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ToursKZN
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 ROUTE
T1. |
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Route
T1 runs along the OLD Main Road from Durban to Pietermaritzburg,
leading to the spectacular Valley of a Thousand Hills. Route
T1 follows the M13 from Pinetown, up Fields Hill, past Everton,
Gillits and Winston Park to exit 28 where it joins Old Main
Road through Hillcrest and winds all the way along the old
main road to Cato Ridge. This old scenic road cannot be driven
at speed. It is a leisurely wander for those for those who
have the time to sightsee and is thoroughly worth the drive.
On a clear day, the views into the great valley are breathtaking.
First glimpse of the valley with it's literally thousands
of hills is opposite Heidi's Farm Stall at Botha's Hill. As
you near Cato Ridge, you will see KwaZulu-Natal's flat topped
"Table Mountain" or Ikhambhatini which reaches a
height of 960m. the Umgeni River flows into the Nagle Dam
at the foot of Table Mountain. A vibrant Zulu cultural experience
can be enjoyed at Izintaba Cultural Village (Rob Roy Hotel)
and PheZulu Safari Park.
Route T1 runs alongside the railway line which visitors can
travel with the 1000 Hills Choo Choo steam train. The Comrades
Marathon halfway point and wall of honour is at Drummond just
before the 1000 Hills Hotel and visitors should make a point
of stopping at the quaint village of Drummed where a faded
road sign announces the midway point between Durban and Pietermaritzburg
and shows the direction to Cape Town and Cairo. It is here
that wagon drivers would camp for the night after gruelling
days travelling from the old Port Natal (Durban) towards the
hinterland.
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pubs and small inns sprung up along the old wagon route to cater
for the travellers. Cornellius Botha opened the wayside inn
known as Botha's Halfway House in Botha's Hill around 1849 and
Rob Roy Hotel opened in the early 1930's to cater for tired
executives from the big city. Today locals are as hospitable
and tourist minded as ever and visitors will find a wonderful
range of pubs, tea gardens, hotels and restaurants dotted between
the array of craft studios and art galleries. |
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ROUTE T2. THE KRANTZKLOOF ROUTE. |
Route
T2 is a loop route running from Kloof Falls Road in Kloof and
joining Inanda Road in Hillcrest. This pretty route winds through
the scenic suburbs of Kloof, Forest Hills, Waterfall and Crestholme
and takes travellers through the Krantzkloof Gorge with its
spectacular cliff-top views, streams, waterfalls and picnic
sites.
The name Kloof is derived from the deep 10km long cleft through
the hills. The Molweni River (the place of high cliffs) flows
into this cleft over a fine waterfall. The Krantzkloof Nature
Reserve was established in 1950 and covers 532 hectares which
is home to bush pig, red buck, bush buck, grey and blue duiker,
vervet monkeys and serval cats, a myriad of bird species and
trees and flowers of all varieties.
The 1000 Hills Choo Choo has end of month departures from Kloof
Station set in the heart of Kloof Village. |
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ROUTE
T3. THE
ASSAGAY ALVERSTONE ROUTE. |
| Route
T3 is a short route starting at the intersection of Old Main
Road and Kassier Road at the foot of Botha's Hill and ending
across the M13 Highway at the ssagay Hotel. Dotted with smallholdings,
the road along Alverstone Hill provides lovely views over the
valley. The old railway line runs through Assagay which was
part of the old farm Assagay Kraal. |
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ROUTE
T4. THE ISITHUMBA ROUTE. CATO RIDGE - NAGLE - ISITHUMBA. |
This
scenic 16km drive descends to the floor of the Valley of a Thousand
Hills - the deeply eroded and most majestic valley of the river
known as the Mngeni (place of the acacia trees).
One of the more strenuous ways of travelling this route is by
canoe! In January of each year, the Duzi River Canoe Marathon
begins in the centre of pietermaritzburg on the Msunduze River
as far as its confluence with the Umgeni where it reaches the
Valley of a Thousand Hills and from there to the sea at Durban.
A less gruelling way to experience the beauty of the valley
floor is by road. The T4 is a loop route which starts at Cato
Ridge Airfield and ends on the D1004 at Inchanga. |
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The T4
is a loop route which starts at Cato Ridge Airfield and ends
on the D1004 at Inchanga.
Motorists
should keep a sharp lookout for cows and goats in the middle
of the road. This is a very rural area and visitors who are
unfamiliar with it are advised to take advantage of the organised
tours offered by reputable tour operators who know the area
and the communities well.
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ROUTE T5&6. THE
SHONGWENI SHUFFLE |
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Shongweni Shuffle starts along Kassier Road crossing the N3
where it forks leading to Shongweni Village along T5 and Shongweni
Dam along T6. the name Shongweni is derived from Ntshongweni
which means column of smoke referring to the spray of the waterfall
on the Ugede River. The Shongweni dam lies in a deep depression
formed by the Mlazi, Sterkfontein and Ugede rivers. The scenery
of the area is dominated by spectacular sandstone cliffs, steep
gorges and valleys |
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