19 Best Hotels in KwaZulu-Natal and Durban, South Africa

This quaint little Victorian lodge is run by a safari- and mountain-guide couple who follow Fair Trade, sustainability, and social ethics, and also offer guided walks and activities. It lies in the lee of the infamous Spioenkop hill, site of one of the bitterest battles of the South African (Anglo-Boer) War. Choose a cozy en suite Victorian cottage overlooking a secret game-filled valley, set against a magnificent mountain backdrop, or one of three delightful self-catering lodges (Kiplings is particularly geared to little ones, with games and bunk beds). Check out the amazing original memorabilia throughout the lodge—there's even a copy of one of Winston Churchill's paintings of the area when he was a war correspondent here. Even if you're not into military history, a morning's visit to the top of Spioenkop and its mass grave with a knowledgeable guide, may well have you in tears. Reserve the new wine cellar for an intimate evening dinner and top-notch South African wine tasting. 

Brahman Hills is a contemporary slick country hotel with standard rooms, serviced self-catering cottages, and five-star self-catering villas—ideal for couples or families. Set on the Blue Crane nature reserve, expect to see zebras and various buck grazing nearby at sunset—kids will be in awe. The bar and the bistro built belowground at the main building, using the original walls, tend to get a little cold, but expect a crackling fire in colder months and warm service. The on-site chapel by the dam and the conference facilities are booked solid, so it does lose some of the intimacy if you're not part of a group. The spa and room service options (even if you're at a self-catering cottage) ensure you can fully relax without leaving the property.

This property enjoys an enviable position at the northern tip of Umhlanga, surrounded by the wilds of the Hawaan Forest and overlooking the unspoiled wetlands of Umhlanga Lagoon. Of all the resorts in Umhlanga, this one suffers the least from crowds, but the disadvantage is that you'll probably need a car to get into town, and you can't swim directly in front of the resort because the surf's too dangerous. The satisfactory rooms have fully equipped kitchens and great views of the beach and lagoon. The lovely grassed pool area, where you can order breakfast, lunch, and supper from on-site Harry's Beach Club, has a beautiful view of the sea.

You'll get breathtaking views from almost every spot in this friendly, delightful hotel nestled among the mountains, 43 km (18 miles) from Winterton. Ideal for families, the resort has something for everyone: amble along a horse trail, go mountain biking, follow bird-watching trails, play a round of golf, or just soak up the heady mountain air. Best for families is a deluxe suite with adjacent rooms and connecting door. You'll get excellent value here; prices include breakfast and hearty dinner buffets as well as most activities. If you're intimidated at the variety, trained, experienced guides take you on daily walks and trails through the Berg (fee included in accommodation price). There's a children's dining room, plus babysitting service.

Swaths of scarlet bougainvillea run riot in the lush gardens of this family-owned country inn with tastefully furnished rooms that each have a small veranda (the newest Mountain Rooms have the best interiors). It was here that Rider Haggard wrote some of his adventure stories, inspired perhaps by the mysterious lights and elusive flickering flames that give the mountain its spooky name. Large, invitingly restful public areas have terra-cotta tiles and comfortable cane furniture. Don't miss the enthusiastic Zulu dancing before a succulent barbecue under the stars, watch the sunrise from the jetty, and get out those binoculars to try spot over 420 bird species found here. The friendly staff can arrange tours to the neighboring game reserves (Manyoni and uMkhuze are closest), a boat cruise on Lake Jozini, and authentic cultural sights, or will fix you up to go bird-watching or fishing. There's also the opportunity to treat yourself at the swish on-site spa. Perfect for traveling families, children are permitted to join game drives but only over 16's on game walks. Children will have a blast on grubby nature walks, treasure hunts, Zulu crafts, pizza making, and fishing off the jetty. 

