The ‘Kingdom of the Zulu’, South Africa’s most authentically “african” and north-easterly coastal province quite literally has it all.

Considered to possess the best beaches in the whole country, it’s no wonder it attracts both its countrymen and visitors especially when this province’s subtropical climate and compact size means you can easily flit between: the UNESCO wetlands of Lake St Lucia, the coral reefs of Sodwana Bay, the Big Five game reserves of the north, to spotting Dolphins off its (naturally-named) Dolphin Coast and the golden sands of its Indian Ocean beaches and seaside towns.

And it gets better. With a culture as prolific and varied as its landscapes, KwaZulu Natal is rich in ethnic Zulu traditions and history, the Boer battlefields plus the creative city heart of Durban. The scenic valleys and pastures of the region’s Natal Midlands are scattered with charming villages producing a reputable arts and crafts trade and framed by the majestic Drakensburg mountains home to 35,000-year-old rock paintings.

The accommodation is equally impressive; boutique shoreline hotels, authentic luxury game lodges capturing all the untamed romance of the African bushveld as well as contemporary countryside retreats.