Pietermaritzburg, set amidst forested hills and the rolling countryside of the Natal-Midlands, is one of the best-preserved Victorian cities in the world. The city is the administrative capital of the province and is centrally situated between Durban, the Drakensberg and KwaZulu-Natal's game reserves on the main N3 highway between Johannesburg and Durban; Pietermaritzburg is approximately 80km north of Durban by road.
Pietermaritzburg is the gateway between Johannesburg and Durban and many bus services, rail services and taxis are available on a daily basis. The passenger rail system in Pietermaritzburg is not used between suburbs but only between our towns along the N3 highway towards Johannesburg, so remember it is not regarded as city transportation.
The city offers an airport known as Oribi Airport. This airstrip is not an international airport but offers excellent national destinations and inter-city flights.
The bus services are outstanding as you could choose from many different routes and with all the companies providing a great service.
Taxis are plentiful and provide helpful information and useful trips around the city and suburbs. Metered taxicabs operate in all major cities and towns. You will find taxi ranks at transport terminals, major hotels or shopping centers or you can hail taxi in the street.
Activities
Butterflies For Africa
A complex housing a butterfly craft shop, art gallery, coffee bar, African art & craft centre and a garden planted with a large range of butterfly food plants.
Golden Horse Casino
Not only is the Golden Horse the ultimate casino and entertainment experience, its also an ideal venue for business conferences.
National Botanical Gardens
The National Botanical Gardens, one of eight in the country, concentrates on the conservation and propagation of rare and endangered indigenous plants as well as the cultivation of east coast grassland plants.
Wylie Park
Azaleas and proteas are a feature of Wylie Park which, with its beautifully landscaped gardens, offers a tranquil retreat from the rigors of city life. For the energetic there is a hiking trail which leads from the gardens to World's View.
Alexandra Park
Comprising 86.5ha, Alexandra Park features the picturesque cricket Pavilion built in 1898 and is a centre for international sports fixtures and the venue for monthly craft markets.
Ferncliffe and Bisley Nature Reserve
The Green Belt at Ferncliffe and World's View, and Savannah at Bisley Nature Reserve, offer walking trails with opportunities to enjoy a selection of wild flowers, animals and bird life on the fringe of the city.
Queen Elizabeth Park
Visitors can enjoy a self-guided trail, picnic sites and a viewing hide at the rhino boma. A model for an eco-friendly bird garden is on view and the reserve is open daily.
Tatham Art Gallery
Situated in the handsome Old Supreme Court building, this massive red brick building is today one of the country's top seven art museums.
KZN Railway Museum
One of the main activities at the Mason's Mill facility is the restoration of locomotives and coaches. One of the more interesting attractions in the museum is a coach that had been converted to serve as a bullion carrier and which was used for the run from Rhodesia to Johannesburg during the early part of the 20th century.
Natal Museum
The Natal Museum is home to several of South Africa's most important heritage collections.
Msunduzi Museum Complex
What used to be the Longmarket Girls' School, until 1972, is now the main building for the Msunduzi Museum Complex. The Church of the Vow, Andries Pretorius House, E.G. Jansen Extension, an old ox wagon and a double storey house, furnished as a period house, on 333 Boom Street make up the entire Msunduzi Museum Complex.
Macrorie House
A splendid Victorian museum reflecting early British settler life is housed in Macrorie House, the former residence of William Macrorie who served as bishop of Pietermaritzburg from 1869 to 1891.
Comrades Marathon House
This Museum houses the official trophies, photographic and press releases and histories of the Comrades Marathon as well as a route model and audio visual presentation.
Parks and Gardens
National Botanical Gardens
Pietermaritzburg is justifiably known as
the City of Flowers, with private gardens and public parks aglow with
lush foliage and seasonal blooms, such as bougainvilleas and azaleas.
The National Botanical Gardens, one of eight in the country, is situated
on an ancient floodplain and a hillside at the foot of a mist belt.
Established in 1870, the garden concentrates on the conservation and
propagation of rare and endangered indigenous plants as well as the
cultivation of east coast grassland plants.
