Pietermaritzburg (uMgungundlovu)

Pietermaritzburg is usually referred to as PMB, or Maritzburg. It is known as uMgungundlovu in the Zulu language. The city was founded by the Voortrekkers in the 1830s, but despite them being Afrikaans speaking, nowadays the PMB-region is a bastion of English speakers. The city was named after Voortrekkers leader Pieter Mauritz Retief. Pietermaritzburg is the capital of South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal Province.

PMB has a large Indian population and especially the area around the eastern ends of Longmarket and Church Streets resembles the subcontinent. There are also many colonial buildings throughout the city.

Points of interest

The City Hall is a nice example of a colonial style building. It is on Church Street in the center of town.
The Comrades House.
A bronze statue of Gandhi was erected at Church Street in 1993. It commemorates the 1893 incident at the Pietermaritzburg Railway Station, when Mahatma Gandhi was thrown off the train for riding first class.
The Imperial Hotel.
The KwaZulu-Natal Legislature building.
The KwaZulu-Natal National Botanical Garden, or SANBI Botanical Garden, is located along Mayor's Walk in the west of town. The garden was established in 1874 and features plants from the east of South Africa, as well as from the northern hemisphere.
Queen Elizabeth Park is a small nature reserve in the northwest of town.
The University of KwaZulu-Natal's Collin Webb Hall features a Clock Tower.
Pietermaritzburg Railway Station is located at 23 Rail Street.
PMB Post Office.

Religious buildings

St. Peter's Church.
There are two Hindu temples in town, both at the eastern end of Longmarket Street.
PMB's main mosque is one block to the west.

Museums

the Macrorie House Museum is located in Loop Street in the southwest of PMB and not far from the railway station. It displays artifacts from early British colonization.
The Voortrekker Museum has items from the same period, but they were owned by Afrikaans speakers (Boer people). The museum is on Bosho Street, not far east of the town hall.
For ethnographical displays you should visit the KwaZulu-Natal Museum on Loop Street, two blocks behind the town hall.

Around Pietermaritzburg

Albert Falls Nature Reserve.
The Howick Falls are not far from PMB and are well worth a visit.
Midmar Public Nature Reserve.
World's View.

The route between PMB and the town of Tugela Ferry 90 km to the north runs through some of KwaZulu's most interesting areas. Buses run between the two places.

The PMB bus station is one West Street, in the southwest of the city, not far from the railway station. Long distance buses stop on Longmarket Street, behind the town hall, but you can also catch them at the railway station.

There are many hotels and guesthouses in PMB. The caravan park is several kilometers southwest of town. Restaurants and bars are scattered all over the city. PMB is 480 km southeast of Pretoria.

Pietermaritzburg (uMgungundlovu)

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