New flights, incredible sights and more diverse wildlife than even the Kruger can boast – all for less money. South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal is about to become your go-to wilderness…
The sun lowered and my urgency rose. I didn’t want to miss it. The road was a single-lane sinew now, climbing and twisting into the Drakensberg mountains, frustrating our progress. I kept on driving as the light slipped, the world fl ushed, the baboons looked on from the verge. Finally I arrived, grabbed a beer, fl ung open the chalet’s front door, ran straight through to its back and out onto the million-dollar terrace. Just in time.
The Amphitheatre fi lled the view, every inch of it. It was a gargantuan castle of basalt, and I was like a minion looking up at its master’s lair – part awed, part afraid. The sun was performing its last hurrah, softening the wrinkles of this immense rock wall before disappearing to leave a looming silhouette. I raised my bottle, lit the braai (barbecue) and remained on the patio, watching the stars prick the darkness one by one until they were legion; until the sky seemed more light than shade. Not bad for under £50 a night.
As one of the smallest provinces in South Africa, the south-easterly KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) punches well above its weight. As well as being home to the country’s highest mountains, it has a long Indian Ocean coastline, UNESCO-listed wetlands, swathes of bushveld, and is home to not just the Big Five but the Big Seven (including whales and turtles). I’d heard it was great value, too, with trips here cheaper than the better-known Kruger region and encompassing a wider variety of activities, so you get more for less. And with the launch of direct fl ights from London to Durban, KZN’s biggest city, in late 2018, it is now easier to access than ever. I was sold.
Out to sea
この記事は Wanderlust Travel Magazine の February 2019 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Wanderlust Travel Magazine の February 2019 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
Vermont, USA
The Wanderlust team relocated to New England for part of this issue, as we explored a lush state filled with outdoor escapes, historic towns... and lashings of maple syrup
Unique North America
See a side to the USA and Canada beyond the big cities and discover incredible stories and special wildlife with our pick of the trips
The call of the Rockies
From historic ski lodges to rustic backcountry cabins and a mock-Scottish castle, we pick the stays in Canada's Rocky Mountains that make the most of their setting
A new dawn for the Garifuna community
When the Garifuna people settled in Belize, they had to carry their traditions and culture with them; now a new trail is inviting visitors to explore this heritage through local communities
On the edge of history
In south-west Colorado lies the largest archaeological preserve in the USA, a series of vast cliff dwellings whose residents 'vanished' overnight. But was the answer to their disappearance in plain sight?
Tigers burning bright
As India celebrates 50 years of its Project Tiger conservation scheme, we visit the reserves of Madhya Pradesh to see how its success has impacted a tiger population that once looked in danger of disappearing
SEASON'S GREETINGS
From fiery fall foliage to art fairs and harvest festivals, opens up a wealth of across the USA and Canada autumn experiences
Waking a sleeping GIANT
A slow drive along the North Wales Way, from the English border to Anglesey, reveals not only a land of incredible local food and castles, but a region that is slowly reimagining itself
The rebirth of old JEDDAH
As efforts to restore Al-Balad, Jeddah's historical district, take hold, we get an exclusive peek at how art and culture are taking centre stage
Star-studded escapes
Wilderness, history and wildlife combine at some of Britain's most iconic stargazing sites, as more and more travellers are looking to the heavens