Located in the Hluhluwe half of the park, the camp's self-contained chalets have high thatched ceilings, rattan furniture, and small verandas. Unless you plan to cook, forgo the more expensive chalets with fully equipped kitchens and eat at the restaurant. If you're on a tight budget, opt for a basic rondavel with two beds, a basin, and a refrigerator; toilet facilities are communal. Chalets with best views are No. 40 upward. A restaurant, pub, convenience store, and a gas station are on-site.

Overlooking False Bay lake and the Hluhluwe River floodplain—follow signs from Hluhluwe village—this fantastic-value, family-owned lodge is the ideal base for visiting the game reserves and the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. After a day spent game-viewing, canoeing, bird-watching, mountain biking, boating, fishing, or walking in the pristine sand forest, relax in your comfortable A-frame chalet or sit on your wooden deck overlooking the bush, the floodplain, and the lake. This lodge is the only one with direct access to the lake, but water activities are dependent on the seasonal rains. The food is excellent—wholesome country cooking. Two family chalets are available, and children three and under stay free.

In the central iMfolozi section of the park, Mpila is reminiscent of some of Kruger's older camps with lodging options that range from basic but fully equipped one-room chalets with en suite bathroom, kitchenette, and deck, to three-bedroom cottages (these come with a cook who will prepare the food you've brought with you), self-catering chalets, and the Safari Tented camp, with two- and four-bed self-catering tents with en suite bathrooms. Three luxurious lodges with resident chef and ranger are also available. Gas is available, but you can only buy curios and sodas at the camp shop, so stock up with groceries before you arrive.

Log cabins simply decorated in ocean tones of white and blue lie on a dune ridge ensconced by coastal forest regularly visited by little duiker antelope and trumpeter hornbills. The self-catering or bed-and-breakfast cottages twist around the central restaurant hub, which is open all day, every day for milkshakes, pizza, burgers, breakfasts, and seafood platters. If nothing else, don't miss a cocktail on the sunset deck. The wide, quiet beach is accessed via a wooden staircase, and there's the Amoray dive center on-site for exploring the underwater wilds of Sodwana Bay.

Complete with a dedicated butler, chef, ranger, and tracker, this property is the only sole-use safari villa on the reserve and the most contemporary designer-chic of all the stays. Warm ochre hues and beautiful basketry thread through all four remarkable suites uniting them to the swanky main area, where every thoughtful interior element honors the area. Nguni cowhides, Zulu crafts (even the marble basins in the four bathrooms are shaped like traditional pots) and traditional beadwork, plus pineapple motifs and railway sleeper cladding celebrate this special reserve and its astonishing story of wilderness resurrection and successful community collaboration. Ideal for both families and small groups, The Homestead has an interactive kitchen (great for kids), library, and a gym. The boma, firepit, and an infinity-edge pool bordered by a sundeck all overlook the well-frequented water hole.

This attractive thatched lodge (the first built at Phinda) sits on a rocky hill overlooking miles of bushveld plains and the Ubombo Mountains. Wide verandas lead into the lounge and bar, with their high ceilings, dark beams, and cool tile floors. In winter guests can snuggle into cushioned wicker chairs next to a blazing log fire. Brick pathways wind down the hillside from the lodge to elegant suites with plunge pools, thatched roofs, and large decks overlooking the reserve. Children are welcome and will have a blast on the "Wild Child Progamme" or crafting, baking, and playing with designated staff in the playroom. (Only children from six years and older are permitted on game drives, unless you hire a private vehicle or book a family package safari). There's a state-of-the-art gym plus massage therapists available on-site for unwinding between safari activities. 

Designed as an exclusive, single-use lodge for a family or small group of friends, Zuka (zuka means "sixpence" in Zulu) is a couple of miles from the bigger lodges and can now be booked per room. Luxuriously furnished thatched cottages overlook a busy waterhole, and you'll be looked after by the camp's personal ranger, host, butler, and chef. Children are welcome.

