KwaZulu-Natal, often referred to as "KZN" or "the garden province", is the home of the Zulu nation. KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa, with Pietermaritzburg as capital, and forming the east coast of South Africa. South Africa's most populous province was formed from the old Natal Province and the KwaZulu bantustan, after 1994. It extends 92,100 km2 from the borders with Swaziland and Mozambique in the north, to the Eastern Cape in the south, the Kingdom of Lesotho, the Free State and Mpumalanga Provinces in the west, and the Indian Ocean in the east.
The KwaZulu-Natal Province is home to the Zulu monarchy, and the majority of the population and the language is Zulu. KwaZulu-Natal is the only province in South Africa that includes the name of its dominant ethnic group in its name.
King Goodwill Zwelethini kaBhekuzulu is the current Zulu king. Like most modern monarchs, the Zulu king does not hold any direct political power, but receives a stipend from government, and holds considerable sway over traditionalist Zulu people.
Geography And Climate
The KwaZulu-Natal Province stretches from Port Edward in the south to the Mozambique border and has has three different geographic areas: the subtropical coastal lowland region along the Indian Ocean, sweeping savanna plains in central KwaZulu-Natal, and two magnificent mountainous areas, the Drakensberg Mountains in the west and the Lebombo Mountains in the north.
The Tugela River flows west to east across the center of the province.
KwaZulu-Natal experiences average temperatures in the range of 17° to 28° C from October to April and from 11° to 25° C in the colder months. The annual rainfall for KwaZulu-Natal is about 690 mm, falling throughout the year.
The KwaZulu-Natal Coast
The warm Indian Ocean washing the beaches of KwaZulu Natal makes it one of the country's most popular holiday destinations. The KwaZulu-Natal coastline is dotted with small towns that serve as seasonal recreation spots for many South Africans. The coastal area north of Durban is locally referred to as "The North Coast", including towns like Ballito, Umhlanga and Salt Rock, while the coast to the south is imaginatively known as "The South Coast", and includes towns like Margate, Port Shepstone, Scottburgh and Port Edward. Many superb beaches can be found along virtually every part of South Africa's eastern seaboard. Some of the least developed beaches are located in the far south and far north of the KwaZulu-Natal province.
Marina Beach (and its adjoining resort San Lameer) was recognized as a Blue Flag Beach in 2002
The annual "sardine run" is an extraordinary natural phenomenon that can be witnessed on the KwaZulu-Natal coast during late autumn or early winter. Millions of sardines migrate close inshore each year, from their spawning grounds south of the southern tip of Africa, northwards along the Eastern Cape coastline towards KwaZulu-Natal. The annual "sardine run" is also referred to as "the greatest shoal on earth", and often results in many sardines washing up on beaches along the coast. The massive shoal of sardines can stretch for many kilometers, and is followed and preyed upon by thousands of predators, including gamefish, sharks, dophins and sea birds. The shoals usually break up and disappear into deeper water around Durban. Many mysteries and questions surrounding this exceptional event remain.
KwaZulu-Natal Economy
Durban is the second largest city in South Africa, and a rapidly growing urban area. Durban is also the site of the busiest port in Africa, with a good rail network linking it to the rest of southern Africa.
Sugar refining is the main industry in KwaZulu-Natal. The province also produces a considerable amount of coal and timber. Sheep, cattle, diary, citrus fruits, corn, sorghum, cotton, bananas, and pineapples are also farmed here.
Industries are mainly located in and around Durban and include sugar refineries, oil refineries, tanneries, and textile, clothing, rubber, fertilizer, paper, and food-processing plants.
Large aluminum-smelting plants are located at Richards Bay on the central KwaZulu-Natal coast.
Empangeni, Kokstad, Ladysmith, Newcastle, Port Shepstone, Richards Bay, KwaDukuza, Tongaat, and Vryheid are some of the other important towns in KwaZulu-Natal.
District Municipalities
- Ethekwini Municipality (includes Durban)
- Ugu Municipality
- Umgungundlovu Municipality
- Uthukela Municipality
- Umzinyathi Municipality
- Amajuba Municipality
- Zululand Municipality
- Umkhanyakude Municipality
- Uthungulu Municipality
- King Shaka Municipality
- East Griqualand Municipality
