Things to Do in Creighton

The Funky Cow is a quaint, eclectic little shop rooted in Underberg opposite the local Spar. Its well worth a visit as it sells gorgeous traditional Basotho blankets (since they’re on the border of Lesotho and the famous Sani Pass). You’ll also find funky jewellery, antiques, vintage clothing, awesome gifts and souvenirs to take home.

Have a blast in the foothills of the Southern Drakensberg. Situated 4 km from the country village of Underberg, Sani Spoors is the ideal mountain biking and trail running venue. The diverse trails range from single track through pine forests to riverbanks, offering some of the finest mountain biking trails in KwaZulu-Natal. The routes are on private property; traversing farmlands, pine plantations, the Mzimkulu River and open pastures. Routes of 3 km, 8 km, 10 km and 15 km are colour coded and clearly marked. All routes start from the Sani Spoors office where a permit must be obtained and clearly displayed before setting off.

Situated just seven kilometres from Howick and 24 kilometres from Pietermaritzburg, the Midmar Dam Nature Reserve is a great spot for locals and visitors alike. The large fresh water dam is fed by the uMngeni River, offering a fun water sports and fishing venue. Day trippers often make use of numerous shady picnic areas and braai facilities along the shoreline. Windsurfing, canoeing, swimming and mountain biking are popular activities around the Midmar Dam. In certain areas it is zoned for yachts and powerboats. The world’s largest open water swimming event, the Midmar Mile, draws over 16 000 international and local competitors annually to swim the dam in record time. The reserve is also home to numerous red hartebeest, blesbok, reedbuck, black wildebeest, oribi and zebra. Carp, bass, scalies and bluegill fish proliferate in the dam. Pick up a freshwater fishing licence at the office near the entrance gates. Below the dam, the uMngeni River plummets over the Howick Falls on its way to the Indian Ocean.

Madiba fans and struggle history buffs all make their political pilgrimage to the Mandela Capture Monument. This significant site is where the world's most famous anti-apartheid activist, Nelson Mandela, was apprehended while driving incognito from Durban to Johannesburg. On the 5th of August 1962 Mandela was arrested at a point on the main R103 near Lions River and was imprisoned in the Johannesburg Fort. He had been on the run from the Security Police for seventeen months. The monument has been erected at this spot, the place where he said goodbye to freedom for 27 years.Need to know? Look for the road sign on the R103.

Serving as the headquarters of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, KwaZulu-Natal’s nature conservation service, this small reserve offers an outdoor leisure and environmental education facility for the Natal Midlands. Situated in Hilton, Queen Elizabeth Park Nature Reserve is home to impala, zebra, blesbok, bushbuck, grey and blue duiker, dassies, and crowned eagles. Numerous indigenous and exotic plants grow throughout the park. Of special interest are several cycads species and endangered Hilton daisies occurring naturally in the grasslands. There is no accommodation but day trippers can make use of three picnic areas with braai and ablution facilities. More energetic folk can do the circular self-guided iDube trail.

Abseil Howick FallsIf life has become a little dull, why not walk over the edge and abseil down the second tallest waterfall in South Africa. At the bottom of the thundering 107-metre-high Howick Falls, you plop into an inflatable boat that takes you to the start of an indigenous forest walk.The trail takes you through the Howick Falls Conservancy where you may catch a glimpse of nesting crowned and fish eagles. If you’re quiet you might even spot shy bush buck in the shadows. The Zulu name for Howick Falls is KwaNogqaza, meaning Place of the Tall One. According to local teachings, the plunge pool at the bottom is the home of the Inkanyamba, a Loch Ness-type creature. It is believed that only sangomas can safely approach the falls, and only to offer prayers to the Inkanyamba ancestral spirits.Contact www.spiritofadventure.co.za for abseiling: +27 (0)31 769 1981.

One of the largest dams in KwaZulu-Natal, Albert Falls Dam is a popular playground for sailors, canoeists, twitchers, hikers, horse riders and fisherfolk. The dam is rated one of the best bass fishing dams in the world and an international bass fishing competition is held there annually. The whole area has abundant bird life as well as zebra and several antelope species. Visitors can enjoy game drives at the Msinsi Reserve. In winter Otto's Bluff is worth checking out when the aloes are flowering.

You’re always assured of seeing something new at the Natal Museum Here you’ll view a constant array of fascinating temporary exhibitions and happenings ranging from xenophobic violence to a mixed children’s art exhibition at this dynamic museum. 2010 sees the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Indian people and an exploration of the history of segregation in the US. Eight natural history and ten cultural history galleries showcase numerous mammals including the last wild elephant in KwaZulu-Natal, birds, amphibians, insects and an extensive mollusc collection. Kids will love checking out the life-size T-Rex model. Stroll through a life-size rendering of a Drakensberg rock art cave or walk the plank of a wrecked trading vessel in the Towns and Trade Exhibition. The museum has an internet café, resource library for learners, film room and coffee/snack bar. Open Monday to Friday 09:00 – 16:30, Saturdays 10:00 – 16:00 Sundays 11:00 – 15:00.

