Valley of 1000 Hills in Durban

The Valley of 1000 Hills, a peaceful area named after the dozens of hills which fold down towards the Umgeni River, is an easy 35-km drive from Durban. Follow the N3 north out of the city and leave at the Westville/Pavilion Mall exit. Join the old Pietermaritzburg road (R103) and drive through the suburbs of Kloof and Hillcrest. Here you will pick up signs for Monteseel and Inchanga. The , a gruelling 90 km between Pieter- maritzburg and Durban, follows this route in June. For information contact , www.1000hills.kzn.org.za.

Between Durban and Pietermaritzburg the landscape quickly climbs some 700 m over a series of rolling hills characteristic of the suburbs around the two cities. From Botha's Rest, there are many viewpoints on the R103 from where you can see the valley unfold. The fertile hills are dotted with villages, farms and encroaching townships closer to Durban. The valley has historically been a Zulu stronghold and, in the early 19th century, it became a refuge for dispossessed Zulus who had lost their farmland through battle further north.

The R103 runs along the lip of the valley; tourism has gone into overdrive along this route, with a variety of craft shops, restaurants, B&Bs, guesthouses, farm stalls and several Zulu cultural villages. The most popular of these is , www.phezulusafaripark.co.za. There are commanding views of the valley from here, a reptile farm, a small game park with zebra and antelope, curio shops, and the restaurant which specializes in croc steaks. The main attraction here is the Zulu show, where visitors are taken into traditional beehive-shaped huts and Zulu beliefs, rituals and artefacts are explained. There follows an impressive dancing display.

The Umgeni Steam Railway's , www.umgenisteamrailway.co.za, is a vintage 1912 steam train that runs along a line built 1877-1880. On departure days there are two round trips, between Kloof Station and Inchanga, and it's a leisurely way to enjoy the scenery.

The Valley of 1000 Hills was supposedly named by the writer Mark Twain on a visit to South Africa at the end of the 19th century.