This region of South Africa called KwaZulu Natal offers both spectacular mountains and sunny beaches. The KwaZulu Natal coastal area is hot in summer and warm in winter. Inland the winters can be cold and snow may fall on the Drakensberg mountains.
The highest point of the Drakensberg is in Lesotho, but the mountain range is most spectacular in KwaZulu Natal, falling from its ultimate height of 2,000m (6,562ft) down to the green farmlands of Natal. In the lower regions where the hotels and resorts are situated, the climate is excellent, with warm summers and mild winters. It is only at higher altitudes that the winters are often besieged with snow and formidable blizzards.
Conservationists are very active in the Drakensberg area and the Royal Natal National Park has more than 1,000 plant species, 12 species of antelope and three of the world's seven species of crane. There are several other reserves such as Giant's Castle, Kamberg Nature Reserve, Loteni Nature Reserve, Vergelegen Nature Reserve, Himeville Nature Reserve, the Swamp Nature Reserve and Coleford Nature Reserve. The Drakensberg foothills are superb walking areas and each of the reserves has its own trails.
The farming region known as the Natal Midlands which contains Pietermaritzburg, the capital of KwaZulu-Natal, has a European feel to it. Dotted with European trees and hedgerows, the countryside offers excellent opportunities for walking, riding and trout fishing.
A driving route known as the Midlands Meander winds through the region connecting craft studios, galleries, restaurants and hiking trails.
The Albert Falls Nature Reserve on the Umgeni River is home to a variety of antelope. The reserve is 25km (16 miles) outside Pietermaritzburg.
This quiet landscape witnessed many of the bloodiest battles of the Zulu War. The battle of Isandlwana, for instance, was a disaster for the British army. The battlefield and its museum are well worth a visit. Battlegrounds from the Anglo-Boer War are also scattered throughout this region.
East of Pietermaritzburg, the Valley of a Thousand Hills offers some of South Africa's most spectacular scenery. Traditional Zulu villages nestle at the feet of the rolling hills. The highest of these hills, Natal Table Mountain is over 1,000m (3,281ft) high.
The subtropical city of Durban is situated on a long stretch of beach, it attracts thousands of overseas and local tourists. The beachfront is lined with hotel complexes, restaurants, amusement parks, waterslides, and gardens as well as rickshaws, each drawn by a Zulu warrior dressed in traditional costume. Durban is blessed with warm weather all year round with about 230 sunny days a year. The summer months are humid and hot with regular thunderstorms to break the heat. The Indian Ocean is warm, so swimming can be enjoyed all year round.
The greater proportion of the population is of Indian descent with a large majority being Muslim. Fittingly, the largest mosque in South Africa can be found in this city. Besides being a mecca for holiday-makers, Durban is also a major port, handling commodities such as grain, coal, manganese and, of course, sugar from the plantations. Due to the increase in crime along the seaboard, tourists are advised to be cautious.
Stretching from Durban to the Tugela mouth, the Natal North Coast is considerably less developed than the South Coast and is thought to have better beaches, although not all have shark nets!
About 20km (12 miles) north of Durban, Umhlanga has a safe beach which is a favourite with surfers. The Natal Sharks Board's aquarium on Umhlanga Rocks Drive contains a number of fearsome sharks, including great whites, hammerheads and tiger sharks.
There is a tidal pool and a good swimming beach at Umdloti, 5km (3 miles) further north. The body surfing is good at Shaka's Rock and Salt Rock. Pods of dolphins can often be seen offshore.
The Natal South Coast between Amanzimtoti, 30km (19 miles) south of Durban, and Port Edward has some good beaches. The stretch has been developed and there are a number of holiday resorts.
Amanzimtoti offers a safe swimming beach and a few nature reserves if the crowds get too much for you. Ilanda Wilds is a small forested area which is home to many birds. There are a number of hiking trails here as well as a short walk through the Umdoni Bird Sanctuary. The sanctuary's hide provides good viewing of the area's 150 species of birds.
Port Shepstone is the largest town on the south coast and provides access to the Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve. The gorge on the Umzimkulwana River is one of the coast's highlights. The reserve offers hiking trails, chalets and camp sites.
Shelley Beach and Margate are popular holiday resorts and have good beaches. Margate in particular has a buzzing nightlife. While St Michael's-On-Sea has a large lagoon which is popular with windsurfers.
Port Edward, one of the quietest towns on the south coast, is close to the Wild Coast Sun Hotel and Casino in the Eastern Cape. The large Umtamvuna Nature Reserve is just a few kilometres inland and home to several species of antelope. The bird population includes the peregrine falcon and crowned eagle.
Zululand covers a triangle of land from the Mozambique border across to Vryheid in the west and to the Tugela River mouth in the south. There are a number of ecologically interesting nature and game reserves in this region, including Lake St Lucia and the Umfolozi-Hluhluwe National Park.
Sugar cane is the main crop in this hot, almost tropical area. Precautions should be taken against malaria and bilharzia.
The large game reserves of Umfolozi and Hluhluwe are home to the Big Five. The reserves are connected by a corridor of land and the combined area covers nearly 100,000 hectares. The reserves are best visited in winter as the scarcity of water attracts the game to the water holes. However the savanna landscape allows for good game viewing in summer as well. A three-day trail takes hikers deep into the wilderness area of the Umfolozi reserve.
Lake St Lucia, a complex of lakes which stretches 80km (50 miles) along the east coast, is a protected wetland zone. With coral reefs, beaches, swamps, lakes, grasslands and forested islands, the area has much to offer.
Further north, the last free-ranging elephants in South Africa are protected in the Tembe Elephant Park on the Mozambique border. The park also contains leopard and rhino.
The coral reef off Sodwana Bay is worth a diving or snorkelling visit for the multitude of tropical fish species. The surrounding state forest protects over 330 species of birds. Cape Vidal is another popular snorkelling spot.
Kosi Bay in the north is actually a series of freshwater lakes surrounded by coastal jungle. A short day-hike and a longer three-day trail allow visitors to explore the area. The Palm Nut Vulture and Pel's Fishing Owl are two of the rarer inhabitants of the area.
Bilharzia is a problem in Natal and it is therefore inadvisable to swim in stagnant or tepid water.