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Pietermaritzburg Sights and Landmarks Guide, South Africa

There are many great sights to see when you travel to Pietermaritzburg in South Africa. One of these is the City Hall, which is the biggest red brick construction of the Southern Hemisphere, and this is where they hold occasional concerts. This building is also the home of a very big organ.

The Tatham Art Gallery, which is across from the City Hall, is the home of some very nice artwork, which includes an ornate and impressive clock located on the second floor, and you can also visit the coffee shop, which is on the third floor. The great thing about this place is that it is free to get in.

Behind Pietermaritzburg's City Hall you will find the Natal Society Library, which has recently had some major renovations, giving it a new wing for the children. It stands in a square with a fountain, which is also planned to be renovated.

The Voortrekker Museum can be found down the road. This museum celebrates the Afrikaner people's Great Trek into South Africa's interior. Further back from the road you can see the Queen Elizabeth Park, which is situated on the hills over the city. This park contains buck, zebra, and other animals. There are no dangerous animals here, like leopards, so it is okay to enjoy walking around the park.

The National Botanical Gardens are exquisite gardens that promote the propagation and conservation of indigenous plants, as well as the cultivation of grassland plants from the east coast. This is a garden for all seasons and is the home to more than 100 different species of birds, as well as an array of small game. The individual gardens that make up this area are the Look, Listen, Feel, & Smell garden, Botanical Zoo, and the Muthi garden. Before you leave, you get to toll the bell of the old HMS Princess ship.

There are also some great waterfalls to see, and the one on the Umgeni River is the tallest, called Howick Falls and dropping 107 meters. There is a viewing platform located on top of the waterfall, or viewers can look from below after walking through the forest. Karkloof Falls is another waterfall that you may want to look at, which drops 88 meters, and you can enjoy some tubing in the cascades over the falls. If you would like to enjoy a picnic and just relax your afternoon away, then you should go to the Albert Falls, which are only a short walk or drive away.