Experience South Africa’s Zulu Kingdom like a royal: visit Princess Charlene’s favourite spots in KwaZulu-Natal, from the Dolphin Coast and luxurious Oyster Box Hotel, to the ‘big 5’ on Thanda Safari
- Cape Town and Johannesburg might attract the most tourists, but KwaZulu-Natal boasts beautiful beaches, mountains, wildlife and two Unesco World Heritage sites
- Princess Charlene and Prince Albert partied at the five-star boutique hotel The Oyster Box after their wedding in 2011 and she moved to Richards Bay to focus on her Olympic swimming training in 2005
Tourists visiting South Africa often make a beeline for Cape Town and Johannesburg, hotspots for any visitor making their way to the “rainbow nation”. However, located in the southeast of the country, surrounded by lush mountainous ranges and exotic shorelines of the Indian Ocean, it is the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province that is often overlooked by travellers.
KZN is home to two Unesco World Heritage sites: the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park. Getting to KZN is a one-hour flight from Joburg and two hours from Cape Town.
The province is rich in history. It was also the place where Albert Luthuli, the first African person to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, died.
According to Arlene Prinsloo’s book Charlene: In Search of a Princess, Charlene moved to KZN, specifically to Richards Bay, to focus on her Olympic swimming training in 2005. Over the years, she has returned to the area regularly.