What is special about Pietermaritzburg?
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. Butterflies for Africa, a butterfly conservation centre, is also in Pietermaritzburg.
Why is Pietermaritzburg called umgungundlovu?
At the time of the rise of the Zulu Empire, the site that was to become Pietermaritzburg was called Umgungundlovu. This is popularly translated from the Zulu as “Place of the Elephant”, although it could also be translated to mean “The elephant wins”.
Is Pietermaritzburg large or small?
Pietermaritzburg at a glance Known as the “City of Flowers” for its azaleas and roses, Pietermaritzburg is the capital and second largest city in KwaZulu-Natal. Founded in 1838, there are still many well-preserved late 19th-century government buildings in the city, such as the historic Old Supreme Court building.
Is KZN province attractive to investors?
A similar picture arises when benchmarking KZN against other provinces in terms of overall investment location attractiveness (see also chart 4): KZN is clearly seen as more attractive than the Northern Cape (82%), North West (80%), Limpopo (75%), Eastern Cape (69%) and Mpumalanga (65%).
Is Pretoria safe?
When it comes to the safety of tourists in South Africa, Pretoria is one of the safest cities to visit in the country. Violent crimes are rare and it is extremely unlikely that foreigners are targeted.
What is there to do in Pietermaritzburg?
The top attractions to visit in Pietermaritzburg are: Cumberland Nature Reserve. Tala Private Game Reserve. African Bird of Prey Sanctuary. KwaZulu-Natal Museum. KwaZulu-Natal National Botanical Garden. See all attractions in Pietermaritzburg on Tripadvisor.
What is Pietermaritzburg railway station famous for?
The attractive red brick Railway Station building in Railway Street in Pietermaritzburg dates from the Victorian era, and is notable for its contrasting stone facings and cast-iron lace work. Mahatma Ghandi was evicted from a train here in 1893, a famous
How did Pietermaritzburg become the capital of the Natal Colony?
Britain took over Pietermaritzburg in 1843 and it became the seat of the Natal Colony’s administration with the first lieutenant-governor, Martin West, making it his home. Fort Napier, named after the governor of the Cape Colony, Sir George Thomas Napier, was built to house a garrison.
What is the meaning of Maritzburg in Zulu?
Its Zulu name umGungundlovu is the name used for the district municipality. Pietermaritzburg is popularly called Maritzburg in English and Zulu alike, and often informally abbreviated to PMB. It is a regionally important industrial hub, producing aluminium, timber and dairy products.