The Amazing Hidden Side of South Africa That Tourists Rarely See

While destinations such as Cape Town and Kruger National Park undeniably deserve merit, nature-bursting wetlands, prominent historical sites, dramatic mountains and the golden coastline of KwaZulu-Natal are mistakenly left off the itinerary.

KwaZulu-Natal is found on the eastern coast of South Africa and is a region that couples awe-inspiring shorelines and breathtaking mountains, with a deeply rooted history. It’s also home to the principal port of the country, the lively city of Durban, which brims with a blend of cultures from Zulu to Indian, and European communities, all on the ever-inviting Indian Ocean coast.

Immerse yourself in this kaleidoscope of local culture at Durban’s oldest market, Victoria Street Market. Open throughout the year, it offers a truly authentic experience, even for those escaping the crowds during the shoulder season. As you walk past more than 200 stalls, take in the sights and smells as traders offer local beaded jewellery, arts and crafts, and Indian spices, with customers even able to create their own custom-blend. You can also fin d respite with Durban’s signature dish of Bunny Chow, a flavoursome curry that fills hollowed out bread.

To further engage with the creative, travel to Durban’s eclectic art district of Station Drive Precinct. Here, you will find the province’s first craft distillery, Distillery 031, along with colourful art murals and artisanal shops. Stepping a few years back from contemporary art, explore the dramatic neo-Baroque style of the Durban City Hall, built in the 1900s. Count the four domes that encircle the main dome which sits atop the building, each with a statue that represents art, music, literature and commerce. Elsewhere, you can be immersed in history as you venture through Durban’s Natural Science Museum, an auditorium, a public library, and the Durban Art Gallery.

Just a couple of kilometres away, you can return to the present with the impressive coastline of Durban’s Golden Mile. True to its description of colour, it rather offers nearly four miles of beach, with the warm Mozambique Current inviting swimmers to dive in throughout the year.

Travel up north from Durban along the Dolphin Coast, which is famed for its warm Indian Ocean that is home to teeming marine biodiversity, including bottlenose dolphins, which are spotted throughout the year. As the dolphins venture from beach to beach, so can travellers, with a long list of untouched seaside spots scattered along the continuous coastline, including Thompsons Bay beach. Nestled in a private cove, this beach offers an idyllic spot to snorkel with an array of multicoloured reef fish, and its very own tidal pool known as the ‘Hole in the wall,’ it is a perfect place to explore under the sea. KwaZulu-Natal’s abundant nature is paired with an engrossing history found along the coast. From the beach, look onto Shaka’s rock, a prime fishing spot named after the great Zulu chief, Shaka, who is believed to have used the rock as a lookout point.

South Africa has layers upon layers of history, especially in the north of the country. Many flock to the site of Nelson Mandela’s detainment at Robben Island, but you can also visit the spot where it all started, at Mandela’s Capture Site. Here, you can learn more about the previous South African President’s life, and see the sculpture, Release, which at an angle depicts his face with 50 steel columns.

Explore another part of history which mustn’t be forgotten at the famous Zulu battlegrounds of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift, also featured in the famous movie, Zulu. Choose to fully immerse yourself in the experience and stay at Fugitive’s Drift Lodge – a hotel designed on teaching the history of the Zulu nation and the impact that the detrimental wars had. The
Lodge itself sits perched on top of a valley, looking over the Buffalo River.

The beauty of South Africa could humble any traveller, especially the Drakensberg Mountains. Translated as ‘Dragon Mountains’ in Afrikaans, the range stretches for 600km and forms the border of South Africa and Lesotho. The months of March and April are a prime time to explore, providing a climate perfect for hiking, horseback riding or biking the many trails that encircle the mountains, one of which lies within the Royal Natal National Park; called the ‘Amphitheatre’ where you can also see the Tugela River flowing over a three mile long curve of rock to form the Tugela Falls. Visit in November to see the mountains brimming with grassland wildflowers, with a splattering of purple, pink, orange, and white.

When people consider wildlife experiences in South Africa, big game safaris tend to be the go-to spots for most tourists, who often overlook places like the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. With UNESCO World Heritage Status, it is the country’s largest protected wetland park, uniting coastal forests, game parks and marine reserves – all maintained through community-driven tourism – and pioneering conservationism.
Enter the uMkhuze, one of South Africa’s oldest game parks and keep your eyes peeled for half-submerged hippos wallowing in its rivers, or gaze out across the plains in search of the big five, as well as cheetahs, wild dogs and more than 420 species of bird. The ‘Circle of Life’ is on full display and best visited between September and November to see young lions attempting their first hunt, or wobbly antelope taking their first steps – all while escaping the flocking of crowds during the peak months.

After your safari, you can swap paw prints for flippers and venture to coastal forests and secluded coves of Sodwana Bay, located on the mystical Elephant Coast – named after the region’s indigenous large-tusked residents. In March, tiny leatherback and loggerhead turtles are seen along the pristine coastline as they make their way into the waves.

Globally regarded as one of the top dive spots, the shores vibrantly burst with coral reefs that are home to over 1,200 species. You may even notice the expanding wings of manta rays or the ginormous mouths of whale sharks as they glide slowly to the surface. For a more dramatic scene, visit between September and November to see Humpback Whales dive out of the water as they reach the final point of their migration.

For an intimate insight into the underappreciated parts of South Africa, click here to explore our locals’ guide.