World's View in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal

About World's View

A local heritage site, World's View, lies at the edge of the world along a road also called World's View. From up here there are excellent views over Pietermaritzburg, Table Mountain (not the one in Cape Town), eMkhambathini, and the surrounding countryside. On a clear day, some say, you can see as far as Durban.

Did you know? To reach the viewpoint, follow the Old Howick Road in Pietermaritzburg.

Until fairly recently the site was in dire need of a little attention. Litter is a problem, and the area is unkempt. When vandals spraypainted four names onto the site's walls in early 2015, the conservancy's community pulled together and, armed with lawnmowers, brush cutters, spades, high pressure cleaners and tree loppers made it their business to tidy the area.

That said, it is still one of the top attractions in Pietermaritzburg - also known as 'The Garden City' or 'The City of Choice'. These hills overlooking the city give it a sense of place, and it is interesting to think about how difficult it once was, before tarred roads, to reach these heights overlooking the scenery now taken for granted.

World's View was originally known as Boesmansrand, when it was discovered by Voortrekkers in wagons. You can still see the original marks of the wagon wheels that dug into the flat rocks to the left of the lookout point. Today it is easy to get up here by car, though some schools continue to hike up here as part of a school outing.

On the subject of hikes, there are more than a couple of trails from World's End.

World's View lies within a conservancy of the same name. Established in 2010 the conservancy protects a 10 sq km area. Though much of the area is planted with commercial forest, there are little pockets of mistbelt grassland, the critically endangered Hilton daisy puts in an appearance (mostly on the lower slopes closest to the N3), and there are pockets of indigenous forest that remain largely undisturbed.

The biggest fight on the conservancy's hands is the alien plants that threaten to engulf the indigenous trees and vegetation.

Need to Know

WhereWorld's View, Old Howick Road, Pietermaritzburg, Natal Midlands, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

WhenBest during daylight hours.

OvernightStay in Pietermaritzburg Accommodation, KwaZulu Natal

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