Situated in a hollow surrounded by hills, Pietermaritzburg is just short of 100 kilometers from Durban in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The town is quiet and pretty, characterized by, among other, bougainvillea flowers and redbrick, Victorian buildings of which the city hall is a notable example. It is an impressive sight with its dooms and stained glass windows and it is the largest all-brick building in the southern hemisphere.

Pietermaritzburg is the capital of the province of KwaZulu-Natal and the second largest city in the region. It is the host city of the Supreme Court of South Africa and the home of the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Although the town was founded by the Dutch, there is a large English speaking population, coupled with Zulu-speaking residents. The town is situated in a summer rainfall region, with a very humid climate, but because of its location close to the coast, a good balance is maintained fore it still has a quite moderate climate.

 

Pietermaritzburg Car Rentals Include

• Free mileage per day according to package booked (either 100km free per day OR 200 km free per day or unlimited mileage)
• Collision damage waiver liability. This covers you for damage to your hired vehicle in the event of an accident.
• Theft waiver
• Airport surcharges
• Bail bonds (where needed)
• All local taxes

Car Hire Pick Up And Drop Off Points

• Pietermaritzburg Airport

Tourist Attractions

Albert Falls Dam Nature Reserve

The Albert Falls Dam is the source of the uMngeni River and lies in the uMngeni Vlei area, an ancient wetland bounded by hills. It is rated is one of the best bass fishing dams in the world. The area around the dam is filled with secluded nature trails and picnic spots, which form part of the Albert Falls Nature Reserve. The reserve is only a half an hours’ drive from both Durban and Pietermaritzburg and offers wonderful game viewing, boating, fishing and rock climbing opportunities.

Garden of Remembrance

The Garden of Remembrance is situated across the city hall. Its purpose is the commemoration of the service men who lost their lives in the two world wars.

Midlands Meander

The Midlands Meander is just north of Pietermaritzburg and extends from Rietvlei and Currys Post in the East to Dargle Valley and Fort Nottingham in the west. This beautiful stretch is about 80 kilometers long and bringing with amazing sights, sounds and activities. In 1985, local artists, potters and weavers decided to join forces to create a arts and crafts route and soon enough six studio’s were opened and the Midlands Meander was born. From humble beginnings the Midlands Meander has grown to more than 160 places to eat, drink, sleep, shop, play as well as a diverse and fascinating mix of arts and crafts. The Midmar Dam is part of the Midlands Meander and it creates an opportunity for windsurfing, boating, canoeing, sailing and much more. This exciting stretch of land also offers the Battlefields Route.

Midlands Meander offers a wide variety of accommodation, seeing that one can either choose to stay in one of the old hotels or in a tree house surrounded by wildlife in a nature reserve, or in a lush forest, or in a cave in the mountains, or at a up market Bed and Breakfast - which ever you choose, it promises to be a memorable stay!

Natal Museum, Pietermaritzburg

The Natal Museum is situated just south of the city hall in Jabu Ndlovu Street and it is one of South Africa’s’ five national museums, set in a particularly pretty building that dates back to 1905. There are eight natural history and around ten cultural history galleries that includes an array of mammals, birds, amphibians, insects and a life size t-rex model.

What makes the Natal Museum particularly interesting is the array of interesting temporary exhibitions that give the museum a definite dynamic advantage. Exhibitions and happenings have included an exploration of the history of segregation in the US, monthly sessions of Pietermaritzburgs’ Township poetry group, that included a get together of over a hundred local poets to celebrate Human Rights Day, a science symposium and a field trip to the Blommeskat of Namakwaland.

Pietermaritzburg offers tourist attractions which range from nature orientated entertainment to buildings and sights of great historical value.

More Attractions

Pietermaritzburg Botanical Gardens
Pietermaritzburg Railway Station
The Comrades Marathon Museum
Midmar Public Nature Reserve
World’s View
Howick Falls