Howick Falls Gorge Walk

About Howick Falls Gorge Walk

The Gorge Walk at Howick Falls is probably one of the best ways to see some pretty spectacular views of the falls and the gorge, through which the uMngeni River flows, some 20 kilometres north of Pietermaritzburg, to the east of the N3.

Did you know? There are three different trails at the falls which offer visitors a means of getting closer to the different vantage points from which to photograph the waterfall.

The Howick Falls Gorge Walk is easy to follow and not difficult to do, but will take you though gorgeous riverine forest, grottos and meandering streams, surrounded by the green of the Natal Midlands and the damp that only walking along a river can provide.

From the start of the walk at the Gorge Walk sign at the bottom of Harvard Street in Howick, to the pool at the bottom of the pool will take you little more than an hour, so you will need a couple of hours to do the hike in its entirety. It is manageable for children too, and you can arrange a trail guide if you would like one.

Howick Falls are the main attraction of the historic town and were first seen by European travellers in the early 1800s. The Zulu people hold them in awe and local legends involve a serpent-like creature said to live at the bottom of the falls.

Do not let this knowledge interfere with your attempting the Howick Falls Gorge Walk, as it is a wonderful way to get closer to the cascades of the falls. There is a small fee attached to the walk which goes to the Howick Falls Conservancy. The noise of the falls at the bottom is overwhelming, so hold any communication for higher up on the path. And if you are looking for something a little more challenging, grab a helmet and scale and abseil the surrounding cliff faces, with caution.