A landscape of rolling green hills and Zulu villages, 45 minutes inland from Durban. Drive the Old Main Road for the views and the craft stalls, visit a Zulu cultural village, and swap the beachfront for the slower pace of the hills.
The Valley of 1000 Hills is the green, slow counterpart to Durban’s beachfront, a landscape of hills tumbling down to the Umgeni River about 45 minutes west of the city. The name does the describing: from the ridge road the hills roll away in every direction, hundreds of them, hazing into the distance.
The classic way to see it is the drive. The R103 Old Main Road runs along the ridge through Hillcrest, Botha’s Hill and Drummond, past viewpoints, craft stalls and, on weekends, the 1000 Hills Chefs’ Market. This is also Zulu heartland, and cultural villages like PheZulu at Botha’s Hill stage traditional dancing, beehive-hut homesteads and a window onto Zulu life, some with a reptile park alongside.
It works best as a half day. There’s no public transport out here, so you either hire a car for the freedom to stop where you like, or take a guided trip from Durban. Drive out on a clear morning, take in the views and a village, stop for lunch at the market, and you can be back on the coast by the afternoon. The Comrades Marathon, the famous ultra between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, runs right through the valley at Drummond.
Drive the ridge road for the views, then stop at a Zulu village or a craft market.
The R103 winds along the ridge through Hillcrest, Botha's Hill and Drummond, with viewpoints over the hills falling away to the Umgeni River. Craft and curio stalls line the road, and on weekends the 1000 Hills Chefs' Market is worth a stop for lunch.
PheZulu Safari Park at Botha's Hill stages Zulu dancing, beehive-hut homesteads and a look at traditional life, with a reptile park alongside. Other cultural villages in the valley run their own shows. Most pair well with the drive.
The views make the trip, and they're best on a clear morning before any afternoon haze builds over the hills.
There's no public transport out here. Hire a car for the freedom to stop, or take a guided half-day from Durban if you'd rather not drive.
The 1000 Hills Chefs' Market runs on weekends and is the best lunch stop in the valley. Check the days before you plan around it.
Cultural villages run their dancing displays at set times. Check the schedule and book ahead so you don't miss the performance.
The roadside craft and curio sellers prefer cash. Bring small notes and haggle politely on the bigger pieces.
The valley is an easy half day, so you can drive out in the morning and be back on the Durban beachfront by the afternoon.
Book a guided half-day to the valley through our trusted partners, at the same price as booking direct.
A guided half-day to the hills and a Zulu cultural village, with the dancing, the homesteads and the views.
Book on GetYourGuide →The Zulu cultural village and reptile park at Botha's Hill, with dancing displays and a look at traditional life.
See cultural visits →Pair the valley with a guided city tour of Durban, from the markets to the beachfront.
See city tours →Beachfront and Umhlanga hotels in the city, an easy drive from the valley.
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The valley is Durban's quiet, green other half. See everything else the warm-water city has to offer.
