Growing up on the south coast of Kwa Zulu Natal I always knew I was lucky, endless summer days spent in the ocean, mainly because it was too hot to do anything else. Cloudless, warm winters spent on the golf course. Either way the day always ended the same; out by the pool watching the waves roll into shore in an endless rhythm, their sound soothing your soul. Out-door living; is there anything better? As if that wasn’t enough, just a few hours’ drive and you’d find yourself at the beginning of the spectacular Drakensberg Mountain Range. Head north and enter a new world, vast tracks of wilderness with all the wildlife Africa has to offer.
So eventually my love of the out-doors, of my country and province, combined with certain other skills led me here, to this business venture. A tour company; no, an out-door and adventure tour company! As I said anybody from this part of the world knows what KZN has to offer, right? Wrong! There is more, oh so much more. It was only with the privilege I get through this type of work that I started to really understand the endless potential this magnificent place has.
Let me share with you one of my hidden gems! The place is called Zingela, situated in the Tugela River basin near the small town of Weenen in the KZN interior. The Tugela is the largest river in KZN and the third largest in SA. Zingela bush camp is positioned but a stone’s throw away from the mighty river which lulls you to sleep at night. The accommodation is made in unison with the surrounding rock and veld, using natural materials and canvas, yet is of 5 star qualities. The property the camp is on is known as a wilderness area, with many types of animals occurring naturally there. No fences keep them on the property, they are there by choice! Maybe that gives you a clearer picture of how ruggered and remote it is. The river provides many activities for the adventurer, of course when the rains come white-water rafting and kayaking are the main attraction. There is yellow tail to be caught on fly or bait for the patient fisherman, with many secluded spots all along the river banks. Other adventure options that the staff at Zingela has provided are abseil, zip-sliding and quad biking. For me the seclusion and nothingness of the wilderness is all I need and game walks offer a wonderful way to put things in perspective.
I know there are many more diamonds in the rough out there and I’d love to hear about them. So why not write about it and post it here and share your travels with us.
