Zululand and the Elephant Coast Zululand’s north-east quadrant – between Mozambique, Swaziland and the warm Indian Ocean – has its own unique tale to tell. This is the Elephant Coast or Maputaland, named after the mid-17th century king who established dominion here some 200 years before Shaka consolidated his Zulu empire to the south.
The Tembe Elephant Park in the far north is home to herds of the massive African elephant. The Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park is one of the largest game parks in South Africa and hosts the Big Five as well as the elusive cheetah and
wild dog.
The eMakhosini Valley, birthplace of King Shaka, is the venue for a new tourism and eco- nomic-development project. Known as "The Valley of Zulu Kings", the joint public-private
sector project aims to preserve the culture and history of the Zulu people. A sculptured hilltop monument named Spirit of eMakhosini draws many tourists. This heritage park is near a nature reserve that will eventually support the Big Five of the animal kingdom.
At the eMakhosini Memorial Site, seven Zulu kings are buried. Ulundi lies at the hub of the old Zulu nation. The KwaZulu Cultural Museum houses interesting displays relating to Zulu history and archaeology. The beehive huts and the layout of the original Zulu village have been reproduced.
Umgungundlovu was once the royal capital of King Dingaan and is now being reconstructed. A tour provides the opportunity to observe Zulu building techniques and to experience the social life of the Zulu people. Work will begin on a R20-million multimedia centre, which will include first-rate audiovisual representations of Zulu history and culture.
Authentic Zulu villages such as Shakaland, Kwabhekithunga Kraal, Damazulu and Stew- art’s Farm offer accommodation and the oppor- tunity to experience traditional Zulu culture.
The isiZulu word iSimangaliso – meaning "miracle" – has a rich historical context.
The iSimangaliso Wetland Park is one of the jewels of South Africa’s coastline, with a unique mosaic of ecosystems – swamps, lakes, beaches, coral reefs, wetlands, woodlands, coastal forests and grasslands – supporting a diversity of animal, bird and marine life.
It is South Africa’s third-largest park, span- ning 280 km of coastline, from the Mozambican border in the north to Mapelane south of the St Lucia estuary, and made up of around 328 000 ha of pristine natural ecosystems – including swamps, lake systems, beaches, coral reefs, wetlands, woodlands and coastal forests. St Lucia and its surroundings comprise a globally important wetland and has five separ- ate ecosystems. It is a fishing and bird watch- ing paradise, and boat trips on the lake offer opportunities for crocodile and hippo sightings. St Lucia is the only town in the world that is completely surrounded by a natural world herit-
age area.