Crowned by Southern Africa’s highest mountains, a serrated spine that runs the length of this region, the Eastern Cape, Lesotho and KwaZulu-Natal offer rugged mountain scenery, undulating hills, and superb beaches. The powerful currents of the warm Indian Ocean carve the wave-battered cliffs of the Wild Coast.

Although an almost continuous chain of coastal resorts extends 160 kilometres south of Durban, Africa’s largest port, much of the coastline remains unspoilt and accessible only along winding dirt roads. In the far north, subtropical rainforests and savannah provide a haven for an abundance of big game and birds, while coastal lakes and the ocean lure fishermen and holiday-makers.

Durban’s Beachfront, a 6-kilometre long stretch of hotels, restaurants and entertainment venues along the Indian Ocean shoreline, is also known as the Golden Mile.