All the towns along the route have their own unique charm and range of attractions: arts and crafts, scenic hiking trails, farm resorts, Zulu culture and roadside stalls. Game view- ing, natural hot springs, horse trails and water- sports can also be enjoyed.
The Chelmsford Nature Reserve near Newcastle is a birdwatcher’s paradise. Power- boating and carp fishing are added attractions. Game includes springbok, zebra, rhino and blesbok. Other interesting places to visit are Majuba Hill and O’Neill’s Cottage.
The Ladysmith Siege Museum provides insight into the battles of Colenso, Spioenkop, Vaalkrans and Tugela Heights. Museum staff arrange guided tours to nearby battlefields such as Wagon Hill. Other attractions in Ladys- mith include the statue of Gandhi, the All Saints Church, the Soofi Mosque and the Spioenkop Dam and Nature Reserve.
Near Dundee, tourists can visit various battlefields, including Ncome-Blood River, Isandlwana, Rorke’s Drift and Talana. The Talana Museum depicts various facets of the coal industry, as well as local Zulu, Boer and British history.
Rorke’s Drift was the setting for one of the most famous battles of the war. The main attraction is the Rorke’s Drift Battle Museum.
Conclusion
Tourism as a labour-intensive industry has significant potential and capacity to grow the economy and to create jobs. It is, therefore, central to delivering on government’s man- date of creating decent work, sustainable livelihoods and rural development.
To this end, the department's efforts are geared towards creating a conducive environ- ment for the tourism sector to increase its direct contribution to the country’s GDP and to increase the number of jobs directly sup- ported by the sector.