LENGTH: 180 KM

DONT MISS ::Howick Falls ::Midmar Village ::Pietermaritzberg City Hall ::Umgeni Valley

Our journey through this magical landscape starts in a city with a rich history, Pietermaritzburg, set in a fertile valley some 1 200 metres above the coastal lowlands.

The Voortrekkers founded Pietermaritzburg and the British later established a colonial seat of government here. Add the many Hindu and Islamic influences and it becomes quite understandable why the city now boasts such great cultural and architectural diversity. It also has the dubious honour of being where Mahatma Gandhi was thrown off a train in line with the apartheid policies of the time.

Apart from the many lush parks, including the Natal National Botanical Garden, the city's main attraction is its architecture. Believed to be the largest all-brick building in the southern hemisphere, the City Hall is a must-see. It is notable for its fine stained-glass windows, domes and majestic 47-m clock tower. A fairly recent addition to Pietermaritzburg's Voortrekker Museum complex is the reconstructed thatched-roof double-storey house of Andries Pretorius, the victor of the Battle of Blood River. The Church of the Vow, built to honour the Voortrekkers' promise to God in the victory, is also part of the complex.

Fort Napier and the Sri Siva Soobramoniar and Marriamen Hindu temples are also worth a visit.

Travelling inland from Pietermaritzburg via the N3 leads you first to the Midmar Public Resort Nature Reserve. The reserve protects not only the Midmar dam, but also the land surrounding it, and includes a game park safeguarding black wildebeest, eland, hartebeest, springbok and zebra, amongst others.

Midmar Historical Village is located close to the main entrance of the resort.

It features a late 19th-century village complete with tree-lined streets, blacksmith's shop, church and Hindu temple. The old library from the ghost town of York near Greytown, was relocated to the village. Added attractions are the restored railway station offering steam train rides, and the tugboat JB Eaglesham.

As a direct result of the area's popularity amongst artists, local residents have established an arts and crafts route called the Midlands Meander. The route stretches along the R103 from Hilton to Mooi Rivier and nowncludes more than 60 participating members.

From Mooi River the R622 snakes through grasslands to the Craigieburn dam before aiming for the Karkloof Falls and Forest. The Karkloof Nature Reserve protects some spectacular scenery, including beautiful indigenous forest, various mountain streams, grasslands and vlei. Close by, a signpost indicates the way to the crashing Karkloof Falls, a 105-metre-high waterfall that plunges into a deep, forested gorge.

The last stop before reaching Howick is the Umgeni Valley Nature Reserve set in the deep Umgeni gorge - a rugged, lush valley. The many hiking trails guide visitors through the valley and reveal spectacular views.

For similarly impressive sights a short travel to the scenic town of Howick is a must. Even on paper this town sounds like something out of a fairytale. A short walk from the main street leads to a tree-lined park alongside the majestic Howick Falls.

If the many historic buildings don't tickle your fancy you could always try your luck at spotting the town's own Loch Ness-type creature rumoured to live in the pool at the bottom of the falls. Like its celebrated Scottish counterpart monster, the Howick creature also chooses to surface only when people are having trouble focusing their cameras. Several unfortunately blurred pictures, said to portray the beast, have been taken.