Just 1 hour and 15 minutes out of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal is The Midlands (http://www.midlandsmeander.co.za). With an abundance of places to see, you will always find new places to stop. I was originally going to write this as something to do in a day, but the more I write, the more I understand why that’s just not possible. I’ve chosen only a few of the many things to do, some of which we do each time we go that way, others we have done only a few times. My recommendations are by far not the only places to see and the list could take days or hours to get through, it all depends how much time you have.
The Howick Falls are always a nice place to start your trip. Head towards Howick and take the Midmar Dam turnoff, exit 103. Turn right over the bridge and at the next T-junction turn left, then head down Main Road towards the Howick Falls Hotel. At the Hotel, turn right and head down to find a parking. Along the road you will find an array of coffee shops as well as second hand stores, and of course, the Howick Falls themselves.
From the falls, you can turn around and head right, up Howick Main Road. Go through Howick and over the bridge that crosses the N3. This turn off would be the Howick North, exit 107, if you were coming from the freeway. At the T-junction turn right onto the R103. This is one of your main Meander routes. From here on the number of shops and pubs are endless. If you feel you want to stop somewhere, then go ahead. The Meander has so much to see you could almost get lost. Florentine’s Belgian Chocolate shop is little chocolate shop on your left hand side as you start your Meander. They have awesome macadamia nuts covered in white, milk or dark chocolate. We normally stop here on the way back, otherwise your chocolate will melt before you can get it home… unless you stop on the way up and again on the way back down.
The Nelson Mandala Capture site is up next on the left and is definitely worth a visit (http://www.thecapturesite.co.za). It’s full of vibrant history, as well as a sculpture of Nelson Mandela, which is more like a portrait. As a South African, you have to make the time see it at least once. It puts our lives into perspective.
Just past the capture site at the petrol station on the left, is Steampunk Café (http://www.steampunkcoffee.co.za). It’s an awesome coffee shop and if you are going too fast you will probably miss it. You get R2 off a cup of coffee if you take your own mug. I suggest stopping on the way up, and the way down. The coffee is really good. Adding to the atmosphere is a local dog who comes to visit and stays on the welcome mat the whole day. Good coffee, good place to sit and chat. I have customers up in Howick, and I stop here at least once a week.
Next up is the Piggly Wiggly Farm Stall (http://www.pigglywiggly.co.za). This is a perfect breakfast stop. The food is good and they have a welcoming fire burning on cold winter mornings. There are a lot of shops here, as well as a pizza place that makes a really good pizza. They have a wine shop, a nursery, and you can spend hours here just relaxing. It’ a good place for children, when we were last there they were putting in some train tracks for a children’s train.
From here you have an array of places to stop at. I suggest stopping at any of the shops in the Midlands and picking up a Meander guide. It has a map of all the shops located on the route.
The Ugly Duckling is one of the shops up next and I think they have about three or so along the way. They have something for everyone. So browse and see if you like anything.
There are a few cheese shops along the route but the first one you come across, is Swissland Cheese. They all do cheese tastings but here you can pay R5 and buy some feed for the goats. It’s great if you have never done it but remember to bring some hand sanitizer. The other cheese shop is further along, and its called Marrakesh Cheese. Try them both, even if you don’t do it on the same day.
There are a few lunch places but I have two favorites, and yes… it requires two days to do them both! The first is Gunther’s Sausage. Its just passed Swissland Cheese, just follow the sign on the main road when you see it. They sell German Swiss sausages and beer. You can either get some sausages as takeaway, or sit down for a meal. They have two huge Saint Bernard dogs, Hansel and Gretel, and they definately give the place an authentic German feel. All sausages are served with a crispy roll and potatoes, and you have the option to order sauerkraut. Oh, and did I mention the beer?
Further up is Rawdons Hotel (http://www.rawdons.co.za) and the home of Nottingham Brewery. You can do a tour of the brewery and buy lots of beer, or simply just buy lots of beer. The Hotel also does a good lunch, but I prefer Rawdons other pub, The Bierfassl just down the road. This is my other favorite lunch places to stop. They both sell a four glass beer taster so you know which beer to buy. This could take a few hours to enjoy as you can easily get carried away, so be prepared.
At this point the road continues straight or turns left under the bridge. On your right hand side, if you keep going straight is a centre called The Junction (http://www.nottiesjunction.co.za). They have a variety of shops, so this is also worth a stop. This road will shortly get you back to the N3.
A good place for dinner, justup ahead, past The Junction, in the Meander Centre on the left is Sapore (www.sapore.co.za), an Italian restaurant. The food is also really good.
In terms of places to stay the Midlands have plenty. We found a nice one, just past the N3 turnoff, called The Windmills (http://thewindmills.co.za/). I’ll let the picture below say it all.
Now, time to go left under the bridge. The next centre is Sherwood Centre. They have a Spar, some antique shops, and a few other places. Take the time to have a walk around. Further up the road is the other cheese shop Marrakesh and just past that is The Wine Cellar. They have all sorts of wines from all over, and you’ll definately spend some money here.
If you carry on along the road you will eventually get to the toll at Mooi River. There is an awesome Biltong shop at the Mooi River 1-stop.
This list is by far complete. Places to stay in the Midlands are abundant, some other places we have stayed at that I would recommend are:
- Pleasant Places (www.pleasantplaces.co.za)
- Waterford Manor (http://www.waterfordmanor.co.za/)
- Granny Mouse (http://www.grannymouse.co.za/ )
- Midlands Saddle and Trout (http://www.midlandssaddle.co.za)
This list could go on and on, but at some point, I have to let you discover the place for yourself.