Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa that was created in 1994 when the government merged the Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu and Natal Province.
Getting to Natal
Most visitors to KwaZulu-Natal begin or end their journey at Durban. = = The only important airport of KwaZulu-Natal is in Durban. It is the province's largest airport and offers domestic and international flights (only to Dubai, Mauritius and Maputo). King Shaka International Airport is located at La Mercy, 35 km north of the city. If you’re flying in to Durban, book your rented car beforehand.
Worth seeing
The second highest waterfall in the world, the Tugela falls, located in the Royal Natal National Park. The museums and historical sights regarding the Anglo-Boers wars around Ladysmith, Spioenkop, Frere (where Winston Churchill was captured) and many other sites. Sites where scenes from the 1964 film Zulu were shot there.
Things to do
Explore Zulu culture in the Valley of 1000 hills. Enjoy the beaches and warm water of the Indian Ocean. Explore the Drakensberg mountains. Rock climbing. Visit any of the many national parks. Scuba diving, especially at Sodwana Bay, Aliwal Shoal, Mabibi and Kosi Bay, and Durban. Dusi Canoe Marathon:. A marathon canoe race held over three days in mid-February between Pietermaritzburg and Durban.
Where to eat
Since the province has such a strong Indian heritage, it’s a good idea to try the local Indian restaurants. At Jai Pur Palace in Durban, try the eat-all-you-like buffet and sample as many of the dishes that tempt you. Well worth it. At the other end of the culinary scale is bunny chow, a loaf of bread hollowed out and filled with curry. Be careful - food hygiene may be poor where bunny chow is sold.
Getting around Natal the local way
- Get inFrom there you can take an intercity bus or a shared ride with Blablacar to Natal.
- Get inAlternatively you can take a minibus to Goianinha for R$4.50 (May 2021) and then a minibus to Natal for R$10 (May 2021).
- Get aroundRenting a car may be convenient if you, as many visitors, plan to use Natal as a base for day trips outside the city.
- Go nextIf you have time, it is worth staying more than a day trip.
From Wikivoyage: Natal, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.
Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons (see file page), Wikimedia Commons.