Wylie Park
Azaleas
and proteas are a feature of Wylie Park which, with its beautifully
landscaped gardens, offers a tranquil retreat from the rigors of city
life. For the energetic there is a hiking trail which leads from the
gardens to World's View.
Alexandra Park
It features the
picturesque cricket Pavilion built in 1898 to commemorate 50 years of
British history in Pietermaritzburg. Today it houses a restaurant. There
is also a charming Chinoiserie-style bandstand, recently renovated to
its former glory, which is the venue of regular concerts. Alexandra Park
is a centre for international sports fixtures and the venue for monthly
craft markets.
Ferncliff and Bisley Nature Reserve
The Green
Belt at Ferncliff and World's View, and Savannah at Bisley Nature
Reserve, offer walking trails with opportunities to enjoy a selection of
wild flowers, animals and bird life on the fringe of the city.
Queen Elizabeth Park
The
headquarters of the KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife are situated a short drive
from Pietermaritzburg in a small nature reserve known as Queen Elizabeth
Park. Visitors can enjoy a self-guided trail, picnic sites and a
viewing hide at the rhino boma.
Butterflies for Africa
A
complex housing a butterfly craft shop, art gallery, coffee bar, African
art & craft centre and a garden planted with a large range of
butterfly food plants. The prime attraction is an impressive walk
through the butterfly house where visitors can come into close contact
with butterflies from around the world as they fly freely in a lush
environment. An outdoor butterfly garden complements the enclosed house,
enabling guests to observe these magnificent jewels of the air in their
natural habitat.
Tatham Art Gallery
This is today one of the country's top
seven art museums. There's an impressive collection of British and
French 19th and early 20th century English and French paintings,
including Degas, Picasso, Matisse, Hockney and Renoir, as well as a
Henry Moore maquette and china and glassware.
Situated in the Old Supreme Court building.
Pietermaritzburg Museums & Galleries
KwaZulu-Natal Railway Museum
The
entire operation of the KZN Railway Museum is run by volunteer
enthusiasts. One of the main activities at the Mason's Mill facility is
the restoration of locomotives and coaches.
One of the more
interesting attractions in the museum is a coach that had been converted
to serve as a bullion carrier and which was used for the run from
Rhodesia to Johannesburg during the early part of the 20th century.
Natal Museum
The
Natal Museum opened its doors on 30 November 1904 and it is home to
several of South Africa's most important heritage collections. The
Museum is the largest national museum in KwaZulu-Natal and is dedicated
to the collection, preservation, study and exhibition of objects of
cultural and scientific value, concentrating on both the Natural and
Human Sciences.
Address:
237 Jabu Ndlovu Street, Pietermaritzburg
Monday to Friday 09:00 to 16:30; Saturdays 10:00 to 16:00; Sundays 11:00 to 15:00
Voortrekker Museum
What
used to be the Longmarket Girls' School, until 1972, is now the main
building for the Voortrekker Museum. The Church of the Vow, Andries
Pretorius House, E.G. Jansen Extension, an old ox wagon and a double
storey house, furnished as a period house make up the entire Voortrekker
Museum.
Address:
Corner Longmarket & Boshoff Streets
Tel: 033 394 6834 / 5
Mon-Fri: 08:00 - 16:00; Sat: 08:00 - 12:00
Macrorie House
A
splendid Victorian museum reflecting early British settler life is
housed in Macrorie House, the former residence of William Macrorie who
served as bishop of Pietermaritzburg from 1869 to 1891.
One of the highlights is the bishop's miniature chapel complete with altar and ornamental screen.
Address:
11 Loop St, Pietermaritzburg
Tues - Fri: 9:00 - 13:00
Sun: 11:00 - 16:00
Comrades Marathon House
A
museum of much more recent origin is located in Comrades Marathon
House, the headquarters of this road race. This Museum houses the
official trophies, photographic and press releases and histories of the
Comrades Marathon as well as a route model and audio visual
presentation.
Address:
18 Connaught Road, Scottsville
Mon - Fri: 8:30 - 13:00
