Paradise Valley Nature Reserve
Paradise Valley Nature Reserve
Paradise Valley Nature Reserve is situated along the Umbilo River, and covers
an area of 100ha. The reserve offers a number of graded trails, and picnic and
braai sites on the banks of the river. The reserve sees thousands upon thousands
of people passing through it everyday, making it surely one of the most visited
reserves in the world. However most of the human traffic through the reserve
moves along the Paradise Valley viaduct which connects the M13 and the N3
highways, fifty meters above it. The Paradise Valley Nature reserve features a
number of scenic picnic sites, public toilets, braai facilities, a car park and
a visitors centre a beautiful waterfall, and a wide variety of fauna and flora ,
as well as much local history with about 80 mysterious burial mounds to be found
there.
The reserve also offers visitors a variety of hiking trails which criss cross
the area, and one which leads to Durban's first water works which dates back to
1887. Back in the old days Durban relied on spring water and wells for its water
supply, but as the town expanded it became necessary to build a waterworks to
meet the demand. The municipality decided to construct a dam on the Umbilo
River, and in 1884 purchased 19 hectare of land just upstream of the Umbilo
waterfall. A storage dam with a capacity of 150 million liters, with an
adjoining 27 megalitre settling dam were completed in July 1887, with 177cm
pipes carrying water 12 km to the Umbilo waterworks. Materials needed for the
massive project were delivered to Pinetown Bridge station (later known as Sarnia
station) in Stapleton road. The remaining three kilometres was covered by
ox-wagon along a gravel road specially built for the project.
The building of the dam served the small area of Pinetown whose population was
only 300 in the late 19th Century rather well. Durbanites would catch the train
to Pinetown Bridge and then make their way down to "The Waterworks" for a day's
picnicking, boating, fishing, and hiking. Then, a short time later in 1905, a
massive flood came that absolutely destroyed Durban's Umbilo dam. In a space of
just 15 hours almost half a meter of rain fell, and large amounts of debris
blocked the river at Pinetown Bridge. The remains of railway bridge which can
still be seen in Stapleton Road near the block factory, eventually gave way and
the enormous volume of water rushed on to the storage dam, which collapsed and
unleashed 150 megalitres of water. The resulting tidal wave killed hundreds of
people and destroyed many homes on the lower Umbilo riverbanks. By then, Durban
had sourced alternative water supplies so the dam was abandoned and never
rebuilt.
Today Paradise valley nature reserve is home to a variety of wildlife which
includes bushbuck, blue duiker, water mongoose, slender mongoose, otter, and
numerous species of bats and birds. In 1928 more history of the reserve was
recorded when the famous Huberta the Hippo made her way through it. Huberta set
of from St.Lucia, passing through Stanger as she moved southwards. After four
months the hippo reached Durban North, and continued for another month until it
was said that she had reached the Umbilo Waterworks. Her journey had captured
the imagination of the entire country, and so two local police officers decided
to pay the area a visit to investigate. They located Huberta, and managed to
take a few photographs, before she took offense and charged them.
Accommodation Near Paradise Valley Nature Reserve
Manor Lodge
Bed & Breakfast Accommodation in Pinetown
1.7km from Paradise Valley Nature ReserveManor lodge has become one of the most popular destinations for business travelers when visiting Pinetown. This owner managed lodge offers well-appointed, tastefully decorated rooms …see more for bookings / enquiries and info.
Pinetown Lala Land
Bed & Breakfast Accommodation in Pinetown
1.8km from Paradise Valley Nature ReservePinetown Lala Land , is situated in the afluent suburb of Manors in Pinetown. It has 7 bedrooms all en suite with private entrance. All rooms have television with selected DSTV channels, airconditioner , free wireless internet. The rooms are well equip …see more for bookings / enquiries and info.
La Familia Guest House
Bed & Breakfast Accommodation in Pinetown
2.6km from Paradise Valley Nature ReserveLa Familia Guest House is without a doubt, the number one choice of business travelers when they come to Pinetown. We cater mainly for the corporate market, and to meet their requirements. …see more for bookings / enquiries and info.
Villa Valencia
Bed & Breakfast Accommodation in Pinetown
3.4km from Paradise Valley Nature ReserveVilla Valencia is a Spanish style house, 5 rooms en-suite (bath or shower). Double or twin beds. Each room has a television, ceiling fan, heater. Private outside entrance to each room and BBQ facilities with patio and balconies. Daily breakfast ... …see more for bookings / enquiries and info.
Croeso
Bed & Breakfast Accommodation in Kloof, Durban
3.5km from Paradise Valley Nature ReserveTwo luxuriously appointed en-suite bedrooms each with their own entrance... the deluxe suite offers the ultimate with a spa bath. Each room has every possible comfort with celing fans, heaters, hospitality tray, soft percale linen, heated ... …see more for bookings / enquiries and info.
Welterusten Cottage
Self Catering House, Cottage, Chalet Accommodation in Kloof, Durban
4.5km from Paradise Valley Nature ReserveSituated in the heart of Kloof, a leafy, upmarket suburb near Durban in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, is a new 1 bedroom self-catering cottage perfect for a short business trip, stop-over or as a base from which to explore. …see more for bookings / enquiries and info.
Butterscotch Bed and Breakfast and Self Catering
Self Catering House, Cottage, Chalet Accommodation in Cowies Hill
4.6km from Paradise Valley Nature ReserveButterscotch Bed & Breakfast and Self Catering offers self catering and B&B accommodation for the Pinetown, New Germany and Westmead areas. Butterscotch is close to Durban, in the beautiful up-market suburb of Cowies Hill, situated 12 km from Durban and 4 …see more for bookings / enquiries and info.
Eagles View Bed & Breakfast
Bed & Breakfast Accommodation in Kloof, Durban
4.7km from Paradise Valley Nature ReserveEagles View bed and breakfast has a four star grading and welcomes you with three double bedrooms offering every comfort. All rooms have views and accommodation includes bath and shower en-suite, flat screen TV in each room, and ducted ... …see more for bookings / enquiries and info.
Far Place Bed & Breakfast
Bed & Breakfast Accommodation in Kloof, Durban
5.2km from Paradise Valley Nature ReserveThe spacious studio style accommodation is bright and airy - the outlook is onto indigenous forest with abundant bird life and with regular visits of monkeys and dassies. Enjoy the feeling of space and privacy. The unit has its own comfortable ... …see more for bookings / enquiries and info.
The Cottage @ 4A Montgomery Dr
Self Catering House, Cottage, Chalet Accommodation in Gillitts
6.2km from Paradise Valley Nature ReserveThis self catering cottage lies in a quiet safe neighborhood with 2 bedrooms and sleeping 4 guests. Winston Park is a small, safe, quiet residential area that lies between Gillitts and Hillcrest in the Upper Highway Area of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Af …see more for bookings / enquiries and info.
