KwaZulu-Natal invites filmmakers to explore its rich landscapes and heritage

KwaZulu-Natal is positioning itself as a prime filmmaking destination, offering its heritage and landscapes to attract local and international filmmakers.

With a new push led by the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority, the region aims to elevate its cinematic presence through tours and collaborative projects with scriptwriters and producers.

Recently, a select group of 10 to 15 filmmakers and producers toured the picturesque Okhahlamba Drakensberg area, focusing on battlefield routes in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, which are seen as potential gems for film productions.

Pinky Radebe, the authority's head of public relations and communications, said the film value chain was quite extensive and had a huge economic impact for any destination.

"When film makers come to explore for film making in our destination we know our services like accommodation, caterers, security and transport will benefit. We trying to understand their needs to provide an enabling environment for them to come and do business in KZN.

"The destination already has productions in the pipeline in the Drakensberg area. Durban has been our gateway destination for tourism and films. They have a couple productions on Netflix. We are talking to more productions to consider KZN as  their film destination," she said.

Radebe said their pay off line was that KwaZulu-Natal has it all.

"As a new and merged entity we are positioning ourselves as the magical Zulu kingdom, with our cultural tourism, heritage tourism and leisure tourism. We have battlefields that are  important because it links us with international tourists.

"Durban has been the first and  premier choice, however the Drakensberg, south coast and Hluhluwe have been popular as well. Film makers are looking for heritage, culture and scenic destinations. Tom Cruise shot scenes for Mission Impossible 8 in the Drakensberg," said Radebe.

Among the filmmakers exploring this potential is Mandla Dube, CEO of Pambilimedia, who is known for productions such as Silverton Siege and Heart of the Hunter.

He last week visited Sani Pass, the sites of the Battle of Isandlwana and the Battle of SpionKop at the invitation of the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority.

"I'm looking at ways to encapsulate the heritage of KwaZulu-Natal and create a narrative. We've seen two films that were made, one being the Zulu and one Rourkes Drift. To complete that trilogy I'm embarking on a partnership and collaboration with the province to tell the story from King Cetshwayo's point of view about what happened.

"I'm putting forward a proposal to the KZN province. All the battlefield routes have not been told from the African perspective, especially for young people to know their ancestors' contribution to the KwaZulu-Natal narrative. We have to help balance the narrative," said Dube.

He said he would like to make an historical fiction movie.

James Seymour, chairperson of the uThukela-Drakensberg Tourism Association, said 68 000 foreign tourists visit the northern and central Drakensberg annually, with the battlefields as the core attraction.

"The core battles such as Isandlwana and SpionKop attract many of the families of the soldiers that died in those battles. There's a large contingent of people that are interested in the battlefields that exist in KwaZulu-Natal.

"There's a keen interest from British, Canadians, Australians and New Zealand tourists whose family members participated in those wars. They are interested in the Drakensberg experience, particularly the British tourists. Some of the other core markets are the German, French and Dutch tourists. They are also fascinated by the rich history and heritage of the area," said Seymour.

He said the level of foreign tourists had increased from mid January to mid May, adding that the South African foreign tourism season was extending.

Seymour said the Drakensberg has southern Africa's greatest concentration of hiking trails. "One of the world's 50th most recognised hiking trails is the Grand Traverse. It starts in the Free State. It's a hike of over 140km and takes 14 days to complete and ends in  Bushman's Nek in the southern Drakensberg. Over the course of the hike the elevation gained is more than three times the elevation gain of climbing Mount Everest," said Seymour.