THE KWAZULU-NATAL MIDLANDS

the land of milk, arts... and mountain biking!

Lying comfortably at the bottom of the Drakensberg foothills, a fertile strip of rolling farmlands known colloquially as the Midlands is a hugely popular holiday destination. Having the advantage of being close to the mountains and to the N3, the Midlands offer the perfect middle-distance option for people who want a short break from big city life.

Originally the Midlands were comprised of large farms that were ideal for dairy and beef production, as well as horse breeding. This is due to the moist summers and concurrent excellent grazing, but the winters can be especially chilly with light snowfalls at least a few times a year. Historically it was only hardy folk that populated the Midlands, but nowadays it's become far more eclectic.

The rolling green hills, forestry, rivers and historical buildings make for a stunning setting and provided brilliant fodder for creative minds. In the 1970's many artists and crafters settled into the Midlands permanently, and by the mid-80's were working collaboratively to exhibit and sell their work. This small co-op grew organically to become the Midlands Meander: an easy to navigate, slowly unfolding tourist route that leads from cheesery to pottery to country restaurant to microbrewery and beyond…there are countless shops and farms to explore!

While the Midlands Meander is well-known these days for shopping and lazy lunches, many people are unaware of the areas mountain biking, trail running and hiking potential. The small town of Howick is home to an extensive network of single track linking to the Karkloof forest, while further out towards the lower Berg exceptional cross-country farm trails are on offer. Moving from Kamberg towards Lotheni and into Dargle and Balgowan, these areas make great mountain biking, trail running and hiking terrain.