Valley of a Thousand Hills

About half an hour from Durban, the Valley of a Thousand Hills is a picturesque escape from the urban establishments and the perfect gateway into the cultural side of South Africa. It is a complete destination with dining, shopping, local arts and crafts, outdoor activities and more.

A drive through the hills will offer unbelievable and panoramic views of the entire valley. The green mountains and the gushing Umgeni river, cutting through the valley, is a sight that is surely not to be missed. Throughout the valley, you'll come across suburbs and villages, where you can find spectacular works of arts and crafts of the locals. A trip to a Zulu village will give you unprecedented insight into the life, the culture and the history of one of Africa's biggest and indeed one of the world's most famous tribes. Not just that, the suburbs in the valley also have several B&B joints, along with restaurants and many up-scale shopping options in areas like Westville, Hillcrest and Botha's Hill. The world-famous Comrade's Marathon takes place here every summer, and the waters of the Umgeni are host to the Dusi Canoe Festival in February. There are many adventure activities like rock climbing, paragliding on Inchanga and Monteseel, and mountain biking at Giba George Mountain Bike Park.