Valley of 1000 Hills

The Valley of 1000 Hills (dead link: January 2023) is a valley in KwaZulu-Natal province that runs between Pietermaritzburg, and Durban. There the Umgeni River meets the Msunduzi River (Duzi River) in the valley, and the Dusi Canoe Marathon is run through the area every year. The valley includes settlements such as Cato Ridge, Inchanga, Hammarsdale, Drummond, Peacevale, Botha's Hill, Assagay, Hillcrest, Winston Park, Waterfall, Ngcolosi, Crestholme, Gillitts, Everton and Kloof.

Understand

This area is called the Bible Belt of South Africa, home to all kinds of churches and denominations with congregations ranging from 30 to 5,000, making traffic something of a challenge on a Sunday morning.

Sugar cane used to be the main source of income in the area but that has been given to developers and around 5,000 families have moved into the Hillcrest area over the past 5 years. As Hillcrest is having a population explosion, the Valley of a 1000 Hills, property prices are rising.

Get in

Valley of a 1000 Hills is 20 minutes' drive from Durban beach front and Petermaritzburg and close to the Midlands Meander.

Get around

See

Krantzkloof Nature Reserve, -29.7643°, 30.8509°.
Isithumba cultural village
Phe Zulu African craft village
Midlands meander

Do

Eat

Hillcrest is the main village, boasting many restaurants and bars that serve everything from fish and chips to steak and vegetables, lobster and prawns - all fresh South African produce grown, raised, or caught locally.

The Pot and Kettle, 168 Old Main Rd, -29.7494°, 30.7319°, +27 31 777-1312, enquries@potandkettle.co.za. The Pot and Kettle boasts breathtaking views and home-style food. They do weddings, 21st and other celebrations.

Drink

Go to the Rob Roy Hotel for tea. Weddings can be seen here most Saturdays making it a top venue to tie the knot. With a view to stun.

Sleep

Stay safe

This area is poor and has the highest HIV/AIDS death rate in the country.