In Zulu, the native tongue of KwaZulu-Natal, Zimbali means ‘valley of flowers’. Situated in a verdant mountain pass, under a beautiful forest canopy, the Fairmont Zimbali Lodge certainly lives up to its name. The hotel’s extraordinary environment is both coastal and woodland, treating guests to an unparalleled spectrum of flora and fauna, with stunning vistas in every direction. For the business-oriented, the Lodge’s location – only a short drive from Durban, South Africa’s busiest port city – is yet another key selling point.
Service, aesthetics and facilities at the Zimbali Lodge live up to the exclusive tone set by its subtropical, coastal forest reserve setting. Guests are treated to private balconies and on-call butler service, allowing total relaxation. For the more active, the Lodge offers beach access, a golf course, forest walks, tennis courts, deep-sea fishing, scuba diving, outdoor pools and dolphin tours. In fact, this luxury hotel is a haven for nature-lovers; 50 hectares of the estate have been set aside as a conservation area, which houses a plethora of birds and animals. Spot bush babies, vervet monkeys, banded mongooses and wild pigs, alongside clouds of butterflies and 85 species of bird. After a day of wildlife spotting, the Lodge has a number of fine dining options to replenish you. The Thandi restaurant’s Indian cuisine is particularly delicious.
Durban in dates
1497
The area makes its first appearance in written history: a sighting recorded by Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama on his search for a route to India.
1824
Modern Durban is founded as the first European settlers – a party of 25 men under British Lieutenant FG Farewell – arrive from Cape Colony.
1840s
The Port of Natal, now the Port of Durban, opens. Durban is now the busiest container port in Africa, with 96 percent of South Africa’s exports conveyed by sea.
1935
Electrification, new trams and civic infrastructure, and expanding industry mean the Borough of Durban is granted full city status.
1970s
The Golden Mile, a beachfront strip of modern tourist attractions, is developed. It has remained popular with sun seekers and surfers ever since.
1990
The Separate Amenities Act is repealed, opening Durban’s facilities to all races and marking the end of Apartheid and a shift to majority rule.
2010
Parts of the Golden Mile are redeveloped and a stadium is built as South Africa hosts the 2010 FIFA World Cup to a soundtrack of vuvuzelas.
