Things to Do in Princes Grant

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

PheZulu Safari Park boasts a crocodile and snake park offering guests interesting tours led by knowledgeable guides. Learn fascinating facts about fearsome crocodiles and snakes, meet 'Junior' their 102-year-old Nile crocodile and have a hands-on experience with Cleo, their lovely Burmese python who weighs in at 42 kilograms and is 3.2 metres long. Don’t miss the chance of ogling many snake species including African rock pythons, green and black mambas, boomslang, vine snakes, puff adders, spitting cobras, rinkhals, forest cobras, Egyptian cobras, bush snakes, night adders, spotted house snakes, southern brown egg eaters, olive house snakes, Burmese pythons, anacondas and boa constrictors. +27 (0) 31 777 1000 Old Main Road, Botha's Hill, Valley of 1000 Hills, KwaZulu-Natal.

The 1000 Hills Arts & Crafts Village is situated in the popular and incredibly scenic Valley of 1000 Hills. The Village offers restaurants with breathtaking views, a spa; children’s play area, animal farmyard, lovely little shops, a pub and more. It’s quite easy to spend the entire day here.

The breathtaking Valley of a Thousand Hills is an awesome holiday destination that offers unspoilt nature, wildlife, magnificent scenery, wining and dining, and warm country hospitality just a half an hour's drive from the centre of Durban.It is named for the countless hills which tumble down to the mighty Umgeni River that flows from the distant Drakensberg Mountains to the temptingly warm Indian Ocean.Starting at Botha's Hill, the historic Valley of 1000 Hills stretches through to Drummond, Assegay & Shongweni. It is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque and scenic areas of KZN, offering lots of fun, entertainment and shopping.Dense forests, plunging waterfalls and vast pristine wilderness attract an abundance of birds and wildlife to the area. The Valley of 1000 Hills is one of the most beautiful scenic drives in the country and really shouldn't be missed on your trip to KZN.The arts, crafts, galleries, coffee shops, candle makers and antiques available along the route will ensure there's something for those who are born to shop!Nature Reserves in the 100 Hills area include Alverstone Conservancy, Clive Cheesman Nature Reserve, Crestholme Nature Reserve, Glenholme Nature Reserve, Inanda Resort Reserve, Krantzkloof Nature Reserve, Madwala Conservancy, Misty Mountain, Nagle Resource Reserve, Phezulu Safari Park, Shongweni Resource Reserve and Springside Nature Reserve.

The 1000 Hills Bird Park offers an enchanting experience with rare and exotic feathered friends. The riotous chorus of calls, colourful plumage and character of these birds is a magnet for kids and adults alike. Visitors can admire their spectacular paint-box colouring and quirky antics, either from outside contained aviaries or strolling in walk-through aviaries, landscaped gardens and paddocks. An exciting new feature is the 150-metre zip slide. Bring your own picnic basket or order a snack hamper two days in advance. Braais facilities are available. Open Tuesday to Sunday and public holidays 08:00 – 16:00.

The Heritage Market provides a unique shopping experience in the Hillcrest area. As Durban shopping centres go, the outdoor atmosphere of "The Heritage" stands alone. Situated in the 1000 Hills Tourism route, Heritage Market caters for the whole family, locals and tourists. Shopping at the Heritage caters for all interests, with shops ranging from jewellery, health, beauty, clothing, sporting and convenience stores to specialist stores not found in your average mall. The Heritage Market offers you the trendiest restaurants, décor shops, and a wide range of entertainment. Apart from restaurants, coffee shops, regular live music and markets, the Heritage Market boasts the Highway area’s first supper club, the Heritage Supper Theatre. Need to know? Trading hours:Monday - Friday: 9 am - 4.30pmSaturday: 9 am - 4 pmSunday: 9 am - 3 pmPublic Holidays: 9am - 3 pmClosed - Christmas Day and New Year's DayOptional Trading - Good Friday and Family Day*Please note: Service shops and restaurants may operate outside of these hours. Ample parking for over 700 free parking spaces is available for patrons.

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

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.

Offering numerous scenic walks and viewpoints, Krantzkloof Nature Reserve is a haven for twitchers and jaded urbanites right in the heart of the suburb of Kloof. The spectacular Kloof Gorge is part of Krantzkloof Nature Reserve, and is one of the few places in Durban where Knysna Turaco can be found, along with a number of forest birds and the magnificent crowned eagle. The attractive Everton Conservancy is also part of the Kloof area, and to crown these ecological attractions – the spectacular Valley of 1 000 Hills Tourism Experience starts in Kloof. A magnet for eco-tourists, Kloof is also a welcome retreat for business executives visiting the nearby industrial areas of Pinetown and Hammarsdale. Krantzkloof Nature Reserve is open from 6am to 6pm daily. Entrance is free excepting for a small fee charged at the Kloof Falls picnic site on weekends. Please ensure that you are familiar with your hiking route prior to departure, as it is fairly easy to get lost in the gorge. Guided walks take place on the first and third Sunday of each month at 8am. Cost is R30 per person and booking is essential for these walks. The walks leave from the main picnic site in Kloof Falls road. Should you require further information about any of the walks or trails telephone the Officer in Charge: (0)31 764 3515.

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.

Situated near Crestholme on the edge of the Valley of Thousand Hills is Muddy Paws Farm, a little herb and lavender farm with more to offer than meets the eye. Here you can spend time amongst the farm animals or in the herb display garden, select herbs in the nursery, pick your own lavender, and purchase herb products and crafts in the shop. Also on site is Insight Art Gallery, with affordable photographic and original artwork by local artists. And there’s Huberto's famous ice cream!

Leave your shoes at the door and walk into a colourful Hindu sanctuary. The spacecraft-like exterior belies the opulent interior of marble tiles, gold-tinted windows, crystal chandeliers and lavish decorations. Ceiling frescoes and statuettes pay tribute to the divine couple, Radha and Krishna. Entrance is free and people of all faiths are welcome to spend time here meditating, praying or just to soak up the contemplative atmosphere while wandering around the lush garden and peaceful environment. Underneath the temple is a wonderful restaurant run by devotees serving scrumptious vegetarian fare to eat there or take away. +27 (0) 31 403 3328

Warner Beach offers excellent surfing conditions and is home to some of the top surfers on the planet. It's also a popular kite surfing beach and has a lovely little beach shop and take-away outlet, ample parking and showers. Not far lies the legendary Aliwal Shoal, one of South Africa’s best dive sites. Whales and dolphins can often be spotted from the shore. The annual Sardine Run passes Warner Beach, attracting scores of tourists, divers and fishermen to the area.

Home to the Baggies Surf Pro, Baggies Beach is a hot surf spot and playground of international surfer Frankie Oberholzer. The beach kiosk makes the best 'Surfer Special' sandwiches. Sometimes called Warner Beach, the long sandy beach is popular with locals who come to watch the kite surfers or the sun go down. In season lifesavers are on duty and it is one of the best places to hang out on the South Coast during summer holidays. Baggies Beach has a stunning natural tidal pool teeming with sea life. Bring your goggles and flippers and swim amongst the fish. During June and July residents and visitors flock to the beach to witness the phenomenal annual Sardine Run, considered one of the largest migrations on the planet. This major event on the diving calendar attracts numerous international photographers and documentary film-makers eager to capture images of the spectacle.

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.