Tourism statisticsState2026
KwaZulu-Natal Tourism Statistics: 127,382 Airbnb Stays
AirROI estimates 127,382 Airbnb stays in KwaZulu-Natal in the 12 months to October 2026, with KwaDukuza Local Municipality the most booked town. The busiest month was December. All of South Africa had 8.9 million international tourist arrivals in 2024, UN Tourism reports, via Our World in Data.
Airbnb figures are AirROI estimates for the 12 months to October 2026. Read the method
- Estimated Airbnb nights
- 547,145
- Typical Airbnb stay
- 4.3 nights
- Busiest Airbnb month
- December
- From within South Africa, among guests who left a review
- 80%
Key facts
KwaZulu-Natal Tourism Facts
Each sentence names its place, period and source, so it can be quoted alone.
Official
- UN Tourism puts all of South Africa at 8.9 million international tourist arrivals in 2024, via Our World in Data.
Airbnb stays
- AirROI puts Airbnb stays in KwaZulu-Natal at 127,382 in the 12 months to October 2026.
- AirROI estimates Airbnb stays in KwaZulu-Natal added up to 547,145 nights in the 12 months to October 2026.
- AirROI estimates a typical Airbnb stay in KwaZulu-Natal lasted 4.3 nights in the 12 months to October 2026, booked about 51 days ahead.
Busiest months
- AirROI ranks December the busiest Airbnb month in KwaZulu-Natal in the 12 months to October 2026, followed by July and April, with February the quietest.
- AirROI estimates Airbnb in KwaZulu-Natal had no single high season in the 12 months to October 2026: the three busiest months were December, July and April.
- AirROI estimates Airbnb stays in KwaZulu-Natal in December were booked furthest ahead, about 77 days, against 36 days for May, in the 12 months to October 2026.
Guests
- AirROI estimates 80% of KwaZulu-Natal Airbnb guests who left a review as of October 2026 were from within South Africa, and the United Kingdom at 4.4% and the United States at 2.7% were the top countries abroad.
By place
- AirROI estimates KwaZulu-Natal took 12.5% of all Airbnb stays in South Africa in the 12 months to October 2026.
- AirROI estimates KwaDukuza Local Municipality had the most Airbnb stays of the 14 towns it lists in KwaZulu-Natal in the 12 months to October 2026, at 22,458, ahead of Durban and Umhlanga Rocks.
Official numbers
How Many Tourists Visit South Africa?
UN Tourism counted 8.9 million international tourist arrivals for all of South Africa in 2024, via Our World in Data. On AirROI's estimates, KwaZulu-Natal accounted for 12.5% of Airbnb stays in South Africa in the 12 months to October 2026.
| Figure | What it counts | Year | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8.9 millionInternational tourist arrivals, all of South Africa | Trips by visitors arriving from abroad who stay at least one night, each arrival counted separately | 2024 | UN Tourism, via Our World in Data |
Airbnb stays
Airbnb Stays in KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal had 7,545 Airbnb homes in the 12 months to October 2026. They took an estimated 127,382 stays and 547,145 nights. A typical stay lasted 4.3 nights and was booked about 51 days ahead. AirROI's figures cover the 47 towns it tracks in KwaZulu-Natal; places it does not track are not counted, so every total is a floor.
- Airbnb homes
- 7,545
- Airbnb stays, estimate
- 127,382
- Airbnb nights, estimate
- 547,145
- Typical stay
- 4.3 nights
- Booked ahead
- 51 days
Busiest months
When Is the Busiest Time in KwaZulu-Natal?
On Airbnb, December was the busiest month in KwaZulu-Natal in the 12 months to October 2026, then July and April. February was the quietest. The busiest months do not sit together, so there is no single high season.
December ranks first, February last
Airbnb months in calendar order, 12 months to October 2026. The number is the month's rank, and 1 is the busiest. The bar shows its part of Airbnb nights.
- Three busiest months
- Other months
From busiest to quietest: December, July, April, October, September, August, March, June, November, January, May, February.
Month by month: rank, typical stay and days booked ahead
| Month | Share of nights | Booked ahead |
|---|---|---|
| December | 12.0% | 77 days |
| July | 9.4% | 43 days |
| April | 8.7% | 46 days |
| October | 8.4% | 52 days |
| September | 8.3% | 50 days |
| August | 8.1% | 44 days |
| March | 8.0% | 38 days |
| June | 7.8% | 49 days |
| November | 7.5% | 56 days |
| January | 7.4% | 50 days |
| May | 7.3% | 36 days |
| February | 7.1% | 37 days |
Share is each month's part of the year's Airbnb nights. Typical stay and days booked ahead are AirROI estimates for stays in each month.
