5 Best Sights in Durban and KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

This eco-award-winning flagship &Beyond reserve, established in 1991, is a heartening example of tourism serving the environment with panache. Phinda (pin-da) is Zulu for "return," referring to the restoration of 220 square km (85 square miles) of overgrazed ranchland in northern Zululand to bushveld. It's a triumph. Today Phinda has a stunning variety of seven healthy ecosystems including the rare sand forest (which grows on the fossil dunes of an earlier coastline), savanna, bushveld, open woodland, mountain bush, and verdant wetlands. The Big Five are all here, plus cheetahs, spotted hyenas, hippos, giraffes, impalas, and the rare, elusive, tiny Suni antelope. Birdlife is prolific and extraordinary, with some special Zululand finds: the pink-throated twinspot, the crested guineafowl, the African broadbill, and the crowned eagle. The reserve is a little more than a two-hour drive from Richards Bay or four hours by road from Durban.

About three hours from Durban, and 50 km (31 miles) from Vryheid, this new reserve pairs Zulu cultural lessons with wonderful wildlife encounters. Once indentured farmland, this protected 22,000-hectare (54,363 acre) Zululand reserve underwent biodiversity rehabilitation and now encompasses mist belt grasslands, thornveld, and river frontage, and is home to animals of all sizes, from the sweet little steenbok to the surlier lion. The acacia-flecked plains and meandering valleys are home to three beautifully refurbished lodges—historically-inclined Babanango Valley Lodge, Zulu Rock Lodge in the north, and the highly anticipated riverside Travellers Camp—all managed and staffed in partnership with local communities. Nearby sites include the Isandlwana battlefield, Rorke's Drift, Devil's Pass, the grave of Piet Retief, and the location of the Battle of Blood River.

In 2004, 17 private properties in the northern Zululand area dropped their fences to create the Manyoni Private Game Reserve. Formerly known as the Zululand Rhino Reserve, the marriage and restoration of these properties (a mish-mash of old tomato farms, cotton fields, and seasonal cattle grazing) has created a 23,000-hectare game-rich private reserve. The terrain varies from bushveld to riverine woodland and open savanna thornveld that animals, such as wildebeest, zebras, and cheetahs love. The reserve has over 70 mammal species and an exceptional diversity of birdlife including sought-out endemics such as the pink-throated twinspot and elusive African broadbill. Apt then, that the name means the "place of birds" in isiZulu. However, this sanctuary is all the more special because it's been chosen as a safe space to rehabilitate rescued pangolins. This species is particularly susceptible to illness and takes ages to recover from the hardships of trafficking (they often suffer dehydration and malnutrition). If there is a pangolin in residence, you can join the conservation team on the ground as they walk with them to ensure they are eating, picking up weight, and getting strong enough to roam freely again. There’s no touching or petting.

In wild, beautiful northern Zululand, the multi-award-winning 150-square-km (60-square-mile) Thanda reserve continues to restore former farmlands and hunting grounds to their previous pristine state, thanks to a joint venture with local communities and the king of the Zulus, Goodwill Zweletini, who donated some of his royal hunting grounds to the project. Game that used to roam this wilderness centuries ago has been reestablished, including the Big Five. Thanda (tan-da) is Zulu for "love," and its philosophy echoes just that: "for the love of nature, wildlife, and dear ones." There's a main lodge, a private villa, and a small tented camp and opportunities to interact with the local people.

South Africa's only dedicated private photographic game reserve will make anyone feel like a professional wildlife photographer. Spread over nearly 70 square km (27 square miles) of immaculate Zululand bushveld, encompassing rolling hills, reed-lined dams, and fever tree forests, Zimanga is a residence for a colorful array of birds and endangered animals. In addition to game drives, guides drop guests off for a morning or afternoon session at one of nine carefully crafted hides strategically spread across the reserve. Each hide serves a certain spectacle: some elevated, some to attract water birds or wily crocodiles, some underground, two accommodate overnight stays for four while others offer brilliant mirror reflections of elephants, rhino, and lions lapping up the water. Thanks to exhaustive testing (each hide required months to perfect positioning, lighting, focal lengths, and backgrounds without altering animal behavior) the wild subjects have no idea you're there. Pack your camera, settle into the bunker, and wait to see who arrives. The ultimate experience for diehard camera heads has to be the opportunity to sleep in one of these hides,  which is equipped with Wi-Fi, a toilet and a small communal area. Bunk beds are simple and a little cramped, but when that motion sensor goes off with a creature passing by, any discomfort dissipates as you snap the night away.