Camperdown, Durban

Lying part way between Hillcrest and Pietermaritzburg along the N3, Camperdown has recently mushroomed for several rather obvious reasons. It lies close to both Durban and Pietermaritzburg, parts of its municipality falls within the Valley of 1000 Hills, which means that for the visitor it is a gorgeous part of the world to stay, and because of its situation away from the major cities, it has access to a fair number of game and nature reserves.

The Nagle Dam, the Valley of 1000 Hills, the accessibility of the Msunduzi (Duzi) River, strawberry picking in season, and a myriad outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling and micro light flying are just a few of the highlights you can expect of a stay in Camperdown. It also falls within an area known as the Midlands Mistbelt, one of the only areas in which the Karkloof butterfly occurs. The Karkloof Nature Reserve is just the other side of Pietermaritzburg from Camperdown.

Interestingly, the area boasts its own Table Mountain. Nagle Dam and game reserve lies in the Valley of 1000 Hills beneath 'Table Mountain'. Whilst it barely resembles the table top mountain of Cape Town, it is nonetheless a pretty mountain at the base of which is the dam providing picnic spots, excellent fishing, hiking trails and game viewing.

From Camperdown you also have easy access to other attractions like the Natal Lion Park, Shongweni Dam Nature Reserve and, of course, the Valley of 1000 Hills where a drive along the 1000 Hills Experience Route will bring you into contact with a myriad artists, crafters and cultural villages.