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Pietermaritzburg is a city in the center of South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province. The capital of Kwazulu-Natal, it is famous for its history and architecture.
Get in
Access to Pietermaritzburg by road is easy, lying as it does on the major N3 freeway from Durban to Johannesburg. Oribi airport services flights from Cape Town and Johannesburg regularly.
Get around
Private transport is the best way of getting around. Car rental is strongly advised. If this isn't possible, minibus-taxis are cheap, but uncomfortable and occasionally unsafe. A lot of the sights Pietermaritzburg are within walking distance, if you don't mind trudging along for a few kilometers. Private taxis (cabs) can also be hired, but they are substantially more expensive than the minibus-taxis. The central minibus-taxi rank is in Market Square, which is in the Central Business District near the Natal Society Library and the City Hall. To get to the Central Business District from any of the suburbs by minibus-taxi, look for a taxi that is traveling to "e-Tuwen" or simply "Town". Minibus taxis have set routes, so there are a lot of places you can't get to using them.
See
The City Hall, which is in the CBD, is the largest red brick building in the Southern Hemisphere. It contains a large organ, and occasionally hosts concerts.
The Tatham Art Gallery (map) across the road houses some fine artwork, including an impressive and ornate clock on the second floor. You'll find a coffee shop on the third floor. Entrance is free.
The Natal Society Library is behind the City Hall and has recently undergone substantial revamping with a large new children's wing being built. The fountain and the square that it stands in are scheduled for major renovation.
Down the road you can find the Voortrekker Museum, which celebrates the Great Trek by the Afrikaner people into the interior of South Africa.
Further field, Queen Elizabeth Park up on the hills above the city contains zebra, buck and the like. No leopards or dangerous creatures, so you can walk around and enjoy the park on foot. Make sure you don't get your food jacked by monkeys.
Do
The nightlife in Pietermaritzburg is pretty limited. Two or three clubs dominate the scene. Crowded House (in the CBD, fairly near to the City Hall) is one of the most popular, playing pop music. Exclusive Lounge nearby plays kwaito and house music. For a more alternative scene, The Red Door out in Mayor's Walk plays alternative rock/punk music on Friday and Saturday nights.
Once a year (June 16) the Comrades Marathon is held, running from Durban to Pietermaritzburg. Go and watch the runners staggering over the finish.
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