PMB ATTRACTIONS TO EXPERIENCE WHILE YOU STAY WITH US
ARLINGTON IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED IN PIETERMARITZBURG'S CBD
Pietermaritzburg, is the capital city of Kwazulu Natal, an essential business hub for the region, situated at the gateway to the Midlands Meander and is on-route to the beaches of Durban and the picturesque South Coast. Further the city is central to several well known sporting events such as the Comrades Marathon, Midmar Mile, Dusi Marathon and others. Arlington Guest Lodge offers you both a comfortable and convenient stay as a home-base to discover the unparalleled natural beauty of our city and its surroundings.
The region around Pietermaritzburg really puts on a show to delight nature lovers
The splendour of South Africa’s natural beauty is world renowned and so many of the country’s nature attractions are found in PMB and the surrounding area. Guests to Arlington need only take a short drive from our guest lodge to reach any of the locations listed below, and many more.
Arlington is located at the gateway to the Midlands Meander
The Midlands Meander is a collection of routes by which visitors can explore the stunning beauty of the area, including a rich offering of local events, delectable cuisine, exhilarating outdoor adventures, historical landmarks and shopping to the heart’s content for arts and crafts, and Arlington Guest Lodge is the perfect accommodation from which to base your adventures.
Howick Falls also called KwaNogqaza, the 'place of the tall one'
Howick Falls’ other name is KwaNogqaza, the ‘place of the tall one’, this impressive waterfall is a 95 metre cascade into a broiling, restless pool, regarded by the local Zulus with grave superstition, and said to be the place of the spirits of ancestors.
Not only are these falls an exquisite display of natural beauty, but visitors can also get swept away by the local culture, artisanal markets, historical sites, riverside dining and trails weaving through the surrounding forests.
The towering peaks, plummeting valleys and endless horizons of the Drakensberg mountains paint vivid landscapes of serenity and awe.
These are the most Southerly high mountains in Africa and, being farther away from the equator than most mountains, enjoy high rainfalls resulting in many mountain streams and rivers, including the source of South Africa’s longest river, The Orange River.
This UNESCO world heritage site, so astounding in its grandeur, it’s no wonder that J.R.R. Tolkien saw this landscape as inspiration for the part of Middle Earth called the Misty Mountains. The uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park is home to 35 000 examples of San rock paintings and a huge diversity of protected plant and animal species.
The Midmar dam and Nature reserve is only a 30 minute drive from our accommodation and promises visitors a variety of water sports like canoeing, sailing and windsurfing, as well as picnic sites to enjoy with the family. Those who prefer to relish nature with their feet on firm soil can also take advantage of walking and biking trails while viewing several antelope species that call the reserve home.
A 20 minute drive from our guest lodge, you will find you at the Natal Zoo and Lion Park. Jam packed with fun for the whole family inclusive of activities such as put-put, trampolines, jungle gyms, pony rides, picnic spaces, the zoo cafe, splash pad and braai facilities. Not to mention the variety of animals, including a rare liger. The lion park allows visitors to drive through the park, amongst African lions and even elephants. This experience is easily in reach and promises to create some an epic adventure for the whole family.
Less than 4 km from Arlington’s doorstep sits the historical botanical gardens of Pietermaritzburg. The gardens were established in 1874, one of the oldest in the world, and it boasts a large variety of plants from eastern South Africa and the northern Hemisphere as well as a whimsical, century old (1908), lane of plane trees. A forested hillside with numerous footpaths and the Dorpspruit tributary flowing at the base of the hillside make for a tranquil breakaway in the heart of the busy city life.
Arlington is surrounded by nature , and the Bisley Valley Nature Reserve, is another short drive away from us. You will find the Bisley Valley reserve occupies a sprawling 350 hectares of pristine nature within the PMB municipal borders. A trip to this nature reserve will find the array of wildlife including impala, nyala, wildebeest, giraffe and zebra, in addition to which, the reserve’s nearly 300 bird species are waiting to delight avid birdwatchers.
The spectacular Valley of a thousand hills, found approximately halfway between PMB and Durban, is named for the many valleys, cliffs and hills that rise up from the banks of the Umgeni River as it winds its way from the Drakensberg mountains down to the Indian ocean. With its unbelievable scenery one can easily see why the Zulu people have called this valley home for many centuries. This epic wonder of nature is can only be experienced in person.
Anyone who wishes to learn more about South Africa’s brilliant aerial predators makes the African Raptor Centre a must visit. While visitors can view captive-bred or non-releasable birds of prey in the enclosures across the facility, the dedicated staff also work behind the scenes in isolation with a commitment to the conservation of indigenous raptors, including breeding and rehabilitation projects which have resulted in a high release success rate. This facility is integral to preserving such an important part of South Africa’s renowned natural beauty.
Cumberland Nature reserve is a naturalist’s dream come true, boasting over 300 bird species, 50 butterfly species, 30 mammal species, indigenous trees and grasses, 200 wildflower species and several fish and reptile species. Further, an array of habitats such as savanna, wetland, woodland, valley thickets, with impressive cliff faces, waterfalls and deep valleys offer brilliant photography opportunities.
