Zululand lies between the Dolphin Coast and Elephant Coast on the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal and stretches inland as far as Vryheid and north to Pongola on the border with Swaziland. From the industrial port city of Richards Bay to tiny villages like Mabudu, sugar cane fields, timber plantations, big 5 game reserves and some very important conservation areas, Zululand is a varied mixture of culture, nature and damage caused by human activity.
The history of the Zulu nation and its fight to survive is inextricably woven into this beautiful land. This is where the great Zulu kings, Shaka, Dingane and Chetswayo built the Zulu tribes into a cohesive and formidable nation able to withstand the occupation by the Boers and the British colonialists. Of course, the might of Britain eventually won the day but the Zulus have never really submitted and today they are as free as any nation. Evidence of the Zulu battles can be found in many places and the Zulu heritage is brought to life at places like Shakaland and Simunye Zulu Lodge.
Rural occupation has devastated large tracts of land but there are a number of nature reserves, wilderness areas and game reserves that have been preserved. There are some relatively undisturbed estuaries, lakes and two of the biggest rivers in the province, the Tugela (Thukela) in the south and the Umfolozi (iMfolozi) in the north, as well as mangrove swamps, dense indigenous forest and grasslands.
The Ngoye (Ongoye) Forest Reserve and the Dlinza Forest Nature Reserve are outstanding examples of very well preserved and protected indigenous forests as are the Entumeni Nature Reserve near Eshowe and the Entendeka Wilderness Area near Nongoma. The Amatikulu and Umlalazi Nature Reserves protect 2 pristine estuaries near Mtunzini on the southern boundary of Zululand. The Ithala Game Reserve in the north of Zululand is one of the most magnificent in the country with an amazing diversity of terrain and animals.
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