1000 Hills

DISCOVER 1000 HILLS

A 30-minute drive inland from Durban will bring you to the green suburbs of Kloof and Hillcrest, edged by the rugged Valley of 1000 Hills. It is aptly named as the land literally tumbles down to the Umgeni River Valley in thousands of hills dotted with traditional Zulu homesteads.

The views are breathtaking, the nature reserves teeming with game. The area is a growing destination for adventure

enthusiasts, with an array of activities on offer including rock climbing, quad biking, mountain bike trails, abseiling, microlighting and canoeing.

There are numerous upmarket B&Bs and boutique hotels for visitors to stay in as they spend some time in the area.

32 EVENTS 1 Feb 10:00 Body and Mind Talk and Wellness Festival – Kloof Country Club. (031 701 7548) 1&2 Feb 08:00 Show Jumping: Triple P Shows – Latimer Arena, Durban Shongweni Club, Corner Cliffdale & Kassier roads, Hillcrest. Every Wednesday from 5 Feb Cycling: 2020 Marriott Summer Series – Shongweni Club. 6 Feb 16:30 ‘First Thursdays Festive Market’ with more than 45 upmarket popup stalls, kids’ zone, live entertainment, art showcase and delicious food served on-the-go from Republik, Stretta, XinYuan and Mythos restaurants – The Colony, 50 Old Main Road, Hillcrest. 9 Feb 05:00 Hillcrest Marathon: 42.2km run & 21.1 km run/walk – Hillcrest Villagers AC, Corner Inanda & Old Main roads. (082 455 4782) 15 Feb 18:30 Barry Thomson Live – Kloof High School. (Book via Quicket) 16 Feb Zabalaza Marathon: 10km, 21.1km & 42.2km run/walk – Cato Ridge Country Club. (073 225 4195) 1 Mar 10:00-15:00 Exclusive Boutique Bridal Fair – Makaranga Garden Lodge, 1 A Igwababa Road, Kloof. (031 764 6616) 19 Mar 18:15 Insinkerator Time Trial Leauge #3: 4km & 8km – Forest Hills. 27-29 Mar Polo – Shongweni Club. 29 Mar 08:00 Cycling: KZN XCO Lap Challenge Series #2 – Shongweni Club. ENTERTAINMENT Rhumbelow Theatre @Tina’s (14 Beryldene Road, Kloof, 031 764 7843) Until 2 Feb ‘Over Africa: The Making of a Legend’ with Miriam Erasmus, one of the most loved and admired singersongwriters of her generation; 7-9 Feb: ‘Diva Lost Vegas’ is a new musical comedy with Marion Loudon and Lisa Bobbert, who pay tribute to the women (and some men) who have called the desert strip their home; 14-23 Feb Tribute to Dire Straits and the music of Mark Knopfler; 28 Feb-1 Mar ‘Legends of Reggae’ with Tanner Wareham and his trio comes hot on the heels of a successful Bob Dylan tribute; 4-8 Mar ‘Rowan Skits’ with Paul Spence celebrates the comic genius of Rowan Atkinson; 18- 22 Mar ‘Mark Banks on Ice!’ sees this local legend come out of hibernation to bring you his all-new, wildly funny, one-man stand-up show; 27 Mar-5 Apr ‘Cold Fact’ is a tribute to the music of Rodriguez, from Barry Thomson and The Reals. Burlesque Cocktail Bar (Oxford Village, Hillcrest, 083 434 2421) This trendy and stylish new bar is open on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings with an array of entertainment and specials galore. ATTRACTIONS Situated in Waterfall, Wet Rock Adventures (087 288 4256) is an indoor heated water park offering lots of fun all year round, with kid and adult friendly slides and rides along the ‘lazy river’. Great for birthday parties as well as school excursions. Enjoy Epic Karting on a challenging indoor circuit, using the latest imported karts with Honda engines. Children must be at least 10 years of age and above 1.4m tall. Watercrest Mall (082 800 1431). The Drumshack Experience (083 704 4879) promises an evening of magical rhythms, funky grooves and community drumming in an acoustically phenomenal stone amphitheatre in a unique castle setting. Every Saturday, 17:00-22:00, Castle-onMain, 24b Old Main Road, Gillitts. Makaranga Garden Lodge (031 764 6616) is a botanical wonderland situated off

