Known as the city of flowers, Pietermaritzburg has been awarded its own rose. It is surrounded by forest hills and beautiful countrysides. It is also well know for its charm and historical aspects, mainly thanks to the Victorian and Edwardian buildings.
PLACES TO VISIT
1.TATHAM ART GALLERY
As one of its finest sights, the art gallery was started in 1903 by Mrs Ada Tatham and is housed in the Old Supreme Court. The museum contains a fine collection of French and English 19th and early 20th century works. On the upper floor it is more formal with portraits, landscapes, sculptures and colourful displays of ceramics and lithographs.
2.MSUNDUZI MUSEUM – VOORTREKKER MUSEUM
Msunduzi Museum incorporates the Church of the Vow, the home of Andries Pretorius, a Voortrekker house and a former school. It is housing the history of the region and its varied inhabitants.
3.THE STATUE OF GANDHI
The statue was ejected from a 1st class carriage at the Pietermartizburg station and it now stands opposite the old colonial buildings on Church Street.
4.KWAZULU-NATAL MUSEUM
On display is the diversity of cultures, including settler history, war records, stuffed birds, marine life and African mammals.
5.BUTTERFLIES FOR AFRICA
It is a world class Butterfly and Monkey House in Pietermartizburg. Especially created for butterflies in all their unique shapes, colours and sizes. The enclosure is also home to a couple of tropical birds and a monkey enclosure where you can see rare cotton-top tamarin monkeys.
6.MACRORIE HOUSE MUSEUM
This old family residence was built in 1860 and is furnished in Victorian Style. Here you’ll find furniture and items of the early British settlers.
7.CITY HALL
City Hall is the largest brick building in the southern hemisphere. It is a national monument of Victorian architecture, with a 47m high bell tower. Inside is the magnificent stained glass displays and massive pipe organ. Exhibitions and concerts are held regularly in the City Hall.
8.THE ONE O’CLOCK GUN
The naval canon stands outside the City Hall of Pietermartizburg. It’s name hails back from time when it was fired everyday (except Sundays) when the post arrived. The naval gun arrived at its location in 1901 and remains a prominent landmark of Pietermartizburg.
OTHER PLACES TO VISIT
- Garden of Remembrance
- KwaZulu-Natal National Botanical Garden
- Church of Vow
- Rosehurst Garden
- Modern Memorial Church
- Shri Vishnu Temple
- Old Colonial Buildings
- Queen Elizabeth Park Nature Reserve
- The Old Prison
- Natal Zoological Gardens
- Golden Horse Casino
- African Bird of Prey Sanctuary
- Ride a steam train at Piggly Wiggly
- Blue Caterpillar Art Gallery
- Italian POW Church
- Pietermartizburg Model Engineering Society
- Comrades Museum
- Alexandra Park
- Wylie Park
- Bisley Valley Nature Reserve
The best time to visit is September to May as the days are warm and sunny and the nights moderate.
