Driving in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

• Posted by: Editor
• On: 04/10/2007 14:54:34
• In: South Africa Car Hire

Pietermaritzburg was founded in 1838 by Voortrekkers and it also served as the capital of the briefly existing Boer Natalia Republic (1839-1843) before being conquered by the British Empire. Pietermaritzburg remained the capital of the new province of Natal and which was also home to Mahatma Gandhi for about 20 years. Today you can find a statue in his memory on Church Street in Pietermaritzburg.

What’s to see in the Pietermaritzburg?

Pietermaritzburg is famous for its architecture amongst other things, but the most significant structure is the City Hall in the Central Business District (CBD) and it is in fact, the largest red brick building in the southern hemisphere!

The city has a number of other museums including the Voortrekker Museum, which documents the journey the Afrikaner people made into Africa; the Natal Society Library, located near to the City Hall; and the Tatham Art Gallery, which is home to many fine works of art as well as a large collection of ceramic and beadwork of the indigenous tribes.

What to see in the surrounding area...

Grab your binoculars and take a trip out to the African bush. Here you'll stumble upon lots of nature reserves like the Albert Falls Resources Reserve, the KZN Wildlife at Queen Elizabeth Park (overlooking the city) or check out the reptile park at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre.

The surrounding countryside is also home to some spectacular waterfalls. Take a drive 24km north of Pietermaritzburg to see the amazing 300ft Howick Falls. Other waterfalls within driving distance of the city includes Karkloof Falls and Albert Falls to name a few.

Pietermaritzburg is a great base if you want to explore the Battlefields of KwaZulu-Natal and there are over six driving routes which you can take to see different battlefields. The most famous battle sites are the kwaGqokli Hill, Battle of Opathe and the Battle of Ulundi.

The Midmar Public Resort and Nature Reserve which is about a 15 minute drive from Pietermaritzburg, is where you can enjoy sailing, canoeing or yachting. It's also a good fishing spot for bass, bluegill and carp.

How about a visit to the Boston Bulwer Beat which is within easy reach of Pietermaritzburg. It's a beautiful and peaceful rural area which is popular for walking, hiking, mountain biking and rafting. Boston Bulwer Beat also claims to be the hand-gliding and para-gliding capital of South Africa!

Remember it's only about 77km from Pietermaritzburg to Durban, which is a vibrant holiday resort with a mile long beachfront!

Why not hire a car?

Hire a car when you visit  Pietermaritzburg, as it really is the only way to go if you want to experience at first hand, the beauty of this vast and diverse landscape.

You can pick up your car hire at Pietermaritzburg Airport which serves a number of domestic flights to/from Johannesburg.

Book your car hire now and to help you along the way have a look over our Driving in South Africa Guide for tips and advice. The nearest major city is Durban, so you could drive to Pietermaritzburg from there, so check out our Durban Car Hire page.

Have you explored Pietermaritzburg by car? Have you any tips or advice to share? All stories, comments and questions are welcome - just pop them into the box below!