The charming Zululand & Maputaland, North Coast town of Mtunzini is situated just off the N2 highway, 130km from Durban. Mtunzini gets its name from the Zulu word 'emthunzini', which means 'a place in the shade', although historically, the name refers to the area under the milkwood trees, where the white Zulu Chief John Dunn would meet with tribal elders and leaders.
Mtunzini has strong policies regarding conservation in the Zululand area, and the results are magnificent unspoilt beaches, a beautiful lagoon, and interesting walks along the pristine Zululand, North Coast dunes. Mtunzini was declared a Conservancy in 1995, and has also gained numerous awards for its commitment to the preservation of its natural heritage. Closely associated with the town's eco-tourism policies is the Rapphia Palm Monument, a grove of raphia palms which were planted in Mtunzini in 1916, with the idea of them being used for a prisoner's broom making project. Today the palms are a national monument, and are home to Palmnut Vultures, South Africa's rarest bird of prey, which roost and feed on the fruit of the gigantic rafia palm. At the Rafia Palm Monument, visitors can walk through the verdant vegetation on a raised boardwalk that meanders through to the magnificent palms.
The town boasts a wide variety of leisure activities which include fishing, waterskiing, tennis, bowls and horse riding, and for the golf enthusiast, the Mtunzini Country Club's fabulous 9-hole, Par 71 golf course offers challenging golf, where accuracy off the tee is paramount. The fairways are lined with beautiful indigenous trees and bush, punishing wayward shots.
For those who love swimming be warned - Zululand, Mtunzini Beach is not protected by shark nets due to its proximity to a shark breeding ground, however, Mtunzini Beach is still frequented by sun-worshipers and surfers, who prefer Mtunzini waves to any other on the North Coast.
For breakfast, lunch, tea, sundowners and dinner, the Clay Oven in Mtunzini offers a relaxed atmosphere, delicious dishes and friendly service. If you are planing on staying over in Mtunzini, there's plenty of superb Mtunzini accommodation in this nature lover's paradise. Mtunzini Bed & Breakfast accommodation with stunning views over the Umlalazi Nature Reserve and the Indian Ocean, invites you relax and enjoy the breath-taking sunsets. For longer stays, Mtunzini Self Catering accommodation is where you can escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, in what may be the very last KwaZulu-Natal outpost. For the camper, Mtunzini Holiday Resort accommodation offers a luxurious camping holiday - at Xaxaza Caravan Park you can pull your caravan directly adjacent to your own private ablution / kitchen facilities, then sit back and enjoy camping at its very best. Visit the Where To Stay Mtunzini accommodation page to see more of these amazing North Coast holiday options
Situated within comfortable range of Durban CBD, Umfolozi Game Park, St Lucia and its wet wonderland, Cape Vidal and the divers paradise of Sodwana Bay, Mtunzini is a perfect base in Zululand for exploring further afield.
Travelling South on the KZN North Coast, Gingindlovu lies 21.5km (19 minutes) from Mtunzini accommodation, and is known for its catchphrase, "Gin Gin, I love you", dubbed by British soldiers after a major battle victory during the Anglo-Zulu war. Visitors to Gingindlovu are within easy reach of all Zululand & Maputaland attractions, which include tours of the famous Anglo-Zulu war battle field sites, and for the more 'sporty' minded, keen golfers can squeeze in a few rounds at the Amatikulu Country Club, just 12 minutes from Gingindlovu. Other outdoor activities in the Zululand & Maputaland, Gingindlovu area are canoeing on the Amatikulu Estuary, where fishing for grunter, salmon, stumpnose bream, rockcod, shad and barracuda can also prove to be an extremely rewarding experience. The nearby Amatikulu Nature Reserve is one of the few places where you can see wildlife such as giraffe, zebra, waterbuck and smaller antelope grazing on forested dunes overlooking the Zululand North Coast sea.
Gingindlovu Guest Farm accommodation at Tattenham Resort is the ultimate Zululand experience. Situated on a sugarcane farm, this Gingindlovu, Zululand resort is ideal for families and friends to gather and enjoy real farm life away from the bustling city. There's plenty to do for young and old alike, including Zululand coastal fishing, swimming, canoeing and quad rides, then gather around a bonfire at night, and experience the beauty of nature.
