Attractions

Piggly Wiggly Country Village is the perfect place to stop off along the Midlands Meander route, the small village includes a variety of African craft style shops and the famous Piggly Wiggle restaurant. Enjoy a day out in the scenic countryside and eat, shop and play at the Piggly Wiggly Country Village. Piggly Wiggly Country Village Candle Dipping Shop, Eclectic Magpie, Fancy That, Frankie & Delilah, Free Range Trading, Furniture for Life, Garden Centre, Hides of Africa, Homewood, Huddys Book Shop, Linen Loft, Meander Fine Wines, Mushka, Serindip -T, Sikhona, Sterlings Wrought Iron, The Lavender Co., Tous les Jours, Zulu Lulu and 3 Fat Pigs. A mini steam train track and mini golf course provides ideal entertainment for the kids.

Stop off at Culamoya Chimes located on Lidgetton Hilltop to hear the tranquil sound of chimes on the Midlands Meander. There are three large chimes in the gardens make a glorious sound while you take in the beauty of the midlands from the hilltop view of Lidgetton and surrounding KZN midlands. Culamoya Chimes have a variety of chimes for sale with all sorts of shapes and sizes available, they make excellent souvenirs and are a great additions to any family home. Relax to the soothing sounds of the Peace Chimes, the shop is open from Wednesdays to Sundays from 10am till 3pm.

Established in 1996, The Nottingham Road Brewery is a renowned independent micro brewery that produces a popular range of ales and lagers in the KZN Midlands. Located on the premises of the Rawdons Hotel and Country Estate where visitors are welcome to see the brewing process and buy the full range of beers in a gift pack from the shop. Nottingham Road Brewery natural brewed products include: Pickled Pig Porter, Pye-eyed Possum Pilsner, Tiddly Toad Light Lager & Whistling Weasel Pale ale. Customers can also buy a 5 litre Chubby Beer on Tap vat which makes the perfect gift for beer lovers. There are also 30 and 50 litre party barrels which are great for special occasions that require larger amounts of quality beer.

Butterflies for Africa Butterflies for Africa in Pietermaritzburg is a butterfly resource centre which offers a walk-through Butterfly House featuring exotic and indigenous butterflies. The centre also has Butterfly Themed Shop, Art Gallery, Coffee Shop and a lovely Butterfly Garden. Perfect for schools, hosting kids parties, young children and those wanting to learn more about butterflies in an Eco-system with birds, fish, iguanas and Cotton-top Tamarin monkeys. Butterflies for Africa is situated just off the N3 when taking the Ohrtmann Rd turnoff, there is ample secure parking within the complex. The painted lady coffee shop overlooks the garden and is a great place to have breakfast, coffee and other refreshments.

Epworth Mudman is an off-road multi-sport event with running, swimming or canoeing, and cycling events, held in the scenic surroundings of Albert Falls Dam in a spirit of fun amidst the competition. The very first Mudman in KwaZulu-Natal was held at Hermannsburg in 1999. It has grown into a whole-family event, with a record 650 entrants in the 2008 aQuellé Hermannsburg Mudman – one-and-a-half times more than in 2007! The Epworth Mudman has always been organised and run by the staff, parents and learners of the school. Epworth Mudman 2017 – 5th March 2017

The Midmar Mile is the largest open water event in the world. The annual swimming event takes place at Midmar Dam in Howick, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa.

Splashy Fen Music Festival was established back in 1990, the festival takes place in Underberg with epic views of the Drakensberg mountains. The four day long festival features a line-up of renowned South African artists and upcoming talent on the free stage. Splashy Fen Music Festival The annual SA music festival has grown somewhat over it’s two decade history with thousands of fans attending the event which takes place over the long Weekend in April. Splashy Fen Music Festival is without a doubt the biggest outdoor camping music festival in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. Other activities and things at Splashy Fen Music Festival include: Art & Craft Market, ATMs, Beer Gardens, satellite TV, Camping Fishing, Food stalls, Drum Village, Hiking, Hot showers, Live music, clean toilets, Medical services, Mountain biking, River tubing and Security. The festival accommodates families and all ages, under 18’s must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets can be purchased on computicket or at the entrance to the festival.

