Itinerary and route Northern KwaZulu-Natal road trip
KwaZulu-Natal – South Africa
Road Trip on the northern coast of KwaZulu-Natal
Who likes a road trip? We do!
When going on a road trip and especially off the grid camping we do a lot of planning and preparation not only what we require but also the route we will take.
Lately because we are semi-retired and do not have such a severe time restraint as before we can be slightly more flexible. As a result our itinerary can be ever changing.
An added dimension of a flexible schedule is being able to do a recce of a new place if it looks appealing. If we find it is not quite our cup of tea or does not suite our needs we can limit our stay for a night or two. That hardly ever happens as we do tend to do our research fairly thoroughly.
When we are at our destination or overnight stops we don’t have any preconceived ideas of what we want to see or do. We may have a guideline but we prefer to do have some spur of the moment activities.
Camping at Bushbaby Lodge, Hluhluwe
Road trip during Covid-19 times
In March we decided to take a road trip and explore new places. Our severe lockdown had been lifted to a Level 1. It was summer in South Africa and we felt it was relatively safe to travel. Undertaking a road trip and camping still allows us to stay in our bubble of safety to a certain extent.
On the positive side, it was like a breath of fresh air, so to speak to be outside and see wide open spaces. Restricted to your home or even tiny apartment can be soul destroying. It was fascinating how appreciative we were of having that bit of freedom.
There were some areas that could be of concern, such as bathrooms, but that is easily remedied if armed with a mask, a spray bottle of sanitizer or even detergent if you are paranoid. Most establishments though were spot on with their cleanliness and sanitizing protocols.
Sugarloaf Campsite at St Lucia
In reality as well the tourism industry had suffered severely as a result of the pandemic, not only in South Africa but also the rest of the world. I knew that our little budget travels would not improve the economy that much, but I do hope that I can inspire people to take the road and get out there – with precaution of course - when they can.
We found most people respected our personal space majority of the time. After all, it is up to you to make sure you keep the required distance away from people.
We all need spatial stimulation and sensual experiences. Inhaling deeply the fresh air from a forest. Falling asleep to the sounds of the crashing waves from an ocean. Delight in observing the finer details of a tiny flower. Whatever appeals to you and is soul food.
Route and itinerary to Northern KwaZulu-Natal
A summary of our trip.
Our route took us from Johannesburg to the northern coast of KwaZulu-Natal and back through the Drakensberg. The round-trip distance was approximately 1600 kilometres. We camped and towed our little XCape caravan.
Johannesburg to Hluhluwe where we stayed at Bushbaby Lodge. Approximately 7 hours and 570 kilometres.
Hluhluwe to Cape Vidal (Beach and launch site according to Google). Approximately 2 hours and just under 100 kilometres. We stocked up at St Lucia before heading into iSimangaliso Wetland Park where Cape Vidal is.
Cape Vidal to Sugarloaf Caravan Park, St Lucia. Approximately 50 minutes and about 36 kilometres.
St Lucia to Zinkwazi Beach. Approximately 2 hours and approximately 165 kilometres.
Zinkwazi to Hlalanathi Drakensberg Resort. Approximately 4 hours and about 350 kilometres.
Hlalanathi Drakensberg Resort to Johannesburg. Approximately 4 hours and about 360 kilometres.
Map of our KwaZulu-Natal Route:
Pro tip:
If you do not want to plan ahead, at least book a few days in advance.
Our itinerary where we camped
Hluhluwe – Bushbaby Lodge and Camping
Tranquil Bushbaby Lodge is an ideal stopover not only for bird lovers. It is a nature and wildlife enthusiast’s delight as well. Peaceful but also geared up for backpackers with budget accommodation with communal kitchen and bathrooms.
We loved the sounds of the birds and even saw some bushbuck, nyala and zebra drink at the waterhole near our campsite.
The setting is ideal for a few nights as well if you would want to explore Hluhluwe–Imfolozi Park. I have added that to my bucket list, as we did not have a chance to go there.
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Gardens and communal kitchen and sitting area building
Cape Vidal near St Lucia in iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Cape Vidal has long been a popular destination for deep sea fishing as well as angling. Others are happy to lounge on the beach and swim or snorkel. For years we were dying to see it but somehow never got the opportunity.
Cape Vidal is situated on a splendid coastline far enough from the madding crowd and very popular for fishing, camping and beach lovers. BUT. It is notorious for destructive monkeys. We had heard endless stories of Samanga as well as Vervet monkeys rip tents, steal food and many other items that they are curious about. Apparently they even snatch things out of your hands too.
So we found a beach but would we evade the monkeys? It was worth a go because we heard there was treasure at Cape Vidal too.
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Approaching the lake near Cape Vidal
Beach at Cape Vidal
St Lucia – KwaZulu-Natal
St Lucia is the gateway to the Eastern Shores of iSimangaliso Wetland Park. It is also a great base to enter and explore the southern end of the park.
St Lucia provides most of the accommodation for entering iSimangaliso, home to the Big 4 with no lion. It is quieter than one of South Africa’s renowned parks, Kruger National Park. Although iSimangaliso is vast and spreads to Kosi Bay in the north, the number of people allowed to enter the park is limited and there are many wilderness areas that are not accessible to people.
Another one of our discoveries at St Lucia: They love big boats, need tractors to tow them and huge places to house them.
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Beach at St Lucia
iSimangaliso Wetland Park – Southern Shores
iSimangaliso Wetland Park was previously known as Greater St Lucia Estuary and Wetlands Park. It is listed as South Africa’s first UNESCO World Heritage site and has a unique ecosystem. The park also has breath-taking and exceptional vistas.
Read more:
Looking for travel accommodation in South Africa?
Zinkwazi Beach
Looking for a laid-back beachside destination? Quiet walks on the beach? Then Zinkwazi is just for you. A short distance from Ballito and about 80 kilometres north of Durban, it is a peaceful village and nature conservancy.
With the tropical climate of the North Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, what more can you ask for, and fringed with lush indigenous tropical forests and tropical palms with birds chirping and monkeys (and snakes) to entertain you, you can unwind in nature. It has a lagoon too.
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Zinkwazi Beach and lagoon
Hlalanathi Drakensberg Resort
Approximately ten kilometres from the Royal Natal National Park, above a nook of the Tugela River, lies Hlalanathi Drakensberg Resort. The land has belonged to five generations since 1932 and is a great place to spend a few days. We had stayed there before.
There are electrified camping sites as well as accommodation consisting of 20 fully equipped self-catering thatched chalets.
Close enough to hike at Royal Natal but just right to sit back, relax and enjoy the view.
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Dassie or rock hyrax
Pro tip:
Although we were in a low-risk area for malaria in northern KwaZulu-Natal, it is best to speak to your health care advisor about malaria prophylaxis. Depending on the time of year, mosquitoes can be prevalent.
We enjoyed our trip immensely and don’t regret doing it. Being able to explore new open spaces and discover other parts of our country was worthwhile. The getaway and break from confinement did so much to lift our spirits, not that we were feeling down at all – we are the fortunate ones. If you get the opportunity to go, do so, even if it is just a short distance away from your home.
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About the Author
ALMA VAN AS | ROAMING FOX
Alma is a South African travel blogger and writer. She hopes to inspire you with facts and fables about her adventures, road trips and international travel.
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In 2021 we were privileged. We travelled more than expected throughout the second year of the pandemic even though we did not travel internationally.