Page 285 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

THE EAST C O AST AND INTERIOR  283

DURBAN AND

ZULULAND

Caressed by the warm currents of the Indian Ocean, this
picturesque region is one of the country’s leading tourist
destinations. Abundant rainfall and year-round sunshine
sustain a prosperous sugar industry and a profusion of
coastal holiday resorts. North of the Tugela River, an untamed
tapestry of wildlife, wilderness, beaches and wetland evokes
the essence of tropical African coastline.
Near the end of the 15th cen tury, a sailing has developed into Durban, today the
ship captained by the Portuguese mariner largest port in Africa and third-largest
Vasco Da Gama passed the east coast of city in the country. Where the coastal
Africa on Christmas Day. The intrepid grasslands once tumbled down to the
seafarer sighted a large bay, flanked by sea, a wide band of sugar cane planta tions
forested dunes, and named it “Rio de Natal”, now separates luxury hotels overlooking
the Christmas River. Subsequently, on sandy beaches and the warm currents
sailors’ maps, the name “Natal” was given of the Indian Ocean from the rolling
to the uncharted land that lay beyond hills of the interior. Many major rivers
the wide beaches and forested dunes meander through the undulating hills,
along the coast. and the coastline is enhanced by tropical
In the 1820s, rumours of the Zulu forests and tranquil estuaries and
chief and military genius Shaka (see p53) lagoons rich in birdlife.
began to reach the Cape Colony. Shaka In the northern corner of the region,
forged the scattered clans of the Natal some of the country’s finest game
region into a near-irrepressible force, and reserves, with melodious Zulu names such
60 years would pass before the British as Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, uMkhuze, Ndumo
Empire succeeded in subduing the mighty and Tembe, preserve a time less landscape
Zulu army. The passage of time has that has remained unchanged since the
brought many changes. “Rio de Natal” reign of Shaka.

Traditional reed fishtrap, Kosi Bay
Durban’s City Hall and World War I memorial

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