The significant drop in international tourist arrivals in KwaZulu-Natal due to Covid has turned events attracting over 400 attendees from across the globe into a major advantage for the tourism sector.
Just last week, people of Afrikaner, African, British, and Indian heritage gathered on a verdant hillside in the KwaZulu-Natal ‘Battlefields’ region to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the Battle of Spionkop (Spioenkop), which was a clash between the British Army and Boer forces during the Second Anglo-Boer War.
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Spioenkop is part of the Battlefields Route, featuring 82 battlefields, museums, historic fortifications, and memorial sites that particularly attract British visitors. The location also has importance for India, as Mahatma Gandhi acted as a stretcher bearer during the battle in his youth.
Recently, the Battle of Isandlwana from the Anglo-Zulu War was commemorated, although it did not see the same attendance levels as Spioenkop this year. The commemoration of the Battle of Majuba Hill is also upcoming, set for early February.
Such events welcome tourists from various places, all of whom need accommodations, meals, and transportation for self-drive excursions, or they might opt for local guides to explore the historical context.
The Battlefields Route is especially popular among UK tourists. A substantial number of the soldiers at Spioenkop were from Leicester and Liverpool.
In fact, supporters of Liverpool still refer to a section of Anfield stadium as “The Kop” or “the Spioenkop end” in memory of those who sacrificed their lives during the battle 125 years prior.
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On a domestic tourism note, an uptrend is clear, as stated by Pinky Radebe, spokesperson for the provincial promotion agency KZN Tourism and Film.
She observes a consistent increase in tourism statistics following the Covid-19 lockdowns. In the first quarter of 2024, the province hosted 1,181,173 domestic tourists, marking a significant rise from 969,765 in the same timeframe in 2023.
While overall figures for 2024 are still being processed, there are signs that the international market is steadily recovering as well.
The province is executing a recovery plan aimed at positioning KwaZulu-Natal as a primary destination, not merely a secondary choice after Cape Town or Kruger National Park itineraries.
Radebe emphasizes Durban as the prime destination, along with other notable attractions like the Drakensberg, associated heritage sites, the South Coast, Ballito, the North Coast, and Hluhluwe with its game reserves.
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James Seymour, chair of the uThukela-Drakensberg Tourism Association, mentions that Spioenkop is the most significant battlefield in the vicinity, drawing around 70,000 international visitors and 300,000 domestic tourists each year.
The local economy significantly relies on agriculture—growing essential products like maize, soya, potatoes, and wheat—as well as timber and tourism.
In the Champagne Valley within central Drakensberg alone, over 3,000 individuals are employed within the tourism industry.
Featuring more than 4,000 beds and one of the largest convention centers within a resort in South Africa, the Champagne Sports Resort regularly accommodates large medical and agricultural conventions.
Economic impact
Seymour notes that the annual economic contribution from tourism spending surpasses R1 billion.
Moreover, adventure seekers have been visiting the region, particularly from the Netherlands, France, and Germany.
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“These are experienced travelers who prefer to arrange their own itineraries and self-drive,” Seymour explains.
The demographic encompasses young thrill-seekers and empty-nesters with significant disposable income who favor outdoor adventures over time spent in accommodation.
Their interests cover a range of activities including trail running, with events such as the Mont-Aux Sources Ultra Trail offering 20km or 55km courses that commence at the headwaters of the Orange River, passing by the Tugela Waterfall, one of the tallest in the world.
Hiking is another popular activity, whether opting for an easy 2km walk around the Drakensberg Sun lake or undertaking the challenging 247km Grand Traverse, a 15-day trek from the Amphitheatre in the Northern Drakensberg to Bushman’s Neck in the South.
Additional activities available include quad biking, horseback riding, zip-lining, abseiling, rock climbing, white-water rafting, and paragliding.
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Graves at Spioenkop in the KZN Battlefields. Image: Antoinette Slabbert/Moneyweb
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View of the Drakensberg Mountains from the Drakensberg Sun hotel. Image: Antoinette Slabbert/Moneyweb
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The zip-line at Four Rivers Rafting and Adventures in the KZN Drakensberg. Image: Supplied
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The 5km Fern Forest hiking trail at the Drakensberg Sun hotel. Image: Antoinette Slabbert/Moneyweb
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Sunset over the Drakensberg. Image: Antoinette Slabbert/Moneyweb
For local visitors, the Drakensberg has commonly served as a preferred family getaway, especially for those traveling from other regions of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, given its proximity—a two-and-a-half hour drive from Durban and four to five hours from Gauteng.
Seymour mentions that since September of the previous year, there has been a noticeable rise in international tourists visiting the area, with key events like the Spioenkop commemoration benefiting the industry significantly.
Typically, the duration from mid-January to April’s school holidays experiences low visitor numbers.
There is also a growing number of groups from Belgium and the Netherlands, which greatly benefits the major hotels and resorts in the region, according to him.
“We experience rainfall throughout the year, with increased showers during the summer months. The optimal period to visit the Drakensberg is in late autumn and winter when the days are dry and warm, while the nights are cool, providing ideal conditions for stargazing,” he notes.
Occasionally, winter brings snowfall, covering mountain peaks in a white blanket and drawing Durban residents to the ‘Berg for experiences unavailable in the city.
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