Great Drives KwaZulu-Natal
Scenic Routes around KwaZulu-Natal
It’s easy to find a pretty place to drive through when visiting KwaZulu-Natal, especially with our Avis mini guide to hand.Our Avis rental agents will be eager to assist where possible.
Keep your camera close at hand as you join us on Kwa-Zulu Natal’s most scenic meander.
Meandering the Midlands in your Avis hire car
When visiting Kwa-Zulu Natal, you don’t have to stick to the shoreline for a scenic overload par excellence.
The glorious Midlands Meander is easily reached via the N2 from our Avis branch at the King Shaka International Airport or by taking the N3 from the city of Durban.
Take the high road
As you blaze a trail towards the pastoral pleasures of the interior and leave the lush coastal belt, you can branch off along the infamous Comrades Route. This ambling road winds its way slowly through the upper reaches of the Valley of 1000 Hills. Here you look down on lush farmland and indigenous thornveld as you drive along in your Avis hire car, and you may even catch a glimpse of the Inchanga Choo Choo steam train chugging by.
Re-join the N3 at Cato Ridge and keep your eyes peeled for a glimpse of Kwa-Zulu Natal’s (much smaller) version of Table Mountain. As you travel onward the landscapes become reminiscent of the Kruger park wilderness. Pass the upmarket hamlet of Hilton and negotiate the long slope of Town Hill.
Fat cows, fine food and flowing fabrics
The city of Pietermaritzburg passes in moments, and soon you are swathed in the open grassland of Howick just past the massive expanse of Midmar Dam.
Sleek polo ponies and rotund dairy cows, gazing absentmindedly at you from their roadside pastures, become a regular fixture as you approach the Midlands proper.
What follows is a smorgasbord of charm in the form of roadside stalls selling everything hand crafted and homemade - from fine chocolates to flowing fabrics.
Get lost
With the freedom of your Avis hire car you could lose yourself to fascination for a number of days in this area. We recommend that you take the Lion’s River Road along an avenue of plane trees to Piggly Wiggly farmstall, for a summary of the offerings to be found on the Midlands Meander. When you have had your fill, simply head back the way you came to our Avis King Shaka International Airport Branch.
The Midlands Meander offers a breath of fresh air like no other, and it is all within reach in your Avis hire car.
High points en route
Comrades Wall
Just outside Drummond, along the Comrades Route, you will come across a long wall of interlocking blocks covered in green and white plaques. This wall commemorates all the previous winners of this prestigious race, and also bears the names of those who have purchased a plaque to commemorate their efforts.
Nelson Mandela Capture Site
Just after Howick, on the way to Lions River, you will see an arrangement of tall assegai like shapes wedged into the earth. This marks the site of Nelson Mandela’s arrest and subsequent incarceration on Robben Island. When viewed from a particular angle, facing towards the road, an image of Nelson Mandela’s face appears among these spikes. It is quite an art to get it just right but well worth the effort.
Tala Game Reserve
This small private nature reserve on the outskirts of Camperdown is home to kudu, hippo, giraffe antelope and rhino. Take some time to drive around to spot the animals, before stopping off for a break in the lush picnic area - complete with sparkling swimming pool.
Free time on your hands? Take your pick from the following gems
Howick Falls
Howick Falls is a place of legend and wonder, located right on the edge of this small farming town. Stock up on some homemade goodies at one of the small shops in town to savour alongside the rushing waters. Lookout for the mythical Inkanyamba (monster) that dwells in its depths, or pop in to Yellowwood Café to enjoy the biggest scones you’ve ever seen while overlooking the Falls.
Piggly Wiggly Farm Stall
From locally grown wines to enormous gourmet burgers, Piggly Wiggly is a wonderful lunch destination. After your meal you can browse among the bookstores, antique shops, craft stores and deli’s which make up this popular roadside complex.
Nottingham Road Brewery
Stock up on some Wobbling Wombats and Swinging Samangoes. The charms of these home-brewed ales, made exclusively at the Midlands’ most famous brewery, extend way beyond their enigmatic names.
Discover the freedom of the KwaZulu-Natal countryside at your leisure, with an Avis hire car.