are great numbers of fish such as Barble, Tiger-fish, Bream and other species. There are more than 390 species of birds in the reserve and 200 species of trees.

The Drakensberg is the mightiest mountain range in South Africa.  These beautiful mountains define the interior plateau of South Africa, extending 960 km from the North Eastern Transvaal to the Eastern Cape.  The central section is the most prominent at an average height of 3 000m and has awe-inspiring, rugged mountain scenery. The Zulu name for the mountains is Quathlamba - “a barrier of spears”.  It was also aptly named by the first Dutch settlers - “The Dragon Mountains”.  The Drakensberg were formed some 300 million years ago by successive deposits.  Initially deep mud deposits formed resulting from a deep inland lake.  These were then capped by wind-blown sand deposits.  The rugged upper reaches were formed by sheet flows of lava which stretched from the present day Lesotho to the East Coast.  During the subsequent 140 million years this hard lava cap has eroded and receded 200km inland to form these unique mountains.  The vegetation grows in characteristic belts depending on the parent rock, altitude and aspect.  Open grassland dominates the vegetation.  The lower reaches have beautiful areas of protea savanna and natural forest while the upper reaches are covered by hardy heath and woody shrubs.  In total, the Drakensberg has 1200 plant and flower species which support 43 mammals and 250 bird species, and a multitude of other small animal life.  The Drakensberg climate has pronounced seasonal fluctuations in temperature.  During summer the maximum day temperature is 33 degrees celsius, while nights are warm to cool.  Winter day temperatures peak at 22 degrees Celsius with very cold nights. Home to the peace loving Bushmen / San as recently as the 19^th century, the area offers a tapestry of natural and cultural splendour. A paradise for would be trekkers.

On 26 March 1898, President Paul Kruger signed a proclamation establishing a sanctuary for wildlife between the Sabie and Crocodile Rivers.  It was an auspicious day for conservation as the first national park in Africa had been created.  Today the Kruger National Park covers an area of nearly 2 000 000 hectares and is renowned for its conservation and wildlife management techniques.  The park offers a wildlife experience that compares with the best in Africa and here the visitor may encounter Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Elephant, Hippo, Crocodile, Rhino, Impala and Giraffe.  The Kruger Park is home to an impressive number of species - 336 trees, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 507 birds and 147 mammals. It’s scenery, plants and animals as well as its romantic history will always ensure that it has a unique place amongst the world’s great game reserves

From the time of its first discovery by man, this coastal terrace from Mossel Bay to Storms River with its necklace of bays , beaches, cliffs and rocky capes strung together along a line of pounding white surf and with its profusion of wild flowers, has delighted visitors. Stretching for 177 km between the mountains and the sea, the high forest of the Garden Route is one of South Africa’s richest botanical treasures. More than 80 kinds of trees grow here. Elephant, Leopard, Monkey and many birds have their homes in the forest’s depths. For all its marvels, South Africa has always been short of rain and the regions where forests flourish are few, thus making the Garden Route all the more ecologically precious.  

The Tsitsikamma National Park, a high rainfall area, stretches for 113 kilometre along the coast and it is crossed by many rivers and streams. It has a wild and unspoiled stretch of rocky coast. The coastal scenery includes wild flowers, birds and other wild life. In the forest there are several massive trees - the tallest being 36 metres - some of which are reputedly a thousand years old. Rare birds such as the Knysna Loerie and the shy Narina Trogon may be spotted by the lucky visitor.

Much of the Garden Route is overlooked by the majestic Outeniqua Mountains named after the Hottentot tribe of that name. Outeniqua was said to mean “a man laden with honey” referring to the profuse wild flowers which attract many bees. The interior is reached via a number of scenic passes across impressive mountain ranges. 

Cape Town, the mother city of South Africa, nestles in one of the most dramatic scenic settings of any city on earth. It is cradled by the imposing bulk of Table Mountain (rising 1086 metres above the bay), and Devil’s Peak and Lion’s Head.  The exceptional natural beauty of Cape Town endures in its mountains, its varied and spectacular coastlines, its rich flora and in much of its historic architecture.

