INCHANGA, VALLEY OF 1000 HILLS
Roughly halfway between Durban and Pietermaritzburg rests a darling station. It is a real example of Victorian architecture set in the typical, lush green hills of KwaZulu-Natal and a reason to visit the area. It's been here since 1895 actually and functioned as something of a halfway mark for travellers. In a sense, it has always been a place to refresh oneself and remains so even today.
Just up from the station, which rests just down the hill from the intersection of Thousand Hills Road and Inchange Drive, are a few shady lanes where people live. It isn't densely populated and the feeling is one of living in the country. Some people own smallholdings with vegetable gardens, and other properties are rambling with typical sub-tropical gardens that appear to mushroom out of nowhere.
The Valley of 1000 Hills is right on Inchanga's doorstep and the area is riddled with walks, streams, hilltop views, farm stalls and an arts and crafts route. The Umgeni River wends its way through these hills and the Shongweni Resources Reserve, a Natural Heritage Site, provides hours of wildlife and bird viewing. Add to that both Springside Nature Reserve with its beautiful wetlands, and the Nagle Reserve, where you can fish, and you can understand why a stay in Inchanga is so very worthwhile.
The Honey Hill, Honey Trails Story...
Honey Hill is now Honey Hill Nature Reserve in honour of Veena Berlein 1961 - 2017. Honey Trails was co-created by Veena before her passing to offer hiking running and cycling opportunities for the public to experience the incredible natural beauty of ‘Honey Hill’ with its surrounding forested valleys which have previously been inaccessible.
The "Hill" has been left in its natural state for more than 5 decades. As such, the property is a refuge to wildlife, haven for birds, a sanctuary for wildflowers in the veld and home to some truly magnificent trees such as the Cabbage and Flatcrown.
