Big Five & the estuary
- St Lucia — estuary cruise & Cape Vidal
- Hluhluwe-iMfolozi — full-day safari
- Mkhuze — hides & pans on the way out
The Elephant Coast • KwaZulu-Natal • South Africa
Drive the wildest road in South Africa.
The R22 threads north from the N2 at Hluhluwe up to the Mozambique border — past the Big Five reserves, World Heritage wetlands, dive reefs and 400-year-old fish traps of Maputaland. Route22 is your guide to every stop along the way.
- ~200 kmof tarred route
- 7+major game reserves
- 1World Heritage Site
One road. Every reason to come to Zululand.
The Route22 corridor follows the R22 (the Lubombo road) as its spine, linking stretches of the N2, the P453 and the road to St Lucia, then running all the way up to Kosi Bay and round toward Pongola. Along it sits the densest concentration of wildlife, wilderness and coastline in the country — from Africa's oldest game park to its first World Heritage Site.
Tours & safaris
Safari companies and tour operators running day trips and multi-day experiences along the route.
The Route
Tap a stop to see what's there. The route is best driven over 4–7 days.
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Parks & reserves along the way
Every great stop on the Elephant Coast, south to north. Tap any park to plan your visit.
Southern gateway
Big Five reserve
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park
Big Five safaris in the oldest proclaimed game reserve in Africa, birthplace of white-rhino conservation.
Explore Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park →The coastal spine
World Heritage Site
iSimangaliso Wetland Park
South Africa's first World Heritage Site — 21 ecosystems, from Lake St Lucia to Kosi Bay.
Explore iSimangaliso Wetland Park →Southern anchor
Gateway town
St Lucia
The gateway town on the St Lucia estuary — hippo & croc boat cruises and the road to Cape Vidal.
Explore St Lucia →Northern coast
Diving & ocean
Sodwana Bay
World-class scuba diving on the southernmost coral reefs, plus deep-sea fishing and beaches.
Explore Sodwana Bay →Central route
Birding & game reserve
Mkhuze Game Reserve
A legendary birding reserve with famous hides, fig forests and pans full of game.
Explore Mkhuze Game Reserve →Far north
Big tuskers
Tembe Elephant Park
Sand-forest wilderness sheltering some of the largest elephants left in Africa.
Explore Tembe Elephant Park →Far north
Birding reserve
Ndumo Game Reserve
A birding paradise on the Pongola floodplain, with pans crowded with wildlife.
Explore Ndumo Game Reserve →Northern terminus
Estuary & lakes
Kosi Bay
Interlinked lakes, snorkelling at the mouth, and 400-year-old traditional fish traps still in use.
Explore Kosi Bay →Northern coast
Freshwater lake
Lake Sibaya
The largest natural freshwater lake in South Africa — hippos, crocs and prolific birdlife.
Explore Lake Sibaya →Western arm
Western gateway
Pongola
The western gateway — Pongolapoort Dam, tiger-fishing and Big Five reserves under the Lebombo range.
Explore Pongola →Sample itineraries
Starting points you can tailor. Longer, slower and wilder the further north you go.
Up the Elephant Coast
- St Lucia & iSimangaliso
- Hluhluwe-iMfolozi safari
- Sodwana Bay — dive or snorkel
- Lake Sibaya & Rocktail beaches
- Kosi Bay — fish traps & estuary
The full corridor
- St Lucia → Hluhluwe-iMfolozi
- Mkhuze & Sodwana
- Sibaya, Rocktail & Kosi Bay
- Tembe & Ndumo in the far north
- West to Pongola & the dam
Where to stay & what to do
Lodges, camps, restaurants and experiences along the route.
More from Route22
Beyond the route itself — people, resources and listings.
Guides & drivers
Book independent safari, dive, birding, fishing and cultural guides, or a transfer driver.
Explore →Industry info
Trip-planning guides, seasonal tips, conservation background and operator resources.
Explore →Opportunities
Jobs, internships, volunteer roles, learnerships and tenders along the route.
Explore →Put your business on the route
Route22 reaches travellers actively planning to spend time — and money — in Zululand. Get in front of them.
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Featured
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Flat monthly prices in ZAR — no commission, no per-booking or per-enquiry fees. Listings on Route22 also appear on ZAtours, South Africa's national tourism directory. Compare plans →