Botha's Hill Accommodation

The small town of Botha's Hill was named after Cornelius Botha who opened an inn around 1849, known as Botha's Halfway House. The small inn was used by the wagon drivers moving inland from Durban in the old days, establishing it as the gateway to the Valley of a Thousand Hills. In the same position today, is the former Rob Roy Hotel which opened in the early 1930 and was recently converted into a retirement village.

There are may traditional crafters artists in and around the area, who have set up stands and stalls providing visitors to the area with an interesting experience; the newly established 1000 Hills Experience Route. The scenic tourist route which runs a similar course as the Comrades Marathon, allowing visitors to view the natural beauty of the lush valleys, gorges, forests, rivers and multitude rolling hills in the area.

Many pubs and small accommodation establishments sprouted along the old wagon route providing relief for travelers seeking quiet relief from the noisy cities. Recently the area has popular as a weekend tourist destination for folks from the nearby suburbs. Botha's Hill offers visitors many hotels and restaurants, pubs, tea gardens, a handful of craft studios and art galleries thrown in for added effect.

Botha's Hill is also home to Kearsney College; the prestigious all boys school which moved to the area in the late thirties.

Other attraction to the area include soaring over the valley and taking in majestic views with the folks from Bluesky Paragliding. A trip to the area would be considered incomplete without paying a visit to Phezulu Safaripark, where one can take the opportunity to spend some time in traditional beehive shaped thatched huts, viewing various artifacts, and hearing beliefs and rituals explained, giving visitors an interesting glimpse into the fascinating Zulu culture. Alternatively you could enjoy a light snack in the pleasantly tranquil surroundings overlooking the Valley of a Thousand Hills; partake in a 4x4 game drive through the Phezulu park, enjoy an exhilarating and informative live crocodile show, or be amazed by the huge variety of indigenous snakes at Phezulu Snake Park.

For visitors seeking to add an edge to their visit, Action paintball is recommended. Action paintball is a family-run operation located at Settler's Rest, in the Botha's Hill area. They have 3 bush ranges and 1 speedball range, and with a choice of 63 semi-automatic weapons and the perfect location, fans of the sport can be guaranteed of getting their dose of excitement. For the little ones there is the Animal Farmyard, where much to their delight, they are able to walk through the farm feeding and petting the animals. They will be kept busy for a long time, with activities including milking the Jersey cow, having rides on a pony or tractor and playing on the jungle gyms, swings and slides; all whilst parents can unwind peacefully, while looking over the lovely Assagay valley, and enjoying farmstyle breakfasts, light lunches, jam and cream scones etc.