Where guests come from
Where Do KwaZulu-Natal Airbnb Guests Come From?
About eight in ten KwaZulu-Natal Airbnb guests who left a review as of October 2026 were from within South Africa (80%), and the top countries abroad were the United Kingdom at 4.4% and the United States at 2.7%, AirROI estimates. Among the same guests, Johannesburg was the top origin city at 13%, and KwaZulu-Natal itself came second at 7.3%. The figures rest on 273,488 reviews, written over many years.
80% from within South Africa
Among guests who left a review, as of October 2026
- From within South Africa 80%
- From abroad 20%
Top countries abroad
Among guests who left a review
Top origin cities
Among guests who left a review
By town
Most Booked Towns in KwaZulu-Natal
KwaDukuza Local Municipality, Durban and Umhlanga Rocks took 43% of Airbnb stays in KwaZulu-Natal in the 12 months to October 2026. December is the busiest Airbnb month in all 14 towns. Among guests who left a review, the share from abroad across these towns runs from 11% in Margate to 65% in Mtubatuba Local Municipality.
| KwaDukuza Local Municipality | 22,458 |
| Durban | 18,908 |
| Umhlanga Rocks | 13,097 |
| Hibiscus Coast Local Municipality | 9,735 |
| UMgeni Local Municipality | 8,635 |
| Ballito | 7,861 |
| Umdloti / eMdloti | 6,494 |
| Okhahlamba Local Municipality | 4,214 |
| Mtubatuba Local Municipality | 3,297 |
| EThekwini Metropolitan Municipality | 2,927 |
| Kwa Sani Local Municipality | 2,261 |
| UMdoni Local Municipality | 2,004 |
| Margate | 1,648 |
| Kingsburgh | 1,606 |
* Among guests who left a review. Stays, nights and other figures are AirROI estimates for the 12 months to October 2026, and cover Airbnb only. South Africa is the top origin in every town, among guests who left a review, so this column names the top country abroad. Lists the 14 of KwaZulu-Natal's 47 towns with 100 or more Airbnb homes. A town with no tourism page of its own links to its Airbnb market page.
FAQ
Questions About Tourism in KwaZulu-Natal
How many tourists visit KwaZulu-Natal?
South Africa as a whole had 8.9 million international tourist arrivals in 2024, according to UN Tourism, via Our World in Data. AirROI puts KwaZulu-Natal at 12.5% of Airbnb stays in South Africa in the 12 months to October 2026. AirROI estimates 127,382 Airbnb stays in KwaZulu-Natal in the 12 months to October 2026, which counts bookings and not tourists.
When is high season in KwaZulu-Natal?
The busiest Airbnb month in KwaZulu-Natal in the 12 months to October 2026 was December, then July and April.
What is the quietest month in KwaZulu-Natal?
February was the quietest Airbnb month in KwaZulu-Natal in the 12 months to October 2026, ranking 12th of 12, and May ranked 11th. Stays in February were booked about 37 days ahead, against 77 days for December.
How long is a typical Airbnb stay in KwaZulu-Natal?
A typical Airbnb stay in KwaZulu-Natal lasted 4.3 nights in the 12 months to October 2026, booked about 51 days ahead. By month, stays ran from 3.3 nights in September to 5.4 nights in December.
Where do Airbnb guests in KwaZulu-Natal come from?
Of KwaZulu-Natal Airbnb guests who left a review as of October 2026, 80% were from within South Africa, AirROI estimates. The top countries abroad were the United Kingdom at 4.4% and the United States at 2.7%. Among the same guests, the top origin city was Johannesburg at 13%, and KwaZulu-Natal itself came second at 7.3%.
What is the most booked town in KwaZulu-Natal on Airbnb?
KwaDukuza Local Municipality was the most booked town in KwaZulu-Natal on Airbnb, with an estimated 22,458 stays in the 12 months to October 2026, ahead of Durban and Umhlanga Rocks.
Are Airbnb stays the same as tourists?
No. UN Tourism counts international tourist arrivals (8.9 million in 2024 across South Africa). An Airbnb stay is one booking on one platform, however many guests it holds. AirROI's 127,382 stays are estimates for the 12 months to October 2026.
Method
How These Numbers Are Made
Official figures come from their publishers, linked above, and were last checked in November 2026. Stays and nights are AirROI estimates for the 12 months to October 2026, built from Airbnb listing data, and cover Airbnb only. Nights add up each town's stays times its typical stay, across 47 towns. Month ranks compare each month's part of Airbnb nights. Origin rests on 273,488 reviews and describes guests who left a review, not everyone who stayed. Read the method page.