Still heading down the Zululand North Coast, about 12km South-East from Gingindlovu accommodation, and 25 minutes from Mtunzini accommodation, you'll come across glorious Amatikulu Beach, better known for the Amatikulu Nature Reserve, located on the Zululand & Maputaland coast. The reserve is a big attraction for visitors from nearby Durban, Eshowe, Mtunzini and Richards Bay, making the Amatikulu Nature Reserve a perfect Zululand day trip or weekend getaway. Situated on the Zululand & Maputaland, KwaZulu Natal North Coast between the Tugela and Amatikulu Rivers, the Amatikulu Nature Reserve provides visitors with an opportunity to view the Zululand area by game drive, or self guided walking trails. The Amatikulu 4x4 trail is the cycle route which takes you through the entire Amatikulu Nature Reserve, making being on a bike surrounded by giraffe and zebra a very special experience. The Amatikulu water pan is also a good spot for birding, but it is advised to keep an eye on the water for crocs. For those who like to canoe, fish, swim and walk the stretches of river and beach, the combination of the Zululand beach and water estuaries make the Amatikulu Nature Reserve a wonderful waterland break.
Right on the lagoon overlooking Amatikulu Beach and the Amatikulu Nature Reserve, is Amatikulu Beach Self Catering with Communal Kitchen accommodation at 'The Hatchery', an ex-prawn hatchery where the pump house, artemia and maturation rooms have been changed into 8 rooms - each one offering a fun take on the history of the building. The communal kitchen and dining table is kitted for any culinary adventure you may want to try your hand at, and is a cool place to hang out in inclement weather.
27.8km from Amatikulu Beach accommodation, and 43.2km (31 minutes) from Mtunzini accommodation you will find Tugela River Mouth situated on the northern banks of the mighty Tugela River. This Zululand area is rich in history, with the first European visitor being the Portuguese explorer Vasco Da Gama in December 1497. The fishing in the region was so good that he named a certain part of the coastline Ponta da Pescaria, 'Fishing Point'. Today the Tugela River Mouth is still a popular destination for both offshore, river and deep sea angling for salmon, garrick and lobotes, and regularly hosts a number of major fishing tournaments. This Zululand & Maputaland region is also known as one of the best areas on the KwaZulu Natal, North Coast for shark fishing, with massive specimens of Zambezi (bull) sharks, great white, dusky, ragged tooth, hammer head, tiger sharks, blackspot sharks, milk sharks and sand sharks being landed.
Aside from fishing in Tugela River Mouth, visitors can enjoy a variety of interesting and entertaining activities and attractions, which include excellent bird watching, an indigenous forest, hiking trails, water sports, and a massive variety of historical and cultural attractions, such as a Zulu Cultural Museum, Fort Pearson and Fort Tenedos, built by the British in 1879 during the Anglo-Zulu War. Also extremely popular among visitors to Tugela River Mouth is the well known Prawn Shack, a unique beach restaurant experience for long lazy lunches, for chilling at the Rasta Bar, or exploring the North Coast beach and dunes. Local events in the area include the annual Zululand Tugela Raft Race, which has become so popular that it's rated amongst the largest if its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.
For Tugela River Mouth Self Catering Cottage accommodation, Agape Beach House has direct access to the beach, is secure and pet friendly, and beautifully situated with magnificent river and sea views. This magnificent Zululand accommodation is perfect for family or group getaways.
West of Mtunzini accommodation (45km), the wind blowing through the trees of the Zululand & Maputaland Dhlinza Forest is said to have inspired the name - Eshowe, the 'city set on a hill', where Zulu Kings used to reside. Eshowe's Dhlinza Forest will delight visitors with wonderful walks and trails, and has the only aerial boardwalk in the Southern Hemisphere, from which one can commune with the birds, vervet monkeys, wild pigs, blue and red duikers, and bushbuck. Deep within the Dhlinza Forest is the Bishop's Seat, where one of the first Bishops of Eshowe would sit and plan his next sermon. Today, this spot is used by the town as a venue for their nativity play, which is staged every three years. Wrapped around the lush green Dhlinza Forest, Eshowe is abundant with unequalled fauna, flora, bird life and butterflies, and endless views of the exquisite North Coast plain, sugar plantations and orchards.
While in Eshowe, a 'must visit' is the Vukani Museum, which houses some of the best examples of Zulu pottery, basketry, beadwork and tapestries, done by artists who have gone on to receive international recognition.
For the sporty person, the Eshowe Hills Golf Club boasts a challenging 18 hole par 72 golf course, 6 all-weather tennis courts, 2 squash courts, and a club house which has a wellness centre.
