Enjoy a royal experience

8 Flamboyant is located near many local attractions. These are some of the places of interest you may wish to visit when you stay with us.
Dlinza Forest Nature Reserve Eshowe ± 70km from Richards Bay
Dlinza Forest is a 250 hectare forest & one of many beautiful Zululand forests, is very popular under bird-watching enthusiasts & hosts a few very rare bird species. Early morning is best time to visit the forest & if you’re not a hiking enthusiast, the Royal Drive is a gravel road that goes through the centre of the forest where bucks & duikers can be spotted. Tree markers along the way describe Zulu medicinal uses or interesting facts about the trees & plants. This forest is also well known for its butterflies, especially during autumn & as many as 70 species have been recorded here.

Ntumeni Nature Reserve Eshowe ± 70km from Richards Bay
This 750 hectare reserve is situated about 15km past Dlinza Forest & reminds one of childhood fantasy forests with its particularly high canopy & fern-covered gorges & waterfalls. There are two trails starting from the only picnic spot in the middle of the forest. The uPiti Trail is a two hour circular walking route & the uKhozi Trail takes about four hours & leads the hiker through a gorge & spectacular waterfall. Also very rewarding for bird-watching enthusiasts and duikers & bushbuck can also be spotted as well as a herd of zebra living in the grasslands of the reserve.

Zululand Birding Route
The Zululand Birding Route links the top 70 birding spots in Zululand into 14 local routes in 3 regions & offer a network of experienced guides that can be arranged at affordable rates. Mtunzini & Eshowe host annual birding weekends.

Ongoye Nature Reserve  Mtunzini ± 30km from Richards Bay
This 3900 hectare forest runs from about 10km on a high ridge parallel to the ocean & is about 4km wide. Home to some very rare fauna & flora & is very abundant in fruit, boasting no less than 9 varieties of fig in the forest. It is best to view this Reserve on foot.

Fort Nongqayi Eshowe ± 70km from Richards Bay
This fort houses a series of museums (The Museum Village) with a wide variety of local interests from the Iron Age to Zulu- & missionary history including historical battles fought in the area. The fort was built in 1883 by the British to house the Zulu police force that enforced the British administration in the area. A restaurant & tea garden run from a 19th century settler’s house offers a rustic & relaxed atmosphere.

The Zululand Historical Museum depicts fascinating history from the past 200 years. This museum hosts an impressive collection of artefacts, furniture, memorabilia & jewellery from Zulu kings to John Dunn who was the only White Chief of Zululand who had 49 wives & 117 children.

Vukani Museum Zulu Arts & Culture Eshowe ± 70km from Richards Bay
The Vukani Association was formed more than 30 years ago mainly to revive the dying art of basketry. Through the years it has brought together, to preserve, many different inherited techniques of natural dyes, beadwork, woodcarving & ceramics. Several of the artists whose works are depicted here have gone on to receive international recognition for their art.

Siyaya Coastal Park  Mtunzini ± 50km from Richards Bay
The Siyaya Coastal Park consists of a coastline of about 42km with mangrove forests, swamp forests, grasslands & a coastal dune forest as well as 2 Nature Reserves – The Umlalazi Nature Reserve & The Amatikulu Nature Reserve.

Umlalazi Nature Reserve  Mtunzini ± 50km from Richards Bay
The Mangrove Forest Trail is a short trail of about 15 minutes & is inhabited by some strange creatures like the fiddler crabs & mudskippers.

The Siyaya Coastal Dune Forest Trail is a circular trail that follows the coastal forest adjacent to the Siyaya stream where bushbuck, red, grey & blue duiker can be spotted.

The Raphia Palm Forest is located just outside the reserve where one can follow the boardwalk through the swamp forest. The heart of the colony of palms create an impressive cathedral-like effect & this forest hosts the Palmnut vulture that nests in the Raphia Palms.

Amatikulu Nature Reserve Gingingdlovu ± 70km from Richards Bay
This is a small reserve in the confluence of the Amatikulu & Nyoni rivers & used to serve as a leper colony until the 1970’s. It has a width of 3km & a length of about 17km. There are 2 roads in the reserve, a 4x4 trail & a few hiking trails.
Over 300 bird species occur here naturally, including 25 species of raptor & also house some game, including giraffe, kudu, zebra, impala, waterbuck & bushbuck. Between September & November humpback whales can be seen from the observation tower built on one of the high dunes overlooking the coastline.

The Beach & River Trails are just over 1km long through coastal & riverine habitats. Hikers are just advised that crocodiles do occur in the Nyoni river.
The Whale Trail is highly recommended & has the best view of the entire Zululand coastline.
The iLala Trail is about 14km long & is best for game viewing winding through the iLala Palm bushveld. The turning point in the trail is a pan where superb game viewing can be had.

Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game Reserve ± 100km from Richards Bay
Before this park was established in 1895 it was an exclusive hunting preserve for Zulu kings. It is the oldest game sanctuary in Africa & gained recognition for the 1960’s Operation Rhino which rescued the White Rhino from the brink of extinction. The park offers the Big Five including kudu, nyala, impala, zebra, giraffe, warthog, baboons & wild dogs. Throughout the park you’ll find game viewing hides & picnic sites. Hilltop Camp has a wonderful restaurant, bar, shop & information centre.

Greater St Lucia Wetland Park ± 60km from Richards Bay
This wetland park was declared South Africa’s first World Heritage Site in 1999 & consists of stretches of beach & off-shore coral reefs, dune forests, mangroves, wetlands, forests & grasslands. Lake St Lucia is the largest estuary in Africa & the 38 000 hectare expanse of water is home to over 800 hippos & about 1200 crocodiles. Flat-bottom tour boats operate daily & is the best way to experience this amazing piece of paradise. The St Lucia Crocodile Centre has feedings every Saturday at 15h00.

Cape Vidal is very popular as a diving destination with its spectacular coral reefs & the protected bay is ideal for swimming & snorkelling. During summer months, endangered leatherback and loggerhead turtles regularly nest on the beaches at night.

Enseleni Nature Reserve ± 30km from Richards Bay
This beautiful reserve consists of forest & coastal grasslands close to the Nseleni river. There are two trails to choose from – The Nkonkoni Trail which is about 7km long & the Mvubu Trail which is about 2km in length.

This reserve is host to a variety of large mammals & game, including giraffe, wildebeest, zebra, impala, reedbuck, waterbuck, bushbuck, bushpig, duikers, hippos & crocodiles.

Mapelane Nature Reserve ± 20km from Richards Bay
The Mapelane Nature Reserve forms part of the Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park & is situated on the south bank of the Umfolozi River where it enters the sea. This reserve has a lot to offer, from walks through tropical forests & bush to an array of water activities such as ski boating, surf fishing, spear & deep-sea fishing, hunting for mussels, oysters & crayfish. Nearly 200 bird species have been recorded in the reserve & plenty of forest creatures like small buck, monkeys, mongoose & red squirrels. Also on the estuary edge there are many hippos & crocs to be spotted.

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