Pietermaritzburg and the Natal Midlands Travel Guide
This attractive city, the capital of the Colony of Natal in the late 19th century, was named after the Voortrekker leaders Gert Maritz and Piet Reteif, who settled here in 1838 after the Battle of Blood River; today it is the legislative capital of KwaZulu Natal.
It markets itself as a distinctly English city and, despite its largely African population and bustling street life, its red-brick buildings do give it a strikingly similar look to a provincial English town centre. An important trading centre for the local farming industry, Pietermaritzburg is also home to the University of Natal and a number of technical colleges, giving it a young, studenty feel during term time, with a decent selection of nightlife.
Getting to Pietermaritzburg and the Natal Midlands
Pietermaritzburg is only 80 km from Durban on the N3 and can easily be visited in a day.
It markets itself as a distinctly English city and, despite its largely African population and bustling street life, its red-brick buildings do give it a strikingly similar look to a provincial English town centre. An important trading centre for the local farming industry, Pietermaritzburg is also home to the University of Natal and a number of technical colleges, giving it a young, studenty feel during term time, with a decent selection of nightlife.
Getting to Pietermaritzburg and the Natal Midlands
Pietermaritzburg is only 80 km from Durban on the N3 and can easily be visited in a day.
Durban International Airport
is 45 minutes' drive from Pietermaritzburg.
Peitermaritzburg/Msunduzi Airport
is 6 km from the centre of town and has daily domestic flights to Johannesburg operated by
SA Airlink
. The
railway station
is on the corner of Church and Pine streets.
This is a rough part of town, so arrange to be collected in advance if you're arriving by train. Long-distance buses stop here on the route between Durban and Johannesburg. Pietermaritzburg lies on the Durban- Johannesburg
This is a rough part of town, so arrange to be collected in advance if you're arriving by train. Long-distance buses stop here on the route between Durban and Johannesburg. Pietermaritzburg lies on the Durban- Johannesburg
Baz Bus
route, via the Northern Drakensberg;
Underberg Express
runs regular shuttles to the Southern Drakensberg on its route from Durban.
Best time to visit Pietermaritzburg and the Natal Midlands
Tourist information, www.pmbtourism.co.za, is c, www.kznwildlife.com
History of Pietermaritzburg and the Natal Midlands
Best time to visit Pietermaritzburg and the Natal Midlands
The climate is subtropical with heavy rainfall December to February. The rest of the year tends to be warm and dry and makes a change from the humidity in Durban.
Pietermaritzburg Tourism
onveniently situated and has a comprehensive range of maps and leaflets, as well as an accommodation and mainline bus booking service. Staff are helpful, friendly and keen to promote their city.
The original building was completed in 1884 and used to be the local police station. Pietermaritzburg is also the location of the central
The original building was completed in 1884 and used to be the local police station. Pietermaritzburg is also the location of the central
KZN Wildlife
, office. To get here, follow Commercial Street out of town towards Hilton, and follow signs for the Cascades shopping mall. The KZN offices are next to the mall in the Queen Elizabeth Park Nature Reserve.
History of Pietermaritzburg and the Natal Midlands
Pietermaritzburg was founded as the capital of Natalia in 1838. Originally, the town was laid out in the same way as Cape Dutch towns, with thatched houses, wide streets, large gardens and irrigation channels running down the streets. The small rural capital was a trading centre for farmers and game hunters, and later became a stopover for wagon trains heading for the interior.
The republic of Natalia only lasted a few years; the British arrived in 1843 and established a garrison here, and the safety provided by the garrison encouraged other settlers to arrive from Britain and Germany. Pietermaritzburg became a prosperous Victorian town and many of its most attractive buildings date from this period.
The administrative buildings of the Colony of Natal are in the city centre, but it is the quiet side streets, lined with fine Victorian houses built by wealthy merchants, which make the town so pretty. Here, the mix of bungalows and two-storey red-brick houses retain their original verandas, decorated with cast-iron lattice work, hardwood windows and brass fittings, all shaded by huge, arching jacaranda trees.
The republic of Natalia only lasted a few years; the British arrived in 1843 and established a garrison here, and the safety provided by the garrison encouraged other settlers to arrive from Britain and Germany. Pietermaritzburg became a prosperous Victorian town and many of its most attractive buildings date from this period.
The administrative buildings of the Colony of Natal are in the city centre, but it is the quiet side streets, lined with fine Victorian houses built by wealthy merchants, which make the town so pretty. Here, the mix of bungalows and two-storey red-brick houses retain their original verandas, decorated with cast-iron lattice work, hardwood windows and brass fittings, all shaded by huge, arching jacaranda trees.
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This is edited copy from Footprint Handbooks. For comprehensive details (incl address, tel no, directions, opening times and prices) please refer to book or individual chapter PDF
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