Table Mountain, unquestionably one of the world’s most famous landmarks, has been declared a national park. With its flat summit nearly 3km long, it is home to some 2285 plant species, many of which are found nowhere else on earth. A dazzling variety of wild flowers bloom on the mountain, including Disa, a species of orchid known as the “Pride of Table Mountain.” It is also the natural home of the Shimmering Silver Tree.

Climb to the top of the mountain or go by cable car and witness the magnificent panorama spread before you.  No one who has seen Table Mountain with its famous tablecloth of cloud neatly laid and spilling over its towering cliffs and crags, can deny that he has seen one of the scenic splendours on earth. A visit to the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens, on the slopes of Table Mountain,  is also a very rewarding experience when visiting Cape Town. The peninsula of the Cape of Good Hope consists of a 74 kilometre finger of rock curving out into the sea, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans are said to meet. The Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve was proclaimed in 1939 to provide protection against the development of seaside resorts and covers some 7680 unspoiled hectares of the southernmost part of the Cape Peninsula. It also includes almost 40km of South Africa’s most dramatic coastal scenery. The reserve is particularly lovely in spring when the countryside is strewn with a patchwork of wild flowers.  A number of trails have been constructed in the reserve, offering various opportunities for day walks.

Only 220km from Cape Town lies this 71 000 hectare mountain complex. The Cedarberg Range, some 100km long, is a gigantic mass of sandstone, richly coloured by iron oxides and eroded into a variety of strange shapes. These weird rock formations give the range its unique character, a character which is enhanced by the rich plant life, including such rarities as the Snow Protea and the Cedarberg or Rocket Pincushion. The highest peak, the Sneeuberg (2028m) is one of the few homes of this - one of the world’s rarest plants.

Another unusual species found in the Cedarberg is the Clanwilliam Cedar, after which the mountain range is named. They grow at an altitude of 1000m to 1500m and some specimens are believed to live for 1000 years. The remarkable 10 metre tall rock formation known as the Maltese cross juts from the ground like a fist and is a “must see”. Near the southern end of the range is the extraordinary Stadsaal or “Town Hall” - a mass of rock honeycombed with chambers , caves, crevices and passages. There are Bushmen paintings in some of the shelters. A climb to the extraordinary Wolfberg Cracks , a vertical cleft some 30m or more high, is undeniably strenuous but very rewarding. Once on top, a walk of less than an hour and a half across a level moonscape will bring you to the Wolfberg Arch, one of the Cedarberg’s most spectacular rock formations.

Life in the northern Cape is dominated by the Orange River, one of the most erratic of the world’s big rivers. It is a true river of the wilderness - moody, sullen and enigmatic. To the Bushmen and Hottentots who first discovered it in its lower reaches, it was the mother of all rivers, the Garib (“the great river”). As befits so great a river, the Orange carries one of the six largest waterfalls of the world. This waterfall and its gorge at Augrabies is one of the natural wonders of Africa and a gigantic spectacle, which the Hottentots called Aukoerebis (“the place of great noise”).

At peak flood, 405 million litres of water go over the falls every minute in a direct drop of 145 metres, with a cataract fall below the direct plunge of 54 metres. In 1967 the Augrabies Falls National Park was opened. This preserves 88 000 hectares of river landscape including a rich variety of plant life such as Kokerboom, Lithops, Wild Olive, Karoo Thornbush, Cape Willow as well as numerous birds, monkeys, Steenbuck, wild cats and otters. The barren surroundings, the enormously powerful river, the ominous roar of the waterfall, the chaos of contending rocks and water in the gorge and the eerie atmosphere all contribute to create one of the most dramatic scenes in Africa.

