The Valley of 1000 Hills is named for the many hills which tumble down to the banks of the Umgeni River, flowing from the distant Drakensberg Mountains to the Indian Ocean. The area combines the laid back ease of luxurious country living with an ancient, indigenous culture on its doorstep. The valley has been home to the Zulu people for centuries, and many of them continue to practice and live out their unique traditional lifestyle. The Valley of 1000 Hills is KwaZulu-Natal’s doorway, situated an easy distance from the beautiful beaches and, going inland, the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. On the crest of the hills overlooking the valley are the leafy suburbs and village centres which enjoy fantastic views and a year-round holiday climate with warm summers and cool winters. These villages offer all the creature comforts one would expect from a holiday destination, including spas, B&Bs, fine dining, sophisticated shopping centres, outdoor adventure and local arts and crafts unique to the area. If you’re looking for a break from the fast pace of everyday life or the exhilaration of the outdoors, the Valley of 1000 Hills is the place for you.
We trust that you will enjoy your stay and come back again and again. The Valley of 1000 Hills is a place where the past and the present intersect. From the establishment of European settlers to the vibrant Zulu culture which gives the area its distinctive identity, the Valley of 1000 Hills has a rich heritage. When Europeans arrived at the Port of Natal in 1825, the Valley of 1000 Hills was a remote and isolated area teeming with game. WS Field was one of the first Europeans to settle in 1851 and leopards were said to occasionally spend the night on the veranda of the Field homestead in what is now Kloof. Within a few years a wagon route opened up between Durban and the interior, close to what is now the Old Main Road. The establishment of the railway line linking the goldfields with the port rapidly followed the discovery of gold in the Transvaal in the 1880s, and the rail and road traffic through the 1000 Hills increased.
Should you have trouble finding what you are looking for, please contact the tourism office on +27 31 777 1874 or send us a e-mail HERE.
Anyone wanting to join the 1000 Hills Association can apply by completeing the following Application Form
