DESTINATIONS DURBAN AFRICA
ABOVE: Battlefield memorial at Isandlwana RIGHT: iSimangaliso Wetland Park
The Drakensberg Mountains –
known as the Barrier of Spears by the Zulus – are home to the famous Anglo-Boer war site of Spion Kop, and far more ancient Bushman paintings, which have made the landscape a World Heritage Site. 2by2 Holidays’ Claire Farley recommends ascending the Sani pass in a jeep, “a hair-raising experience, and so long as you take your passport you can enjoy a drink at the highest pub in Africa, in the kingdom of Lesotho.” Cox & Kings recommends
foodies head to Drakensberg via the Midlands, a region known for its artisan producers, from cheese to craft beer. Isandlwana Lodge, a four-to-
five-hour drive from Durban, is the perfect stay for battlefields of the Anglo-Zulu war. The beautiful lodge is set into the hillside with panoramic views from the rooms, pool and public areas, and a specialist guide to take guests on tours of the neighbouring battlefields of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift – the latter being the battle the Michael Caine film Zulu is based on. It’s in Zulu heartland and has strong ties with the local community, so guests can visit the local school,
The KwaZulu-Natal region has great safari opportunities too, with the big five on offer at Hluhluwe
homesteads and even a sangoma – a traditional medicine man. The KwaZulu-Natal region
has great safari opportunities too, with the big five on offer at state-run Hluhluwe, once the hunting grounds of King Shaka of the Zulus and particularly famous for rhino, and private reserves including Phinda, Amakhosi and Mkuze Falls. Close by is the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, a diverse ecosystem which is home to hundreds of species of birds plus elephant, rhino, buffalo, dolphins, whales, and turtles. African Pride combines many
of the region’s highlights on a six- night escorted tour of KwaZulu- Natal out of Durban from £1,189, including two nights in the Drakensberg Mountains, two nights in Isandlwana and two nights in Hluhluwe.
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travelweekly.co.uk 10 December 2015
Tried & Tested THE OYSTER BOX, UMHLANGA
British guests at The Oyster Box stay an average of four to five nights and many don’t leave the grounds – a shame, as Durban has lots to offer, but understandable when you see this hotel. Many of the 86 rooms – all white wood and walls, with a faintly nautical air – overlook the beach, with its dramatic rocks and picture-perfect red and white lighthouse. Two pools – one by the spa and fitness centre, the other by the beach – feature the same red and white candy stripe colour scheme, as do the chairs in the breezy Ocean Terrace restaurant, where guests can take breakfast, lunch and dinner within earshot of the sea. When
it comes to restaurants and bars, there’s a choice of fine dining in the Grill Room, a legendary afternoon tea in the Palm Court and three bars – classic cocktail elegance in the Oyster Bar, teak and leather-styled tradition in the Chukka Bar, and fine views from the rooftop Lighthouse Bar. Tell clients not to miss the Curry Buffet at the Ocean Terrace, with a choice of up to 11 spicy dishes, and to look out for the resident cat, Skabenga, who enjoys so much attention that you can befriend him on Facebook, buy his children’s book and even attend his birthday party. Book it: A night’s B&B starts at £274, based on two sharing
PICTURES: TSOGO SUN HOTELS; THEWETLAND PARK GROUP; ROGER DE LA HARPE/AFRICA IMAGERY
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