Butterflies of Africa is a beautiful centre where visitors can walk amongst a multitude of butterfly species while enjoying the verdant tropical environment which also houses fish, birds, monkeys and more. Experienced guides ensure the adventure is an enjoyable and entertaining one. Visitors can also visit the art gallery, coffee shop store and outdoor gardens.
PMB Events For Sporting enthusiasts, participants and spectators alike
Pietermaritzburg bears witness to many high profile sporting events each year. The most famous of which being the Comrades Marathon and Arlington Guest Lodge is conveniently situated just over 1km from the starting line of this prestigious event. Our guest lodge is a comfortable home base stay that offers relaxation after an exhilarating day.
Staying at Arlington places you 1.6Km from the start of the Comrades Marathon, allowing a unique vantage point of easy access to this epic pilgrimage for endurance runners and spectators alike. Being both the world’s largest and oldest ultramarathon; each year thousands of runners from across the globe converge to tackle its legendary routes. This captivating path between the vibrant cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg, captures their breathtaking scenery and rich cultural heritage.
The Amashova Durban classic, spanning 106km and starting in Pietermaritzburg under the Comrades Gantry, is South Africa’s oldest classic cycling race. The race leads riders through the unforgettable scenery of KZN.
The Dusi Canoe Marathon is one of the world’s most popular river marathons and the biggest canoeing event on the African continent covering roughly 120 km between Pietermaritzburg and Durban. The race is held in February each year and attracts up to 1600 paddlers ready to take on a number of weirs and Grade 1 to Grade 2+ rapids found along the route.
The Midmar Mile is the world’s largest open water swimming event and was recognised as such in 2009 by Guinness World Records when the race recorded 13755 finishers. The event includes several race categories such as individual, company, schools, clubs, teams, disabled, families, iron man and biathlon, offering something for almost every level of swimmer.
The PMB City Oval is the city’s historic sports stadium, with a 12 000 spectator capacity, hosting predominantly cricket matches including two of the 2003 Cricket World Cup matches. This stadium is one of only 3 first-class cricket grounds in the world to have a tree within the boundary ropes and any cricketer that scores a century or takes a five-wicket haul in a match at the City Oval gets to plant a tree at the ground. With Arlington just around the corner, spectators or participants of the Oval’s many events will find a luxurious home base at Arlington to relax after thrilling days spent at the stadium.
Found in the picturesque Alexandra Park in Pietermaritzburg, This club dates back to the late 19th century. Known for its well-maintained greens and welcoming atmosphere, the club offers a friendly environment for both seasoned bowlers and newcomers alike while also serving as a lively social hub, regularly hosting events such as “Music on the Deck” and Friday evening socials.
The club’s bar facilities are a popular spot for sports enthusiasts, often broadcasting local sports events & hosting visitors from the neighbouring cricket ground, Maritzburg College, and other local sports venues. The Maritzburg Bowling Club is a key meeting place for sports fans and a community-oriented venue where everyone can relax, connect, and enjoy the social and sporting culture of Pietermaritzburg.
PMB's cultural and historically significant sites await within easy reach
For visitors wanting to take in the rich historical and cultural flavour that Pietermaritzburg, the Midlands and surrounding areas have to offer, Arlington provides a convenient comfortable home style guest lodge, from which to experience all the splendour of this area.
Nelson Mandela Capture Site near Howick
Arlington is surrounded by so much of South Africa’s varied history, the most famous of which is the man himself, Nelson Mandela. A key point in his story is the 5th of August 1962, along the R103 near Howick, when apartheid police flagged down a car being driven by none other than Nelson Mandela in hiding as a chauffeur. The nearly three decades to follow are one of the most well known stories in the world. This site now hosts the Nelson Mandela Capture Site Visitor Centre and his sculpture, which impressively consists of 50 laser cut steel columns between 6 and 9.5 meters high along a thirty-meter length, consists of 50 laser cut steel columns.
Just over 1km from Arlington’s doorstep our guests can find the PMB City Hall. The original hall, built in 1893, was destroyed in a fire resulting in the new red brick building being erected between 1899 and 1901 which still holds the record as the world’s largest brick building in existence. Guests can visit the hall and marvel at several stained glass displays, the impressive 47m tall corner campanile (tower) or the largest pipe organ in the southern hemisphere.
The Victorian style red brick Pietermaritzburg Railway Station is one of the oldest historical sites in the city. While the architecture of this station is a throwback to a time long passed, this station is also famously know as the place where Mahatma Gandhi was thrown off a train for riding in a first class “whites-only’ section in 1893 after which he began a very famous chapter in his well documented activism.
The Tatham Art Gallery was founded at the dawn of the 1900’s and is named Mrs Aida Tatham who was integral to the negotiations on the formation of an art gallery in the City. Mrs Tatham collected funds from friends who were interested in such an addition to the area and she travelled overseas to acquire artworks with which to fill it. To this day the gallery remains a must see when visiting the city of Pietermaritzburg.