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HILTON VILLAGE
Hilton itself is a country village high on the escarpment overlooking Pietermaritzburg. It is rural but at the same time close to the amenities of city life in Pietermaritzburg and Durban. In addition to this it is also conveniently close to five of the top private schools in South Africa.
Hilton BnB, situated as it is in the heart of Hilton village, is conveniently placed for access to Hilton College, St Anne’s College, Cedara Agricultural College. It is also not far from Michaelhouse. The village itself has all the necessary amenities such as shops, restaurants and gym but in addition Pietermaritzburg is only about 15 minutes away and it takes about an hour to drive to Durban.
The village is situated on the escarpment above Pietermaritzburg. There are several game farms and dams (with an abundance of bird life) nearby. The Drakensberg is easily accessible for day trips.
The village itself took its name from the house name of the local land owner - Hilton - which in turn was named after Hilton Park in Staffordshire, England. (The wife of the owner of Hilton had felt the area reminded her of Hilton Park in Staffordshire, which she used to visit as a child.) Establish in the mid 1800s and originally called Hilton Road (to distinguish it from the local big house named Hilton) it was only in the mid 1900s that the village became Hilton to avoid confusion with road names in the nearby Pietermaritzburg.
WEEKEND GETAWAYS
Whether you are looking for a romantic weekend for two, a relaxing midweek break or a week far from the 'madding crowds' the tranquillity of the neighbourhood and the wealth of tourist options nearby make the Hilton BnB an ideal choice.
BUSINESS TRAVEL
Staying at the BnB offers the business traveller in the area an ideal opportunity to do business in Pietermaritzburg and environs and then stop over in Hilton to recharge batteries. We have WiFi access and cater for late arrivals and early departures.
OTHER THINGS TO DO
Hilton is fortunate to be situated at the southern gateway to the KwaZulu Natal Midlands Meander with its numerous of arts and crafts studios and outlets. One of the largest displays of local ethics souvenirs and curios in the country is to be found in Howick.
Durban with its multi-cultural population and cuisine to match, is only an hour's drive away.
HISTORICAL ACTIVITIES
One of the primary tourist attractions of KwaZulu Natal is the adjacent Battlefields which reflect South Africa's history from the days of the great Zulu chiefs through early settler times to the South African wars of independence - the Anglo-Boer wars. Both self-guided self drive routes and guided tours are possible. There are military museums throughout the battlefield area and an information desk at many of these museums can put you in touch with local guides.
The area around Hilton is also a heartland of early South African history - close to Greytown, Howick and Pietermaritzburg with a number of museums and sites of historical interest.
NATURE
We are a short drive from Midmar Dam and the Howick Falls area with its wealth of animal and bird life. There are several game reserves in the area as well as a number of dams. On offer are game-viewing, bird-watching, fishing, horse riding, hiking and mountain biking.
WEATHER
Situated as it is in the hills the air is fresh and the days are warm. It is never as hot or as humid as Pietermaritzburg. Winters are generally mild and dry with cold nights
By the turn of the century, it had established itself as a small resort away from the humidity of the coast. Within the town boundaries, there are several walks such as the Umgeni River Trail, the Howick Falls/Gorge Trail to the base of the falls, the Stables Trail and the Howick Town Trail.
LINKS:
www.projectgateway.co.za Project Gateway
www.kznbirding.co.za Karkloof Conservancy & Bird Hides
www.at.artslink.co.za/~hilton/index.html Hilton College Theatre
www.stannes.co.za/page_theatre.php St Anne's Diocesan College Theatre
www.pmbtourism.co.za Pietermaritzburg Tourism
www.musicrevival.co.za Music Revival Recitals
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