Romantic getaways in KwaZulu-Natal

Warm Indian Ocean water, Big Five game reserves and the quiet history of the battlefields: KwaZulu-Natal lets you combine bush and beach in one romantic trip.

Most of the romantic stays we list here are in Zululand, where private reserves such as Phinda, Thanda and Manyoni offer excellent safaris with small, intimate lodges. They are within easy reach of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, so a few nights on safari followed by a few on the coast works beautifully.

Inland, Nambiti near Ladysmith is a malaria-free Big Five reserve with lodges that suit a short break, and the nearby battlefields add history to the trip. On the coast, beach lodges around iSimangaliso and Kosi Bay feel remote and wild, while Umhlanga, just north of Durban, offers grand hotels and easy access.

The climate is warm and humid in summer and mild and dry in winter, which is the best season for game viewing and still pleasant on the beach.