There's plenty of Eshowe accommodation to chose from - Star Graded Eshowe Bed & Breakfast accommodation offering luxurious comfort for the overnighter, and Eshowe Self Catering accommodation on the edge of the Dhlinza Forest for those longer stays.
When looking where to eat in Eshowe, The Quarters Restaurant is one of the more visited restaurants in Eshowe, serving German schnitzel specialities as well as standard grills. Then drop by the most popular bar in town, the 'Happy George', which also has a great pub menu.
Eshowe is the Zululand & Maputaland town known to have a flower blooming in a tree every day of the year, and is the ideal base to visit the KwaZulu Natal Battlefields, North Coast Beaches, Hluhluwe Umfolozi Big Five Game Reserve, the Zululand Birding Route and KZN Brew Route.
'Empangeni' is the Zulu name for the historic Zululand & Maputaland, North Coast town lying in the heart of a region ruled by Zulu kings for centuries, and is named for the Mpange trees lining the banks of the Mpangeni River running through the valley. 35.5km North of Mtunzini accommodation, and easily accessed via the N2 highway, Empangeni lies 170km North of Durban, and 15km inland from Richards Bay on KwaZulu-Natal's North Coast. Initially a mission station, Empangeni now serves as the commercial, industrial and communications centre for a large sugar cane and timber industry.
Popular among visitors to Empangeni and the surrounding Zululand & Maputaland area, is the Enseleni Nature Reserve situated about 14km North East of Empangeni. For bird watching enthusiasts, the reserve boasts a variety of rare species, and is also home to an interesting array of wildlife which includes giraffe, wildebeest, zebra, buck, bushpig, duiker, hippos, crocodile, large spotted genet and bushbaby. For the energetic, this 295 hectare North Coast Zululand reserve has trails running through it which provide visitors with magnificent scenery and wildlife viewing opportunities.
For avid golfers, the impressive 18-hole Empangeni Golf Course guarantees incredible views of Richards Bay and the North Coast Indian Ocean. The Empangeni Golf Club also offers tennis, bowls, squash and conference facilities.
Visitors looking for local culture must make time for the Empangeni Art and Crafts Centre located in the Empangeni CBD. Here you can see displays of traditional Zulu heritage art, and one can buy a variety of arts and crafts made by the local communities. The centre also hosts exciting street theatre, enthralling Zulu storytelling and lively jazz sessions.
Why not overnight in Empangeni Bed & Breakfast accommodation, where you'll be able to relax in privacy and safety, whether you simply need a place to spend the night, or if it's V.I.P treatment, all your needs will be catered for. Visit Where To Stay to see all the Zululand Empangeni accommodation options.
For something completely different, the Nam Jai restaurant in Empangeni is home to the best sushi in the land, where the love and pride in each piece of exquisitely made sushi, and steaming dish of traditional food shines through.
Visit the Where To Stay Mtunzini Accommodation Zululand Page
It is our mission to search for, and recruit a wide selection of suitable Mtunzini accommodation, particularly the more popular categories such as Mtunzini Bed and Breakfast accommodation, Mtunzini Self Catering accommodation, Mtunzini Guest House accommodation, and other Mtunzini lodges such as Self Catering Cottages in Mtunzini, and Mtunzini Hotels.
We strive to present a mixture of upmarket Mtunzini accommodation, and affordable accommodation (to suit all pockets and tastes), especially for Self Catering accommodation in Mtunzini, which is a category more geared for family holiday accommodation in Mtunzini. Mtunzini Hotels should be considered for business or holiday accommodation in Mtunzini (or in towns near Mtunzini).
Suitable Mtunzini accommodation can also be found in nearby towns such as : Gingindlovu- 21.5km from Mtunzini accommodation; Amatikulu Beach - 24.7km from Mtunzini accommodation; Empangeni - 35.5km from Mtunzini accommodation; Tugela River Mouth - 43.2km from Mtunzini accommodation; Eshowe - 45km from Mtunzini accommodation.
We recommend that, if in doubt about accommodation quality, and to put your mind at ease, you should consider Star Graded accommodation in Mtunzini whether it be Star Graded Self Catering Mtunzini accommodation, or Star Graded Mtunzini Bed and Breakfast accommodation. See Where to Stay for our Star Graded Mtunzini accommodation page.
Be sure to check our other Special Categories for Mtunzini Pet Friendly accommodation, or Mtunzini Conference accommodation, Mtunzini Wedding Venues and Mtunzini accommodation that sleeps 10 or more persons, etc. etc.
Afrikaans alternate search phrase - Mtunzini akommodasie or Mtunzini akomodasie.