KwaZulu-Natal : Midlands
Overview
Between Pietermaritzburg and the Drakensberg, lies an enchanting area of KwaZulu-Natal
called the Midlands. This beautiful area is characterised by rolling green hills,
charming little towns and a wonderful arts and craft route.
To do and see
With a myriad of rivers, dams, lakes and waterfalls, water based activities are
very popular in the Midlands. Particularly popular is the almost meditative art
of fly-fishing in one of the numerous rivers of crystal-clear water flowing from
the Drakensberg. At the Albert Falls Dam Nature Reserve, you can hike one of the
many nature trails relax at a picnic spots, or do some of the best bass fishing
and great birding. You can watch some small game or enjoy the many water based activities
at the Midmar Dam Nature Reserve.
Pietermaritzburg, the capitol of KwaZulu-Natal is a beautiful and historic city
with many tourist attractions. Apart from the normal myriad of restaurants, coffee
shops you can visit the Natal Museum, one of South Africa’s five national museums
or the Pietermaritzburg Botanical Gardens, where you can experience first hand,
why Pietermaritzburg is called the ‘city of flowers’.
For the avid golfers, the Midlands offer some excellent golf courses, including
Maritzburg Country Club, Gowrie Farm Golf Course an Bosch Hoek Golf Course. The
Howick Falls is a major attraction of the Midands area. The falls fall some 90 m
and the view from the top is definitely impressive. For those of you a bit more
energetic Howick offers some worthwhile short trails. The town offers a good selection
of antiques, arts and crafts.
Apart from a couple of wine cellars, where you can taste and buy some locally produced
wines, the latest in self-drive meanders in the province is a beer brewery route
which takes in between seven and nine micro breweries in the province. A visit to
the Brew Route includes a demonstration of beer brewing.
Offering 80 kilometres of activity, antique shops, galleries and arts and craft
studios, the Midlands Meander is a wonderfully refreshing mix of over 150 places
at which to eat, drink and shop. The Midlands Meander extends from Rietvlei and
Curry’s Post to Dargle Valley and Fort Nottingham.
Other attractions and experiences in the Natal Midlands include horseback riding
and tours, forest canopy tours, mountain biking, hiking, bird watching and visiting
a butterfly farm.
It's a joy to explore the Midlands, with its many restaurants, coffee shops, pretty
guest houses, innovative craft outlets, micro breweries, cheese factories, trout
farms and other attractions, but you would be forgiven for using your time here
simply to drink in the sights, sounds and fresh air of the Midlands, for without
doubt here is a place to restore the soul.
Climate
The Midlands climate is pleasant most of the year; summers tend to be hot, while
winters are very mild.
Accommodation
The Natal Midlands offer many excellent hotels, guest houses and country lodges.
The Midlands is a popular tourist destination and there is a variety of accommodation
options to cater for every need and pocket.
Towns and cities in the area
Towns and cities in the area include :
Balgowan
Currys Post
Dargle
Estcourt
Greytown
Hilton
Howick
Mooi Rivier
Nottingham Road
Pietermaritzburg .