Planning a trip and wondering about the best things to see in KwaZulu-Natal? You’re spoilt for choice. This province blends warm oceans, soaring mountains, living culture, and wildlife-rich reserves into one unforgettable itinerary. Below you’ll find the headline attractions, each with a quick, practical snapshot to help you decide what to include on your route.
The Highest Pub in Africa
Perched atop the legendary Sani Pass on the Lesotho border, the Highest Pub in Africa serves hearty meals with a view that will steal your breath (and your phone’s storage). The 4×4 ascent up Sani Pass is half the fun, hairpins, waterfalls, and vistas that keep unfolding. At the summit, step over the border, stamp your passport, and toast the “Roof of Africa.” For many travellers, this is one of the most iconic things to see in KwaZulu-Natal.
Mountain Hikes
The uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a dream for hikers. Choose gentle valley rambles or challenge yourself on high escarpment routes with basalt cliffs and sweeping valleys. Keep an eye out for eland, bearded vultures, rock art sites, and astonishing sunrise colours. Whether you’re here for a day walk or a multi-day trek, Drakensberg hikes deliver South Africa’s big-sky drama in spades.
Mountain Hike Tips
- Best time: Clear winter days for long views; summer for waterfalls and wildflowers.
- What to pack: Layered clothing, hat, sunscreen, water, and a rain shell, weather shifts quickly.
- Go guided: You’ll hike safer, learn more, and find those hidden viewpoints
Battlefields
Northern KZN holds some of the world’s most famous battlefield landscapes. Names like Isandlwana, Rorke’s Drift, Blood River, and Ulundi echo with 19th-century conflict and courage. Guided visits bring the stories alive, strategy, terrain, and the human moments that turned battles. Expect goosebumps as you stand where history pivoted. If you love compelling storytelling, this is one of the most rewarding things to see in KwaZulu-Natal.
Endless Beaches
Think warm Indian Ocean, golden sand, and year-round swimming. Durban’s Golden Mile hums with surfers, joggers, rickshaws, and sunrise strollers. North to Umhlanga and Ballito or south to the Hibiscus Coast, you’ll find quieter coves, tidal pools, and family-friendly promenades. Snorkel, learn to surf, or simply nap under a palm, the coastline is a blissful constant on any KZN itinerary.
Big Five game reserves
KZN is a powerhouse for wildlife. Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park is renowned for rhino conservation and classic Big Five sightings, while reserves surrounding iSimangaliso Wetland Park promise hippos by the hundred, crocs, elephants, and prolific birdlife. Sunrise and sunset drives are prime time, but a midday elephant roadblock is always possible. Combine reserves with the St Lucia estuary for a complete bush-and-boat experience.
African market
Durban’s market scene is a sensory adventure. At Warwick Junction and Victoria Street Market, you’ll find beadwork, curry spices, fabric, traditional medicine stalls, and street food that perfumes the air. Come with a local guide for context and comfort, learn what to buy, how to haggle, and which snack is about to become your new favourite. For culture lovers, markets are essential things to see in KwaZulu-Natal.
Cultural villages
Culture isn’t in a glass case here, it dances. At villages such as PheZulu, you’ll experience Zulu music, dance, homestead layouts, beadwork, and storytelling. Watch spear-making, learn greetings and etiquette, and share an authentic lunch. These experiences deepen your understanding of the people who shaped the province, and they’re brilliant for families and photographers.
Mandela and Churchill Capture Sites
Two moments that changed destinies were captured here. Near Howick, the Nelson Mandela Capture Site pairs a world-class sculpture with a moving museum that traces his journey from activist to statesman. Near Chieveley, the Winston Churchill Capture Site recalls the armoured train ambush where the young war correspondent was taken prisoner during the Anglo-Boer War, an early chapter in a life that would later define a century. History buffs, don’t skip these.
Zululand
From the Tugela River northwards, Zululand is a living cultural landscape of rolling hills, rural homesteads, craft markets, and celebration. Visit royal sites, hear stories of King Shaka, and meet artisans keeping beadwork, basketry, and music traditions alive. Combine Zululand with a game reserve for a perfectly balanced culture-and-wildlife loop, one of the most authentic things to see in KwaZulu-Natal.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
KZN boasts two UNESCO World Heritage Sites:
- uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park: Renowned for dramatic escarpments, endemic species, and thousands of ancient rock-art images.
- iSimangaliso Wetland Park: A mosaic of beaches, lakes, dunes, wetlands, forests, and savannah where hippos roam, turtles nest, and whales migrate.
Visiting both gives you mountains one day, mangroves the next, few regions offer such contrast so close together.
Try a “Bunny Chow”
No trip is complete without Durban’s signature street food: the Bunny Chow. It’s a hollowed-out loaf filled with rich curry, beans, chicken, mutton, or veg, eaten with your hands and plenty of smiles. Pair it with a creamy lassi or a local craft brew and you’ve ticked off the tastiest of all things to see in KwaZulu-Natal (and to eat!).
Conclusion – Start Exploring the Best of KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is a province that refuses to offer just one kind of experience. From mountain peaks to warm ocean waves, ancient cultures to modern city life, wildlife safaris to battlefield storytelling, this is a destination overflowing with adventure, beauty, and history. Whether you want to hike the Drakensberg, sip a drink at the Highest Pub in Africa, wander through bustling African markets, or meet the Big Five up close, the list of things to see in KwaZulu-Natal is as rich as the land itself.
But the real magic lies in exploring it with someone who knows every curve of the road, every hidden lookout point, and every story behind each stop. With Daytours KZN, you don’t just visit KwaZulu-Natal, you experience it.
If you’re ready to make your trip unforgettable, book your tour with Daytours KZN today. Whether you want a one-day highlight reel or a multi-day adventure, we’ll design the perfect journey for you, safe transport, expert guiding, and memories that last a lifetime.
See what our previous guests say on TripAdvisor
FAQs
What is special in KwaZulu-Natal?
Its variety. In one province you can climb mountains, lounge on subtropical beaches, meet Zulu cultural custodians, walk historic battlefields, and spot the Big Five, often within a few hours’ drive of each other. That mix is why there are so many standout things to see in KwaZulu-Natal.
What is KwaZulu-Natal best known for?
Warm Indian Ocean beaches, the Drakensberg Mountains, Zulu culture, and game reserves like Hluhluwe–iMfolozi. Add world-class curry culture (hello, Bunny Chow) and two UNESCO sites, and you’ve got South Africa’s most diverse holiday playground.
What are two most popular purposes for visitors to KZN?
- Beach and relaxation along the Durban and North/South Coast;
- Wildlife and nature, including Big Five safaris and Drakensberg hiking. Cultural and historical touring is a close third.
What two attractions in KZN are along the Golden Mile?
The Durban Beachfront (Golden Mile) itself, with its promenades, pools, and surf, plus Moses Mabhida Stadium, just inland from the beachfront and part of most city-and-seafront itineraries.