Property in Pietermaritzburg

Nestled amongst the lush vegetation of the Natal Midlands in a sheltered valley close to the Drakensberg Mountains is Pietermaritzburg, the capital of Kwa-Zulu Natal province. Founded in 1858 by Dutch settlers, whose leaders, Piet Retief and Gerrit Maritz gave the town its name, Pietermaritzburg was soon appropriated by the British, who turned it into a military garrison.

Located approximately 90kms (55 miles) inland from Durban off the N3 national road, the second largest city in the province is renowned for its colonial architecture, tree-lined streets with manicured gardens, excellent schools and proximity to the Ukahlamba Drakensberg World Heritage site. Historically, the town is considered to be very important, with some of the best examples of Victorian and Edwardian architecture in the world.

In the spring, the town comes alive with thousands of flowering azaleas and the National Botanical Gardens boasts some fine examples of indigenous subtropical plants. The town is also the scene for several important sporting events, including the Dusi Canoe Race and the gruelling Comrades Marathon - the world’s oldest ultra-marathon race. The town also boasts a cricket stadium, premier football club and motor-racing circuit. Keen golfers can enjoy a round at the picturesque Victoria Country Club nearby.

Often referred to as ‘Maritzburg’ by locals, Pietermaritzburg’s Zulu name is umGungundlovu, which has become the title of the District Municipality for the region. With a population numbering close to 500,000 Pietermaritzburg is largely made up of a mixture of white, Zulu and Indian communities, and the predominant languages spoken in the area are English and Zulu.

Pietermaritzburg enjoys a warm year-round climate, with temperatures seldom dropping below 22?C, even in winter. Heavy summer rainfall helps to keep everything green and lush whilst winters are dry and mild.
Commercially, the area is known for timber, dairy farming and aluminium production. The secondary and tertiary educational sectors, including a branch of the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, and a large regional civil service are also big employers in the area.

Transport-wise, there is a local airport with domestic flights to major centres, a centrally-located railway station and good road links to both Durban and Johannesburg.

The property market in Pietermaritzburg is currently undergoing something of a boom, thanks to local government investment aimed at improving infra-structure, together with many new commercial initiatives aimed at stimulating the economy and attracting investment to the area. These include plans for a large business development corridor in Cato Ridge, linking Durban and Pietermaritzburg.

Residential real estate in Pietermaritzburg is plentiful, and buyers can choose form charming Victorian or Edwardian cottages, city flats, cluster homes in gated communities and guest houses on the town’s outskirts. Popular suburbs include Central, Montrose, Hayfields, Lincoln Meade, Pelham, Northdale, Prestbury, Wembley and Scotsville.