33 Igwbaba Road, Kloof. It covers 30-acres of indigenous vegetation, majestic Macaranga trees, a natural waterfall and authentic Japanese garden. There’s also an excellent restaurant and a kid-zone for the little ones. The Puzzle Place (031 777 1189) on Hillcrest’s Old Main Road is great entertainment for the whole family, with its hand-cut three-dimensional wooden puzzles and brainteasers, not to mention local handicrafts and toys. Explore an Animal Farm in the upper highway area. Winsome View Animal Farm and Country Bistro (031 769 1500) in Summerveld is an educational farm teaching kids about conservation, animal husbandry, gardening, recycling and sustainable living; and the Animal Farmyard and Teagarden (031 765 2240) in Hillcrest lets children feed and pet the animals, milk a cow, ride a pony/horse, have a tractor ride, play on the jungle gym swings and slides, or experience a zip-line ride. Take the family for a train ride on the Umgeni Steam Railway and climb aboard the Inchanga Choo Choo as it travels from Kloof Station through the Valley of 1000 Hills to Inchanga and back again. 9 Feb 08:30&12:30 Valentine’s Special diesel train; 23 Feb, 22&29 Mar 08:30&12:30 Inchanga Choo Choo steam train. Book early to avoid disappointment. (www.umgenisteamrailway.co.za) Nature reserves in the upper highway area include Krantzkloof (031 764 3515) in Kloof, with its lovely waterfall, steep cliffs and dramatic gorge views; 21 hectares of forest, grassland and wetland at Springside Nature Reserve (073 901 3902) in Hillcrest; and Shongweni Dam & Game Reserve (031 769 1283), which is home to two of Africa’s ‘big five’ – buffalo and rhino – and is a good spot for game drives, water sports and rock climbing. Tanglewood Farm (079 475 9040) is a privately-owned nature reserve and Natural Heritage site in Kloof that aims to conserve the indigenous fauna and flora. See raptors in action in free-flight and interactive demonstrations at the African Bird Of Prey Sanctuary (031 785 4382) situated just off the N3 on the Lion Park road. There are Zulu cultural experiences as well as game drives, crocodiles, snakes, a restaurant and children’s play zone at PheZulu Safari Park (031 777 1000). MARKETS & SHOPPING Crafts as well as a variety of food and farm produce can be found at Shongweni Farmers & Craft Market (031 777 1674) every Saturday from 06:30-12:30 at Lot 457, MR551, Shongweni; see www. shongwenimarket.co.za for directions. All hand- and home-made goodies plus beautiful plants at De Oude Klipkraal Craft Market (082 877 7744) 173 Inanda Rd, Waterfall, on the first Saturday of every month from 09:00 to 14:00. Woza Moya (031 765 5866) is the economic empowerment project of the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust, and now supports more than 350 crafters who are infected or affected by HIV/AIDS. The beautiful arts and crafts include beadwork, wire work, jewellery, clothing, bags, shoes, pottery, cushions and toys. There are three outlets: 26 Old Main Road, Hillcrest; 237 Old Main Road, Botha’s Hill; and Shop 10, Fields Shopping Centre, Kloof.

34 The Kloof & Highway SPCA Market (031 764 1212) hosts open market days every week: Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays 08:00-12:00 with amazing bargains, delicious food and live entertainment, a tea garden (which has a Wi-Fi hotspot), children’s play area and five jungle gyms. A shopping centre with a family focus, Oxford Village (031 765 2500) covers approximately 16 000 square metres, boasts an Oxford Freshmarket store as its anchor tenant, and has a covered, allweather market. Situated at 141 Inanda Road Watercrest Mall (031 763 1551) is the ultimate regional shopping destination in the upper highway area, encompassing over 130 retail stores, a cinema and family-friendly food court. Facilities include 24-hour security, a car wash and wheelchair access. RESTAURANTS International 1000 Hills Chef School .............. 031 777 1566 Afro’s, Hillcrest.......................063 005 5258 Bellevue Café, Kloof .................031 717 2780 Boma Restaurant, Phezulu ...... 031 777 1205 Bona Terra Café, Assagay ........ 031 100 0541 Café 66, 1000 Hills..................076 442 8844 Café Mayfair, Hillcrest............. 031 562 3008 Chantecler Hotel Buffet ...........031 765 2613 Chilliplum, Hillcrest ................. 031 765 2590 Hussar Grill, Kloof..................... 031 764 1187 Intaba View, 1000 Hills ............031 783 4011 La Verdure, Gillitts.....................031 764 1118 Mayfair Café, Hillcrest ............ 031 562 3008 Mr Brown’s, Hillcrest................ 031 765 5335 Olive Garden ............................. 031 768 1314 Oscar’s Café, Hillcrest...............031 765 7322 Pallet Jack’s, Hillcrest .............. 031 765 2954 Platzz, Eat & Drink....................031 110 0575 Pot & Kettle ...............................031 777 1312 Quo, Gillitts............................. 082 320 7906 Ray’s Kitchen, Gillitts.............. 066 511 0252 Republik, Hillcrest ...................082 877 4614 Sprigs, Kloof............................ 031 764 6031 Two Acres Tearoom, Assagay ...031 768 1957 Union Square, Hillcrest............ 031 765 3836 Mediterranean & Pizza Hole in the Wall Pizza............. 082 227 7989 La Pizza Pazza, Kloof .............. 031 764 0749 Lupa Osteria, Hillcrest ............. 031 765 3059 Mythos, Hillcrest ...................... 031 941 1194 Nonna, Makaranga .................. 031 764 6616 Olive & Oil, Hillcrest ..................031 765 6214 Papa Giovanni’s, Hillcrest.........031 765 3617 Primi Polo, Hillcrest ................ 031 765 6920 Ray’s Kitchen, Hillcrest ........... 066 511 0252 Stretta Café, Hillcrest ..............031 765 8862 Indian & Curry New Gate of India..................... 031 764 1517 Punjabi’s.................................. 031 765 4779 Thai, Chinese & Sushi Phuket Thai, Kloof.................. 031 764 0882 SuThai, Kloof.......................... 082 744 9955 Takami Sushi, Gillitts .............078 900 8694 Tommy Sushi Shop, Kloof ........074 336 8311 Wai Thai .................................. 031 765 5019 Yang.......................................... 031 765 5114 Spanish, Portuguese & The Americas 1904 Bistro Américain, Kloof... 031 035 0105 Bazaruto’s, Kloof.................... 031 764 4406 Mo-Zam-Bik, Hillcrest ............. 031 765 6556 Fish Jack Salmon, Hillcrest............... 031 941 5217 John Dory’s, Kloof.................... 031 764 6079 John Dory’s, Watercrest.............031 763 1127 Q 4 Prawns, Hillcrest ...............031 765 2480 Taverns & Pubs Green Man Pub, Tina’s Hotel .. 031 764 7843 Keg and Trout, Oxford Village . 031 765 2070 Stoker’s Arms, Kloof ...............031 764 6706