Howick

Howick is located in the Kwazulu Natal province about 90 kilometers away from Durban. This place is easily accessible from the N3 highway that runs from Johannesburg to the port city of Durban. This part of the province is called the Midlands and consists of a hilly landscape with small lakes, rivers, waterfalls, forests and grassland where the cows graze.

The area is known for the many artists and craftsmen. You will find workshops and workshops of, among others, potters, weavers and sculptors. You can drive the Midlands Meander (also known as Arts and Crafts Route) by car, this route takes you past the sights, arts and crafts shops, galleries and eateries.

The Midlands region is also known as the region where the best race horses in the country are bred and trained. The best known is Summer hill, you can take a look here if you make an appointment in advance.

Howick itself is known for its waterfall, the 95 meter high Howick Falls, where the Umgeni River falls down over the cliffs on its way to the Indian Ocean. Smaller waterfalls in the area are the Cascade Falls of 25 meters and the Shelter Falls of 37 meters. A larger waterfall can be found 16 kilometers east of Howick, the Karkloof Falls with a height of 105 meters.

There are various hike / walking routes in and around Howick that take you through the beautiful nature. For example, you can opt for the two-hour Howick Falls Gorge Walk. The route starts at the bottom of Harvard Street and takes you from the bottom to the base of the Howick Falls for a nice look down. The Beacon Hill Trail is also worth seeing for a beautiful view. The approximately one-hour route starts at the end of Lakeview Road and takes you past Howick Reservoir and over the top of Beacon Hill. Another one-hour route is the Umgeni River Trail which, as the name implies, runs along the river, you can only do this route when the weather is dry.

Visit Umgeni Valley Nature Reserve for beautiful walks where you not only enjoy the scenery, but you can also spot animals. The reserve includes giraffes, zebras, wildebeests and many different antelopes. Bird watchers can keep their eyes open for more than 270 different species of birds. In addition to various walking routes, there is also a car route through the reserve and there are accommodation options.

The very nearby Midmar Dam is a paradise for water sports enthusiasts, you can sail, windsurf or canoe here.
During the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) there was a concentration camp of the English on the outskirts of the village. Today a monument still reminds of the women and children who died at this place in the camp. Another monument south of Howick recalls the place where Nelson Mandela was arrested on August 5, 1962.

In Howick there are plenty of cafes and restaurants where you can go for a snack and a drink, and you can also take a look at the antique and art shops. For more information, visit the Howick Tourism office across the street from the waterfall platform on a daily basis.

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