Very recently, one of the most forbidding but beautiful areas in Southern Africa, situated in the far Northern Cape bordering Namibia - the Richtersveld - has been proclaimed as a national park and is now accessible to the adventurous and properly equipped. The whole region offers the hiker an experience different from the familiar and well trodden trails elsewhere. Daily temperature variations can however be extreme. The proclamation of the 162000 hectare Richtersveld National Park was a landmark in the development of conservation in South Africa. After lengthy negotiations with the semi-nomadic Nama inhabitants, it was agreed that the National Parks Board would manage the park on their behalf while they would continue to live and graze their stock in the park. The park was established to protect its unique wild beauty and its highly adapted flora and reptile and insect fauna. There are small numbers of Hartmann’s Zebra, Springbuck, Klipspringer, Steenbuck and Grey Reedbuck in the park. Baboon and Vervet Monkey are found in the scrub lining the Orange River , where most of the birdlife is found.

The Kalahari Gemsbok National Park is situated in the far Northern Cape, bordering Namibia and Botswana. In this huge parched landscape of red-coloured sand dunes and bush covered water courses, live more than 10 000 Springbuck as well as Gemsbuck, Cheetah, Hyena, Lion, Hartebeest, Eland, Kudu, Wildebeest, Ostrich and Bat-eared Fox. The animals wander at will into the park from the surrounding wilderness of the Kalahari. Bushmen also have free range over the area. Plants in the park include the Kameeldoring and other species of acacia. Their umbrella shaped canopies provide shade, while their seed pods and the Tsamma melons are staple items of food for Bushmen and animals.

The Kingdom of Swaziland is scenically incredibly diverse.  The western and northern area is a continuation of the South African Highveld. It is a very picturesque high rainfall area of forests and open grasslands. The highest peaks in this area are at 1860m above sea level. Towards the east  is the flatter Lowveld  area  which is flanked by the Lebombo Mountains along the Mocambique border. The climate is warm and sub tropical and fruit and nuts grow to perfection. The eastern lowveld region is also home to vast tracts of sugar plantations and the three game reserves - Hlane, Mlawula and Mkhaya. The country is small making it simple to take in the game reserves, Mbabane the capital, the culturally rich countryside and the highland areas all in a short space of time.

Mocambique  has  a 2500 km  tropical coastline  studded with islands of unsurpassed beauty with white beaches, azure blue water and fringing coral reefs. Approximately 700 km north of  Maputo lies the unchallenged crown jewel of the entire coastline - the Bazaruto Archipelago National Park. It consists of five islands lying just off the town of Vilanculos. They vary in size from 35 km to less than 1 km in length. The islands ringed by pristine beaches and with  dhows plying the blue waters around them ,offer  a mosaic of habitats - from acacia woodland and open grassland ringing with the calls of more than 100 bird species to freshwater  lakes  and the tranquil blue waters of the of the Mocambique current. Tidal flats, rocky points and coral reefs are home  to a multitude of brilliantly coloured fish, corals and other marine life.

Lesotho the Mountain Kingdom is a small country completely surrounded by South Africa. The Lesotho Lowlands form an east facing crescent around the country and are where you will find the nations major towns. This lowland strip is in fact part of the central plateau of southern Africa and the lowest point in Lesotho is above 1000 metres making it the country with the highest low point in the world!  The country has its origins in the mid 1800’s when a chief by the name of Moshoeshoe established himself on an impregnable flat topped mountain called Thaba-Bosiu near the present day capital of Maseru. From this stronghold the Basotho Nation went from strength to strength until they finally  gained independence from British colonial rule in 1966 as the sovereign state of Lesotho. Despite its underdeveloped infrastructure and almost insignificant tourism industry Lesotho is a must for the adventurous traveler. Today the country offers clear mountain streams, pony trekking, trout fishing, remote mountain valleys and hiking in a country with no fences. While it is the remote mountain grandeur that attracts most visitors it is the warm and open hospitality of the rural country folk that often creates as big an impression. If you are an ‘Off the beaten track’ tourist then Lesotho is for you!