KZN is South Africa 's most diverse province. KZN is
surrounded by the warm Indian Ocean in the east, Mozambique and Swaziland in
the North, Lesotho and the Free State in the west, and the Eastern Cape in
the south. The most well-known city in KZN is Durban. KZN offers all that
Africa is famous for: beautiful scenery including Big-Five game reserves, a
fascinating history and a melting pot of cultures, endless beaches, the
spectacular Drakensberg Mountains and a
great climate all year round.
"KZN", as the locals call it, also has one of Africa's most
stunning mountain landscapes. All along the border with Lesotho, "the
world's highest kingdom", runs the Drakensberg escarpment.
Drakensberg means "The Mountain of Dragons" in the Afrikaans
language and the Zulu's call it even more graphically uKhahlamba, or
"The Wall (or Barrier) of Spears". The KZN Drakensberg is easily
confused with the Mpumalanga Drakensberg (Blyde River Canyon) to which it is
geologically connected as part of the Great South African Escarpment. The
KZN Drakensberg is higher, wilder, and more diverse than its more civilised
cousin to the north. The average height is about 2900 meter (9800 ft) with a
flat and accessible plateau with numerous peaks, domes and buttresses
reaching higher. There are many sheer rock walls of 500 m (1600 ft) or more
and the escarpment is breached by numerous passes and slopes. It is a water
rich area and great rivers such as the Orange River and the Tugela start
their long and important journey in these mountains. The escarpment itself
is known as the High Berg and the most famous part of the High Berg
is the 4 kilometre wide sheer basalt wall of the Amphitheatre (from
which the Tugela plunges over 850 metres in five clear leaps- one of the
highest waterfalls in the world).
Below the High Berg are numerous lower, grass covered mountains and hills
projecting into KZN. This area is known as the Little Berg and its
most conspicuous landmark is the line of yellow sandstone cliffs running the
entire length of the Drakensberg. The Little Berg has innumerable valleys
and gorges cut into it by rivers and streams, with wide open grasslands as
well as lush indigenous vegetation. Waterfalls, caves, rockpools, mountain
streams and numerous secret spots make for fantastic hiking, riding and
fishing country. The views of the High Berg are spectacular with sunrise and
sunset among the favourite times of the day.
The KZN Beaches
KZN is home to most of the "Blue Flag" award winning beaches of
South Africa
Margate Main Beach ( KZN )
South Beach, Durban ( KZN )
Willard Beach, Ballito ( KZN )
Ramsgate Beach ( KZN )
Marina Beach, Sanlameer ( KZN )
Game and Nature Reserves of KZN
Some of Africa's most famous game and nature reserves are found in
South Africa's province of KZN. This province of South Africa
offers more than any other province as far as wildlife goes. The parks and
game reserves are very different from each other and also more scenic than
most of the better known game reserves in South Africa.