Tucked away in the Maputaland Coastal Forest, with glorious unspoiled beaches, this lovely lodge is perfect for families, though it's great for individual travelers and honeymooners, too. The Maputaland Marine Reserve is just offshore, so if you're a diver, a snorkeler, a birder, or just a potential beach bum, you'll be in seaside heaven. Tented rooms have reed walls, wooden floors and viewing decks, and are raised on stilts, as are the public areas, to overlook the bird-filled forest. Seven of the rooms are designed for families. Activities abound, including forest walks, world class diving with qualified instructors, superb snorkeling off the beach—just walk into the Indian Ocean—and turtle tracking.

The vacation rental properties in this exclusive resort between Ramsgate and Palm Beach offer a great getaway for a group of friends or a family, and golfers are drawn by the on-site championship course. Spacious one- to five-bedroom Tuscan-style villas, many with breathtaking views of the sea or the bird-filled lagoons, are set among gardens and tropical indigenous forest. At night it's lit by hundreds of twinkling lights. Stroll down paved walkways to the private beach, meander through the woods, and spot small antelope and monkeys. If DIY is not your style, opt for the 40-bedroom, four-star San Lameer hotel on-site which also has a spa.

For a more in-depth exploration of Shakaland, stay the night at the 55-room Shakaland. Overnight guests have access to additional cultural events and stay in a quasi-traditional Zulu dwelling. Beehive huts have modern amenities and the property overlooks the Phobane Lake. Rooms are attractive, luxurious, and Africa-inspired, in enormous thatch beehive huts supported by rope-wrapped struts, decorated with African bedspreads, reed matting, and African art. All have modern bathrooms and superb views. Meals are included in the price: The evening buffets feature samp and beans, local wild spinach, local stews, and shisa nyama braai or grilled meat.

This exquisite lodge blends elements of royal Zulu with an eclectic pan-African feel evident in the thatched, turreted dwellings perched on the side of rolling hills that overlook mountains and bushveld. Inside, contemporary Scandinavian touches meet African chic and communal areas are decorated with beading, leather, wood and splashes of royal red. A huge stone fireplace divides the bedroom area from the comfortable and roomy lounge, while outside there's a personal plunge pool, private deck, and cushioned sala (outdoor covered deck). Dine on a superb meal with other guests or alone in your private boma under the stars. The spa is ultra-indulgent and there is a great variety of activities on offer. 

Perfect for a family or friends' reunion (although it's great for individual travelers, too), this intimate and luxurious eco-forward camp deep in the bush brings you into close contact with your surroundings. You might wake up in your spacious safari tent with en suite bathroom and private verandah to find a warthog or nyala grazing outside. The camp has its own vehicle, ranger, and tracker, and a huge sala with pool and sundeck. Jabula (meaning "happiness" in isiZulu) Tent is the ultimate bush honeymoon getaway. This is a great value, immersive bush experience and passionate guides deliver in-depth knowledge of the ecosystem rather than chase down Big Five sightings. 

Smack in the middle of Royal Natal National Park west of Bergville, amid some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in the Drakensberg, this very affordable popular camp makes a great base for hikes into the mountains. One of the closest resorts to the high Drakensberg escarpment, Thendele offers accommodation across a variety of bungalows, cottages, and chalets and one 6-bed lodge all with excellent views of the Amphitheatre, a sheer rock wall measuring 5 km (3 miles) across and more than 1,500 feet high. Bring all your own food, although you can buy staples and local trout at the main visitor center. 

About 16 km (10 miles) from Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, this lodge lies in a forest of fever trees on the 3,700-acre Ubizane Game Reserve and makes a great base from which to explore Hluhluwe, Mkuze, and St. Lucia. Built of thatch and wood, the open-sided lodge sits on stilts overlooking the Mzinene River. Rooms are in separate cottages, also on stilts, along the riverbank. The rooms themselves are small but tastefully decorated. A qualified ranger will take you for a bush walk or a game drive (which is included in your stay) through the small reserve, or a little farther afield for a game drive in nearby Hluhluwe-iMfolozi.