Things to Do in Himeville

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The lofty spire of Cathedral Peak soars above several craggy pinnacles of the Cathedral range. This region of magnificent mountain vistas is one of the favourites in the ‘Berg’ for hiking and rock climbing. The most trodden hiking trails include Cathedral Peak, the Organ Pipes and Ndedema Gorge boasting a variety of San rock art. The landscape is dominated by what is known as the massive Ridge of the Horns. Stretching four kilometres, this range features some of the most spectacular peaks in South Africa including Cathedral Peak, Bell, Outer Horn, Inner Horn and the Chessmen. If you have a 4WD vehicle venture to the top of Mike’s Pass to see superb views of the Central Drakensberg. The Rainbow Gorge as well as the Didima Resort and San Art Centre; an Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Project is well worth a visit. Photo credit: Cathedral Peak Hotel.

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.

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.