The Candle Dipping Shop is an exciting Midlands experience for both children and adults with Candle Dipping and Sand Art available in the shop. Candle dipping is a great team building activity for adults and school outing for children. The Candle Dipping Shop also make custom-made candles for Weddings, birthday parties and Conference groups. Stop off at either The Candle Dipping Shop Nottingham Road or at the Piggly Wiggly Country Village. Both locations have ample parking, children’s playgrounds and clean toilets. Candle Dipping Shop Nottingham Road One can build up to the outing by having a lesson on early lighting systems and the many ways candles are used up to the present – as symbols of sadness, peace, happiness and love!  The Candle Factory tour is educational, allowing children to learn about all stages of manufacture, from raw wax to the molding and trimming of candles ready for dipping. The tour takes about ten minutes and then the children head back to the shop for the dipping and decorating experience (this aspect of the outing is only available at the Nottingham Road venue, where the candle factory is situated). Your outing could also incorporate a visit to the Nelson Mandela Capture Site for older children, archery, chocolate dipping and the best milkshakes and mini pizzas.

The Candle Dipping Shop is an exciting Midlands Meander activity for children or adults with Candle Dipping and Sand Art available at the shop. Candle dipping can also be team building activity for adults and the perfect school outing for children. The Piggly Wiggly Country Village in Lions River, KwaZulu-Natal has ample parking, children’s playgrounds, restaurants and clean toilets. Candle Dipping Shop Piggly Wiggly The Shop at the Piggly Wiggly Country Village is just one of the many attractions in the area, the village is a great venue for kids as there are jungle gyms, a mini-golf course and mini steam-train rides.

Halley Park is home to the Pietermaritzburg Model Engineering Society and our primary objective is to foster an interest in engineering by building miniature replicas of locomotives, stationary engines, internal combustion engines, hot air engines, machine tools, and any other engineering related projects to the original working specifications. There is a great emphasis on steam preservation. Halley Park Miniature Railway Halley Park Miniature Railway have a running day every first Sunday of the month when members of the public can buy tickets to enjoy a ride around the miniature railway circuit, hauled by steam and ‘diesel’ locomotives. Visitors are encouraged to make use of our beautiful park and braais for picnics.

Lions River Railway is a miniature railway situated at Piggly Wiggly Country Village in the KwaZulu Natal, Midlands. Trains run most weekends and public holidays between 10am and 3pm weather dependent. Lions River Railway A perfect outing for the kids with lots to see and do in the area, the miniature railway circuit is built around the mini-golf course with a view of all the village shops and restaurants.

Rockjumper Birding Tours is one of the world’s longest established and most highly regarded birding tour companies. Based in South Africa with satellite offices in USA, Australia and New Zealand, their team of professional tour leaders and dedicated office support staff arrange and guide more than 250 annual birding and wildlife tours to 100 countries across the globe. Rockjumper believes that the recipe for a successful birding tour is simple: a well-planned itinerary with smooth running ground operations, comfortable accommodations and good food, a small group with low participant-to-leader ratio, and, most importantly, personable, friendly tour leaders with the necessary experience and expertise to make each tour a thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding adventure! Rockjumper Birding Tours Please don’t hesitate to contact our helpful enquiries desk on info@rockjumperbirding.com or you welcome to visit www.rockjumperbirding.com for any enquiries related to birding, wildlife and photographic tours throughout the world. Besides set-departure tours, we have a dedicated private tour department dealing with customised tours.

