A journey through Kwa-Zulu Natal – as a family or as a couple!

In this edition of our newsletter, I (Elisa) would like to tell you about my trip to Kwa-Zulu-Natal. I travelled with my husband and our two children to the northern Drakensberg and to the Nambiti Game Reserve, as well as the Babanango Game Reserve. The journey is possible from both Durban and Johannesburg and the travel distances are not much different.

Our first stop was The Cavern – a paradise for families with children. The travel time, with one stop along the way, took us about 4 ½ hours from King Shaka International Airport. There are many potholes in the road, so it’s better to drive cautiously rather than speeding. The Cavern is located in the middle of the Drakensberg mountains and offers stunning views. There is practically everything your heart could desire – a swimming pool, a spa, several game rooms with table tennis and pool tables, multiple TV rooms (since not all rooms have a TV), a bar, a restaurant, a tennis court, a rugby field, and much more.

Every morning, two hikes are offered: a short one lasting about 1 hour and a longer one lasting about 3 hours. Depending on your fitness level, you can sign up for either hike for free. It is also very easy to go hiking alone, as everything is well signposted. As a motivation for children, there is a Cavern Pass, where they can get their activities stamped and then win an ice cream afterwards.

We were also brave and went out for a horse ride for an hour. It was wonderful to experience the landscape and surroundings in a different way.

The rooms have been newly renovated with modern bathrooms, while the bedrooms still retain their old, rustic charm but have also been refreshed. Most rooms offer a great view of the mountains, although the entry-level category does not have a TV or Wi-Fi in the room. There are, of course, family rooms as well; both smaller ones for budget-conscious families and large houses with a fireplace, living area, and terrace for sitting.

Those who prefer a quieter and more relaxed atmosphere will find Montusi Mountain Lodge more suitable. The offerings here are similar – swimming pool, tennis court, playground, horses for riding – but all on a smaller scale, as the focus here is on peace and relaxation along with hiking. The rooms are beautifully furnished with a fireplace and views of the mountains, and are very comfortable.

Although there are also family rooms here and Montusi is very family-friendly, families with younger children are better off at The Cavern.  

After that, we drove for about 2 hours further to the Nambiti Private Game Reserve. The reserve is about 23,000 hectares in size and is home to several lodges. We stayed at the Nambiti Hills Game Lodge, which is situated high up and offers a beautiful view over the reserve.

The swimming pool is located on a lovely deck with a pool bar, and from all main areas you have wonderful views.The rooms are always set in pairs right next to each other and are decorated in light colours and shades of brown. From the bathtub, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the landscape and let your mind unwind.

Although the lodge accepts children, there are no family rooms, so you have to book 2 adjoining rooms, which is not a problem for slightly older children. Families with younger children should rather go to the Springbok Lodge, which is geared towards families. There is a children's playground and a volleyball court for breaks between game drives. However, this lodge is much larger with its 21 tents compared to the 10 stone-walled suites of Nambiti Hills.  

The Nambiti Reserve is full of plains game such as zebra, kudu, giraffe, gnus, warthogs, and impala. Every lodge offers game drives throughout the reserve, although the road network is not yet fully developed. As such, it is very difficult to see leopards because they hide in the mountains. No lodge is allowed to drive off the roads into the bush, so you have to hope that animals are close to the roads. We were lucky to see a herd of elephants that was right by the river. Some buffalo also decided to cross the road right in front of us, and rhinos made an appearance as well. A highlight right at the start of our stay was seeing cheetahs sunbathing by the roadside. Cheetahs on the reserve  are fitted with collars, to enable research and  for the protection of livestock on neighbouring farms. We also finally saw lions, which was a highlight for the whole family.

Our second safari lodge was in the Babanango Game Reserve, which is about a 3-hour drive from Nambiti. Babanango Game Reserve has only 3 lodges: Zulu Rock (high up on a hill with a magnificent view of the reserve), Valley Lodge (in the valley and very kid-friendly), and Madwaleni River Lodge (right on the river and perfect for honeymooners). There is also a fourth accommodation option – Matatane – but it is very rustic and is more used for students on school trips. 

All 3 lodges are beautiful in their own way, so there is something for everyone here as well. We stayed at Zulu Rock in the Family Villa, which unfortunately has no view, but does have a small private pool for swimming. The furnishings include everything you need, and the main lodge was also very nicely decorated, and does have amazing views.  

We visited the Valley Lodge with our ranger and once again found a paradise for children. There is a long pool for swimming, a playground, and a little explorer's corner. Valley Lodge also offers a yoga deck and a fitness centre.  

Madwaleni River Lodge is located right on the river. The tents are beautifully furnished and lack nothing. There is even a small private pool on the deck, and the view brings such a sense of peace that you really feel like you are on vacation.

Both reserves (Nambiti and Babanango) are wonderfully scenic and very diverse. You never know what lies around the next bend or over the next hill. This makes the game drives very exciting. 

In Babanango, you can also see many zebra, giraffe, impala, kudu, and other animals typically called plains game. Unfortunately, we couldn't see the cheetahs, as they were too far away from us. The leopards also hide up in the mountains and sightings are rather rare. However, we were incredibly lucky to see two male lions on our drive to Madwaleni, which we suddenly discovered after coming around a bend in the road. We also saw buffalo and rhinos very often on our drives through the reserve, but the elephants were far down by the river. As with Nambiti, you are also not allowed to drive off the road in Babanango, to protect nature.

We really had a wonderful time and were sad to leave. The drive back to King Shaka International Airport took about 3 ½ hours.

Note on the road conditions: Overall they were reasonable, but you must drive with care, and do not exceed the speed limit, as certain sections of the route are bad. The positive thing was that a lot of construction was taking place and road repairs were being done. We always made good progress, but we also drove carefully and cautiously. 

And now, Christmas is almost here. Advent season begins, and in South Africa, summer is in full swing. We look forward to welcoming your clients with us soon! 

Your Ilanga Travel Team!