Enjoy an exhilarating flight with awesome views as you climb to altitude over Durban's golden beaches, the turquoise Indian Ocean and the Valley of a Thousand Hills. Durban Skydive Centre will lift you up into the sky to jump at an altitude of 8 000 to 12 000 ft. You will be firmly attached to a qualified and experienced tandem instructor and free-fall for an unforgettable 45 seconds. After the free-fall, you will have the opportunity to fly the canopy during the 6-minute parachute descent. The instructor will take over for the landing. Need to know Everything is provided; all you need to bring is running shoes. Maximum weight limit is 110 kg. Open daily from January to December; bookings are every hour from 09:00 to 14:00. 072 214 6040 www.skydivedurban.co.za

Take an inspirational walk through the tropical house of Butterflies for Africa. This lush and spectacular environment brings visitors into close contact with free-flying indigenous and exotic butterflies. Butterflies for Africa flies high with some of the top butterfly houses from around the globe with some unique offerings. The complex features a walk-through butterfly house, craft shop, art gallery, coffee bar, African art and craft centre, butterfly nursery and a garden planted with a big variety of food plants for butterflies. +27 (0) 33 387 1356 37 Willowton Rd, Willowton, Pietermaritzburg Tuesday to Friday 09:00 – 16:30 Saturday 09:30 – 15:30 Sunday 10:30 – 15:30 Closed on New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

Home to eleven of the twelve owl species, five of the eight vulture species and numerous magnificent raptors found in Southern Africa, the African Bird of Prey Sanctuary is well worth a visit. Dedicated to conserving indigenous raptors, the haven is also a base for continuing research, breeding and rehabilitation projects for birds of prey, mostly run ‘behind the scenes’. There is also a large selection of captive-bred or ‘non-releasable rehabilitation’ birds. These feathered friends can be viewed in their ‘micro-environment’ visitors keen to discover more about South Africa’s beautiful aerial predators. Specially trained birds wow spectators with their daily flight displays, given to educate and facilitate awareness of effective conservation of our environment and its creatures. These demonstrations allow the winged beauties themselves to become both teachers and ambassadors for their wild counterparts, giving the audience a first-hand experience of these rare and elusive birds. Open Tuesday to Sunday 09:00 – 16:00. Closed on Christmas Day and during the Comrades Marathon. Flying Display Times: weekdays (except Mondays) 10:30, weekends and public holidays 10:30 and 15:00. 'Gobble and Squabble' Vulture Feeding Sessions: weekends 12:00 (phone and confirm should this be your primary reason for visiting). Entrance fees: adults R35, children under 13 years R20. Cash and cards are accepted. www.africanraptor.co.za +27 (0) 31 785 2981 or (0) 82 925 3023.

With hundreds of bird species, Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve is a twitchers delight as well as a stunning place to chill out in nature for the day. This 'island' of coastal evergreen forest, bush and grassland mosaic, streams, dams, marshes in a 'sea' of sugarcane, gum plantations and tribal lands. This 2 139 ha oasis is home to over 300 bird species, 100 of which can easily be recorded in a summer morning's birding. These include a number of forest and grassland specials and the magnificent African Crowned Eagle and Martial Eagle.Other fine feathered friends to look out for are the Black Sparrowhawk, Lemon Dove, African Emerald Cuckoo, Green Malkoha, Narina Trogon, Brown Scrub-Robin, Yellow-throated Woodland-Warbler, Blue-mantled Crested-Flycatcher, Black-bellied Starling, Green Twinspot, Red-winged Francolin, Broad-tailed Warbler, Short-tailed Pipit, Plain-backed Pipit, Lazy Cisticola, Zitting Cisticola, Wing-snapping Cisticola, Pale-crowned Cisticola, Mountain Wagtail, African Pygmy-Kingfisher, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Greater Honeyguide and Lesser Honeyguide.Need to know? The Reserve is managed by the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. Facilities include good gravel roads, walking trails, picnic sites and toilets, and a small hutted camp. Day visitor Entry fee: R10 per adult R5 per child. Gate Opening and Closing Times: Summer (October to March) 06h00 to 18h00 Winter (April to September) 06h00 to 17h00.Check out http://wiki.sabirding.co.za

The Oribi Gorge is a 330 metre high abyss sliced by the Umzimkulu River. Just 20 kilometres inland from Port Shepstone, the scenically stunning area has become a playground for adrenaline junkies and thrill seekers. Here you can hurtle off the edge on a ‘bridge-swing’ or if you’re a little less daring you can try the 120-metre foefie slide. No trip is complete without white-water rafting down the frothing, seething chasm.The Wild Gorge swing is situated at the top of Lehrs falls and is the highest swing in the world. One steps off the waterfall to swing into the dark depths of the gorge in a 100 metre arc – an exhilarating experience that leaves you breathless. And if adrenaline is not your thing, the gorgeous scenery and tranquillity of this Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Reserve is just as delightful. The reserve offers numerous walks and self-guided trails and is a photographer's dream.

The incredibly scenic Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve lies 21 kilometres inland from Port Shepstone, perfect for a day trip or weekend escape. Part of this Emzemvelo KZN Wildlife reserve’s appeal is the impressive gorge carved by the Umzimkulwana River. This photographer's and nature lover's paradise offers some lovely walks to picturesque spots. Numerous picnic sites are dotted along the river banks but don’t be tempted to swim or you may risk contracting bilharzia. The overnight camp has a reservoir swimming pool with a sundeck for residents’ use. The reserve is home to bushbuck, common reedbuck, oribi, blue and grey duiker and the rarely seen leopard. Twitchers will find Oribi a rewarding birding experience with a bird list numbers 250 species.

Sublime mountain scenery and exhilarating hiking steals the show at Giant's Castle Nature Reserve, but that’s not all this historic park has to offer. Giant's Castle is home of the largest antelope in Africa, the eland, and the impressive bearded vulture. Watch these broad-winged beauties and some of South Africa’s rarest birds swoop down for meaty treats at the Vulture Restaurant during the winter season. Situated in the central region of the UKhahlamba Drakensberg Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the reserve is a spectacular fusion of grassy plateau and deep valleys careering down from the lofty Drakensberg peaks. Other attractions are the rather commercialised but wonderful rock-art sites and the Main Caves Museum, providing alluring glimpses into the past lifestyle of the San people.