A visually stunning museum that offers its visitors a trip back in time to the days of early Pietermaritzburg. Guided tours offer you a glimpse of how different our town was during the period of colonization as well as insight into the early technologies from this period that have shaped the way we live today. Macrorie House Museum The Macrorie House Museum boasts a massive collection of Victoriana and is complete with bedrooms, kitchen, parlor, school room, study, nursery and even has its own chapel! For the younger kids, we have a beautiful interactive play room, full of toys for indoor and outdoor play and our tea garden offers a tranquil setting for moms and dads to relax and unwind.

Stormy Hill Horse Trails – Stormy Hill is Caroline’s home on the edge of the Drakensberg escarpment where horses and hounds flourish. Come and enjoy a delightful morning in the conservation corridors of forestry and farmland areas. Here, guests are entertained to a lifestyle experience constituting an introduction to the horses of the hill, a hands-on grooming session and a guided ride in the surrounding areas. Stormy Hill Horse Trails All our horses are well-tempered and each has its own personality, which is taken into account when matching horse to rider. Take time to get back to nature as you look at the views. Different trails are offered depending on your personal preferences and ability. Stormy Hill Country cottage is our self catering accommodation if you wish to stay over.

Hot Air Ballooning SA – Hot Air Balloon flights throughout South Africa The only balloon operator in South Africa dedicated to flying from a wide selection of venues. From the majestic splendour of the Maluti range in Clarens to the Golden sands of the Kalahari. Cradle Game Reserve to the Vredefort Dome meteorite impact site along the Vaal and the rolling hills of the Natal Midlands. Hot Air Ballooning SA Champagne Valley in the Majestic Drakensberg Mountains and Tala private Game Reserve just 45 minutes from Durban. Experience the Finest Ballooning that South Africa has to offer with loads of colour fun and in the company of highly experienced crew.

Sakabula Golf Course Howick, located in the foothills of the Kwa-Zulu Natal Midlands, has become one of the most popular venues for golfers and visitors to the area. Situated only 2kms off the N3 Highway and just 20kms from Pietermaritzburg, it provides a country escape with panoramic views of the Drakensberg and surrounding mountains. This superb 18-Hole, par 73 course provides both a challenging and rewarding golf experience for Amateurs and Professionals alike.

Situated in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, the Bosch Hoek Golf Club is home to a nine-hole course that has an interesting history, as it formed part of a farm that was among the original voortrekker claims to be settled in the 1850s.

Drakensberg Ballooning offers scenic hot air balloon flights over KwaZulu-Natal with panoramic views stretching from the Amphitheatre in the Northern Drakensberg to Giants Castle in the Southern Drakensberg of South Africa. Miskien het dit iets te doen met die kurwe van die aarde, maar om uit ‘n lugballon ondertoe te kyk laat ‘n mens baie klein voel. Vroegoggend, sonsopkoms, die ongelooflike stilte word slegs nou en dan onderbreek deur die geblaas van die brander en af en toe ‘n skril roep van ‘n voël. Die opwinding is ongelooflik terwyl jy rustig bo die aarde sweef met die majestueuse Drakensberge op die horizon. Drakensberg Ballooning

Fort Durnford Museum Estcourt has a rich history of British, Zulu and Afrikaner heritage. Built on the hill of Bushman’s River drift, in 1874 the fort served as a lookout tower and military stronghold for the town. The stone-built Museum features historic South African artifacts some items dating back as far as the Iron and Stone Age plus a collection of fossils.

Baynesfield Estate Museum is situated in Baynesfield, KwaZulu-Natal near Richmond and was founded by the agricultural pioneer, Joseph Baynes. The museums are housed in the first butter factory in South Africa – a beautiful building built in 1898; the first refrigeration room in the country which has been restored with the help of the Natal Vintage Tractor and Machinery Club and where their museum has been established; the homestead where Joseph Baynes lived with his first wife Maria, until her death after a difficult childbirth. Baynesfield Estate Museum It is in this building that enthusiastic Woodcrafters have set up their workshops to demonstrate the use of antique woodworking tools.