Valley of a Thousand Hills

Subject: Valley of a Thousand Hills Wed Jan 02, 2013 3:02 pm

Hi
Has anybody been to this place before? I'm planning on visiting in March, then heading to the Rorke's Drift Hotel. The reason I'm asking is, can you drive from one end to the other in a normal sized hatchback car? I've never hired a 4#4 vehicle in Zululand, mainly to keep the price down. But, those hills seem quite steep. Or, do you have to take a private tour?
Thanks

Subject: Re: Valley of a Thousand Hills Wed Jan 02, 2013 4:31 pm

warrior3 wrote:: Hi
Has anybody been to this place before? I'm planning on visiting in March, then heading to the Rorke's Drift Hotel. The reason I'm asking is, can you drive from one end to the other in a normal sized hatchback car? I've never hired a 4#4 vehicle in Zululand, mainly to keep the price down. But, those hills seem quite steep. Or, do you have to take a private tour?
Thanks

Its not the steepness of the hills that get you when driving in KZN although there are some spectacular hills (and views) to experience - its the pot holes - if I can convince MrsD to go back - I think a 4x4 is worth the extra!!

Posts : 947 Join date : 2011-10-21 Location : Algoa Bay

Hi Warrior,
No need to worry about a 4x4 if you stay on the district roads. In the battlefields all tarred and even the dirt roads are passable with a standard sedan car. In the wet season the less maintained secondary roads could present a problem. Howewer where you are staying in the battlefields a std car will more than do. It is only the more adveturous who want to leave the road and make their own, who need the SUV's.
The Valley of a Thousand Hills is located on tarred roads near a suberb called Hillcrest . This place is to be found between Durban and Pietrmatiritzburg and is accessed off the tarred 6 lane high speed highway N3 north.

regards

barry

Subject: Re: Valley of a Thousand Hills Wed Jan 02, 2013 7:59 pm

Or one of these!!

Subject: Re: Valley of a Thousand Hills Wed Jan 02, 2013 8:12 pm

Hi

Thanks. I have managed to travel all around Zululand in a small 1.1 Hatchback before. And yes, the pot-holes, especially around the Eshowe area, were absolute giants! But it is the area around the "Thousand Valleys" that concerns me, as I've not been there.
Thanks

Posts : 269 Join date : 2010-12-02 Location : Kloof, KZN

Hi Warrior

I live close to the Valley of 1000 Hills and I wonder what it is you expect to see when you visit it? It can be safely viewed from the old main road linking Durban and Pietermaritzburg, but I doubt that you would get much from actually driving down into the valley. Also, it may not be safe to do so.

Regards
Brett

Subject: Re: Valley of a Thousand Hills Fri Jan 04, 2013 3:44 pm

Hi Brett
Yeah, thanks for that. Springbok's given me some good advice on the area, now.

Cheers

Posts : 269 Join date : 2010-12-02 Location : Kloof, KZN

At lunch with a couple of friends yesterday the subject of visiting the Valley of 100 Hills came up. We agreed that there would have to be a very compelling reason to drive into the valley and tourism wasn't one of them. One suggestion was that, instead of turning north from the N3 between Durban and Pietermaritzburg to enter the Valley, you should turn south and visit the Tala Private Game Reserve instead. It would be safer and the wildlife is varied and friendly.

Regards
Brett

Posts : 947 Join date : 2011-10-21 Location : Algoa Bay

Hi Brett,
Tala GR vs Valley of 1000 hills.
Well said!..., added to which, one would come out more intact out of the former than the latter.

regards,

barry

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