Discover Zululand: Route 66, Birdlife and Zulu History
Accommodation in Zululand
Zululand brings together a historic trade route, birdwatching and cultural points of interest in one region. The Zululand Heritage Route 66 historically follows one of the oldest trade routes through Zululand. Today, Route 66 runs from Pongola via Nongoma and Ulundi to Melmoth or Eshowe, then joins the N2 near Gingindlovu. This gives you a clear thread for planning your trip: you can follow a named route and decide whether history, nature or culture should be the main focus.
Route 66: Trade History and Nature Destinations
Eco-tourism reserves and natural hot springs lie along Route 66. These nature destinations offer different highlights and complement the route’s historical context with other themes. If you’re looking for a holiday rental in Zululand, you can first consider whether the route and its history, or nature-focused experiences such as reserves and hot springs, should shape your trip more. This helps you define your preferred focus without reducing Zululand to a single experience.
Birdwatching Independently or on a Guided Tour
You can explore the Zululand Birding Route independently by car or as part of a guided tour. A total of 650 bird species have been recorded along the route. This gives you both a clearly defined nature theme and two different ways to explore. Birdlife is a distinct focus alongside the region’s trade history and cultural themes. When choosing your accommodation, consider which of these interests matter most to your trip and how you prefer to explore.
Zulu History and an Annual Festival
The graves of several Zulu kings are located in the Emakhosini Valley. The valley is a specific point of interest for anyone interested in Zulu history. Another cultural experience is the Reed Dance Festival, held annually in Zululand in September. If you want to plan your trip around the festival, September is the relevant time of year. The graves of several kings and an annual festival offer different ways to explore Zululand’s cultural history and traditions. You can therefore weigh up whether a historic site or a cultural event held at a specific time of year should take centre stage on your trip.
Wildlife as a Distinct Nature Focus
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve is home to the Big Five. If you’re choosing accommodation based on your travel group’s interests, these different themes can help you decide which experiences appeal most. Route 66, birdlife, Zulu history and the Big Five offer different starting points for a trip through Zululand.
For more information about places in the region, you can also visit the pages for Pongola, Swembad, Sovane, Nongoma and Magudu.
For the broader travel overview: KwaZulu-Natal.
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