Pietermaritzburg

Pietermaritzburg sits in the Msunduzi River valley at 596 meters elevation and serves as the government center of KwaZulu-Natal province. The town displays wide streets lined with Victorian architecture and red-brick public buildings.

Voortrekkers founded the settlement in 1838 after their victory at Blood River. They named it after their leaders Piet Retief and Gerrit Maritz.

The KwaZulu-Natal Museum, Tatham Art Gallery, and Msunduzi Museum showcase regional artifacts, art collections, and Voortrekker heritage within preserved Victorian buildings.

The town connects to Durban via the N3 highway and the airport offers regular flights to Johannesburg. Streets in the center are wide and walkable, with parking available near most public buildings.

The City Hall is the largest red-brick building in the Southern Hemisphere and houses a pipe organ by Brindley & Foster. The town hosts the Comrades Marathon, the world's oldest ultramarathon race, which runs annually between here and Durban.

Location: Msunduzi Local Municipality

Inception: 1839

Elevation above the sea: 596 m

Website: http://msunduzi.gov.za

GPS coordinates: -29.60090,30.37960

Latest update: December 4, 2025 19:03