Welcome to KwaZulu-Natal; enticing, spectacular and fascinating multi-cultural showpiece destination flanked by warm Indian Ocean and soaring peaks. The sheer majesty of this region will take your breath away. Under the hot African sun, the cobalt blue Indian Ocean, mangrove swamps and limpid lagoons give way to rolling green hills and indigenous forests which shimmer in the distance before they reach the Drakensberg Mountains. While you are here, enjoy the welcoming wide smiles extended to you by the local people. Enjoy the comfortable accommodation in major towns, game lodges, to seashore cottages, Zulu homes or floating lake chalets. Teeming private and provincial game reserves offer game- watching facilities as well as hiking and nature trails.

But it is probably 'the Zulu experience' which will linger in your mind long after you have left this area. Take an ox wagon to Zulu villages of bee-hive huts and experience traditional Zulu hospitality, or a rural wedding ceremony and if you wish, visit a sangoma (traditional healer). You cannot leave without a visit to Ulundi, the site of the final battle fought in the Anglo-Zulu war. Nearby, Zulu kings lie buried in the Emakhosini Valley. In total contrast are the township tours showcasing modern Zulu life including tarvens, shebeens and traditional medicine shops.

Battlefields

Walk in the footsteps of famous military strategists - Shaka, Winston Churchill, Mahatma Gandhi and General Louis Botha - they were all here before you. The wind sighs and whispers the secrets and sorrows of great battles, made visible by lone forts and small graveyards on these undulating landscapes ringed with rocky outcrops.

The legacy of our Zulu Kingdom's critical, blood-soaked conflicts today lives peacefully - reconciled in this fascinating region's myriad Battlefield sites, historic towns, national monuments and museums - and in HQs of the British regiments who make a 'pilgrimage' to these fields of bravery and supreme sacrifice. Why leave all of this to the imagination? Knowledgeable guides will accompany you on tours of the Battlefields, talking you through each battle, debating the strategies used, the numbers who perished and the medals and rewards won by the brave.

If these legends inspire your adventurous spirit, there are more pleasurable ways of assuaging it than in battle. White- water rafting down the rapids of the mighty Tugela, sailing on the Chelmsford Dam, and hunting in the designated hunting reserves - this region offers you all of these pursuits. Consummate shoppers will always find a way to practice their skill at tracking down a good bargain, and this area provides the opportunity at any of the large number of factory outlets selling everything from blown glass to pork sausages and baby products.

Elephant Coast

This pristine eco-wonderland boasting 21 different ecological systems will satisfy even the most adventurous visitor. Some of the world's highest natural dunes, brilliant coral reefs, fever tree and palm savannahs, papyrus swamps and rolling acacia bushveld can be found in this land of natural and cultural diversity. It is home to the hospitable Zulu and Tsonga people as well as the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park, declared South Africa's first World Heritage Site.

Elephant coast accommodation options range from luxury game lodges to Zulu homestays and camping - comfortable places to stay to suit all pockets and from which to explore this exciting region. For the brave, there are self-guided wilderness trails taking you closer to wildlife on foot, horseback or canoe. The sea, lakes and beach provide more adventure. Scuba diving and snorkeling enable you to watch the 1 200 different species of marine life abounding in these waters. And taking a turtle tour is a must. Angling, either from the 200 kilometers of unspoilt beach, on the lakes or deep- sea, is a great sport - and while at sea, you might be lucky and spot a whale or two.

The Zulu and Tsonga people indigenous to this area will tell you about their traditional way of life, and share with you the history of places such as Ghost Mountain or Dingaan's grave. Keen shoppers can choose from an array of beadwork, pottery, basket ware and woodcarvings crafted with skills passed down through the ages. The untamed spirit of the Zulu Kingdom

North / Dolphin Coast

The Zulu Kingdom's north coast, also known as the Dolphin Coast, stretches from Zimbali to the mighty Tugela River. This is the playground of the bottlenose dolphins, which frolic in the waters close to shore and are visible all year round. It offers luxury, beauty, sport and history.

It is a place to indulge the senses - either in good restaurants offering fine dining, or partying in nightclubs. Tee off on the excellent golf courses, or for the sheer thrill of it - take to the air in a microlight and see this magnificent coastline as the seagulls see it. Stroll or take a horse-ride along the shoreline at low tide and search for sea life. Climb rocky outcrops and enjoy a spot of angling.

The great Shaka Zulu is buried at Kwa-Dukuza, and Nobel laureate, Albert Luthuli, lies buried nearby. Walk a 'muti' (African medicine) trail through the Harold Johnson Nature Reserve or visit historic battle sites such as the Ultimatum Tree, Ndondakusuka or Fort Pearson. Zulu hospitality is warm and the people friendly. They will be proud to show you their heritage.

Ukhahlamba / Drankensberg

The Zulu people named it 'Ukhahlamba' or the 'Barrier of Spears' and the Dutch Voortrekkers 'The Dragon Mountain'. The Drakensberg Mountains, with their awe-inspiring basalt cliffs, snowcapped in winter, tower over riverine bush, lush yellowwood forests and cascading waterfalls, form a massive barrier separating KwaZulu-Natal from the Kingdom of Lesotho. The only road access is via Sani Pass, which at the top, boasts the highest pub on Africa, 3 000 metres above sea level.

Combining sheer natural beauty with a wealth of biological diversity, this 243 000 hectare mountainous region known the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park has been preserved and venerated for ages since the San people or bushmen roamed these slopes. Tens of thousands of paintings depicting their daily life can be found on the rock faces, and in December 2000, the park received international recognition and was declared KwaZulu-Natal's second World Heritage Site.

And of course, these are the mountains, which must be conquered. The fearless may choose to try sheer rock or ice- climbing - or they may prefer the adrenaline rush provided by abseiling, white water rafting or taking a helicopter ride to view the mountains from above. If you prefer the gentler, more leisurely pace of walking the many hiking routes on both lower and upper slopes, you can watch out for the 290 species of birds, 48 species of mammals, or the rare varieties of plantlife found in the park.