Pietermaritzburg is known as the “City of Flowers” for its azaleas and roses and because it is the site of one of the country’s National Botanical Gardens; attractions are Alexandra Park, Wylie Park, the Bisley Nature Reserve, Queen Elizabeth Park, and many recreational facilities. At an elevation of 2,218 feet (676 metres), the city is a gateway to KwaZulu-Natal’s many game reserves and mountain resorts.

Pietermaritzburg shares with Durban the University of KwaZulu-Natal (1910). There are many well-preserved late 19th-century government buildings in the city, such as the historic Old Supreme Court building, now home to the Tatham Art Gallery. Other cultural attractions include the Natal Museum; the Msunduzi Museum, which includes the Voortrekker Complex; and the KwaZulu-Natal Railway Museum.

Pietermaritzburg is a growing business and industrial centre. Its industries include the manufacture of furniture, footware, and aluminum with contracts all over the world as well as the processing of wattle extract. It has excellent highway and rail connections to Durban. Pop. (1996) urban agglom., 378,126; (2001) mun., 553,223.

The bird sanctuary area is abundant in birdlife as well as numerous restaurants and coffee-shops which will leave the visitor spoilt for choice.

Pietermartizburg punches above its weight in many respects with regards to its world famous sporting events and venues. The Pietermaritzburg Sports Oval hosts many international cricket fixtures, the Comrades Marathon, Duzi Marathon as well as the BMX Championships are all high on the international sporting calendar.

Events such as the Royal Show, Garden Show , Art in the Park and Cars in the Park feature on the annual events calendar in Pietermaritzburg.

In this website you will find a listing of businesses as well as events you can add to your ‘to do’ list. If you have anything you would like to add or find out about, please do not hesitate to contact us on info@pietermaritzburgtourism.co.za or call directly on 083 491 4436.