The Valley of 1000 Hills Region, Durban
The Valley of a 1000 Hills forms around the majestic valley created by the Mngeni River and it's tributaries. A magnificent gorge between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, the Valley of 1 000 Hills is about more than its spectacular greenery and the clear blue of the African sky. It's even about more than the breath-taking photo opportunities and idyllic backdrops to your holiday memories.
The Valley of 1 000 Hills is a place where the true and untainted beauty of Africa is celebrated in its scenery, animals, culture, history, and the vibe that infuses this part of KwaZulu-Natal.
Did you know? Once you've booked your hotel or Durban accommodation, explore the destination pages below for info on attractions, activities and things to do when you visit the Valley of 1000 Hills.
The Valley of 1 000 Hills is situated between the massive urban metropolis of Durban and capital city of the province, Pietermaritzburg. The valley is the meeting point of the Umgeni and Msunduzi rivers, making it a place of unrivalled natural beauty. The Umgeni flows all the way from the mammoth Drakensberg to the warm waters of the Indian Ocean.
This region is also famous for its deep and complex culture and history. The province was once the homeland of powerful Zulu tribes and villages. When the Boers and the British were vying for territory, though, there were many bloody battles. Today, the battlefields serve as reminders of the exorbitant price once paid for such magnificent territory. These can be visited on battlefield tours, and the museums in the area are a fascinating addition to any historical tour.
Did you know? The Valley of 1000 Hills lies between Pietermaritzburg and Durban, called such for the repeatedly folded hills that extend as far as the eye can see from the top of Botha's Hill. Up on this ridge the views of hills, valley and gorges is a feast for sore eyes. Drive a choice of routes from here that pass villages, art galleries, country pubs, nature reserves, farms and places to stay.
There are many cultural villages that still occupy parts of KwaZulu-Natal and the Valley of 1 000 Hills. Visiting these villages means getting a sneak-peek into the traditional lives of the local African people. See their huts, visit their medicine men, taste their traditional food, enjoy song and dance performances, and meet with the people that call this home to have a real glimpse of the South African experience.
Of course, an area this spectacular is just begging to be explored. So, take advantage of the many walking, hiking, running and cycling trails through the valley. The mountains are excellent for rock climbing, abseiling, and heading out on 4 x 4 adventures.
The Valley of 1 000 Hills is well-equipped with hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, and other accommodation. It has an excellent infrastructure so that visitors from all over the world are assured of quality and convenience amidst the beauty. The King Shaka International Airport is within a short drive from many of the attractions in the area.
Find accommodation in the Valley of 1000 Hills
South Africa Accommodation / KwaZulu Natal Accommodation / Durban Accommodation / Valley of 1000 Hills Accommodation
Udayana House
Udayana House offers self-catering holiday accommodation located in a serene neighbourhood in Assagay, Durban. Boasting a verdant garden and a re...
Inn Afrika Bed & Breakfast
A place where you can catch your breath, enjoy superb tranquillity and experience good old-fashioned hospitality, Inn Afrika offers you a peacefu...
The du Boirs Boutique Lodge
The du Boirs Boutique Lodge offer accommodation for both business and leisure. We have nine beautiful luxury rooms, each individually and stylish...
Warrens Guest House
Warrens Guest House was established in the late '80s and was the first bed and breakfast in the area at the time. Guests are invited to unwind at...
18 Pioneer Kloof
18 Pioneer is an elegant Colonial estate set on three beautiful acres of manicured lawns and gardens in Kloof, Durban. The Guest House offers fiv...
Southey House
Southey House is conveniently situated in the leafy suburb of Kloof and offers comfortable bed and breakfast accommodation in tastefully decorate...
Churchill House
Churchill House provides charming bed and breakfast accommodations in the picturesque suburb of Winston Park, serving as a perfect base to explor...
Eagle Wind Manor Guest House
Eagle Wind Manor, situated on the crest of Botha's Hill, on the edge of the Valley of 1000 Hills, is uniquely positioned for the convenience of b...
Destinations in the Valley of 1000 Hills Region
Assagay
Overnight? Assagay accommodation
Situated in what has become known as Outer West Durban, Assagay, also sometimes spelt Assegay, lies just north west of Hillcrest beyond the Tollgate, when coming from the centre of Durban. This part of the world is greener and cooler than Durban, and give...
Bothas Hill
Overnight? Bothas Hill accommodation
Not only are the views from up on Botha's Hill some of the most spectacular in the country - it overlooks the Valley of a Thousand Hills - but Botha's Hill is one of ‘those' hills that invariably gets a mention when it's time for the Comrades Marathon.
...
Camperdown
Overnight? Camperdown accommodation
Lying part way between Hillcrest and Pietermaritzburg along the N3, Camperdown has recently mushroomed for several rather obvious reasons. It lies close to both Durban and Pietermaritzburg, parts of its municipality falls within the Valley of 1000 Hills, ...
Cato Ridge
Cato Ridge lies along the Mariannhill Toll Road between Assagay and Camperdown, just a little further west of Inchanga. Despite its pretty sounding name, Cato Ridge is not all that attractive at first glance. On a ridge it might sit, but essentially i...
Crestholme
Overnight? Crestholme accommodation
Crestholme is a pretty area in the balmy province of KwaZulu-Natal. It offers an array of different areas, ranging from beautiful open plots (many of which are available for sale) to beautiful family smallholdings and holiday homes.
It is characterise...
Drummond
Overnight? Drummond accommodation
Drummond is situated exactly halfway between Durban and Pietermaritzburg on the 1 000 Hills Road and is famous for the halfway mark of the Comrades Marathon.
Fewer than 200 years ago, the area that is now Drummond was the home of local tribes, whose wa...
Gillitts
Overnight? Gillitts accommodation
Lying nestled between Hillcrest and Kloof, Gillitts is a leafy, green village that lies some 35 kilometres west of Durban where some property is still advertised as ‘rural small holdings' and quiet usually means silence.
Gillitts is a peaceful and rel...
Hillcrest
Overnight? Hillcrest accommodation
Literally on a hill on a crest someway above Durban, Hillcrest was once a little hamlet that bordered on the Valley of a Thousand Hills, surrounded by green pastures and farmland. It was a retreat away from the hub of the city, somewhere one could escape ...
Inchanga
Overnight? Inchanga accommodation
Roughly halfway between Durban and Pietermaritzburg rests a darling station. It is a real example of Victorian architecture set in the typical, lush green hills of KwaZulu-Natal and a reason to visit the area. It's been here since 1895 actually and functi...
Kloof
Overnight? Kloof accommodation
Kloof, the Afrikaans word for ravine, lies some 25 kilometres from Durban - a leafy and green village perched 550 metres above sea level with a reputation for a tranquil lifestyle that offers a retreat from the sometimes enervating humidity of the city of...
New Germany
Overnight? New Germany accommodation
New Germany lies roughly 15 kilometres inland from Durban. It is called such because, way back when, a group of German immigrants to South Africa settled on a cotton-growing farm here called Westville but went on to rename it once they'd turned to growing...
Queensburgh
Overnight? Queensburgh accommodation
Queensburgh is a built up area that has boomed recently to include as many as 10 suburbs in its reach just 15 minutes' drive south-west of Durban, en route to Amanzimtoti on the M7.
Did you know? Once you've booked your hotels or accommodation in Durba...
Waterfall
Overnight? Waterfall accommodation
Waterfall is virtually a suburb of Hillcrest, lying as it does directly north of Kloof and adjacent to Hillcrest and Forest Hill, barely 30 plus kilometres outside of Durban.
And this is the main advantage of a stay in Waterfall - that you are on the ...