Within the area marked on maps as Zululand you can discover wild coastal dunes and lagoons, witness the results of world-changing wildlife conservation initiatives, and feel the ghosts of battles that shook the might of the British army. But it is the Zulu people themselves, and their tightly-held culture, that make this a profoundly special part of South Africa to explore. From our base in the town of Eshowe, rooted in the beautiful Dlinza rainforest, you can dig beneath the staged dance shows put on for tourists to experience genuine, living Zulu culture. Take part in a traditional healing ceremony, or be invited as a special guest to a village wedding, where you can see the Zulus' fearsome reputation as warriors played out as the families of bride and groom battle each other to put on the more exciting display of dancing! Zululand is also home to two of South Africa's star wildlife attractions. The Hluhluwe-Umfolozi National Park is the third largest and oldest national park in South Africa, a Big Five game reserve, and as the headquarters of Operation Rhino in the 1950s and 1960s played a crucial role in rescuing the White Rhino from extinction. From a worldwide population of just 20 animals in 1900, the Rhino Capture Unit successfully bred the park's population up to a robust 1600, and rhinos from Hluhluwe-Umfolozi have been exported to repopulate game reserves all over Africa. Just to the east lies St Lucia and the vast wetlands of iSimangaliso Wetland Park. The park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stretches for 220 km along the East Coast from St Lucia to the Mozambique border, and its coastal lagoons are home to the greatest concentration of hippopotamus in South Africa. You can also find the lion's share of the Big Five here, as well as whales, sharks and Leatherback turtles, not to mention some 530 bird species. As always, our journeys through Zululand are designed to make sure your holiday has the most positive impact possible. We hand pick accommodation and tour experiences that promote sustainable development and tread lightly on the earth.
