Route 56 in KwaZulu Natal (original) (raw)
About Route 56
Route 56 is not only a great alternative to the N2 through the former Transkei, it is also a highly scenic route covered in mountain trails, opportunities to fish for trout and some fine examples of San rock art.
Marketed as 'the shortest route between the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal', Route 56 officially starts at Mount Fletcher in the Eastern Cape and heads into the KwaZulu Natal highlands via Matatiele to Kokstad, and then on to Umzimkulu, Ixopo and Richmond before joining the N3 at Pietermaritzburg.
Did you know? The highlight of Route 56 is the town Matatiele. The name comes from the Sesotho, meaning 'the ducks have flown' and probably refers to the fact that Matatiele was once dominated by wetlands and marshes.
It hugs the fringes of the Eastern Cape section of the Drakensberg. Not only is the route beautiful to drive but it is also a road less-travelled, quite literally, as fewer people know about it, making it far less congested than the N2 (keep the route to yourself).
At the moment these unexplored southern reaches of the Drakensberg remain a remarkably untamed part of the country. Guest houses, even though they have sprung up along the route in the last few years, remain sporadic at best.
Route 56 actually begins further west in the Eastern Cape, at Queenstown where you can follow it in a north easterly direction through Elliot, Ugie and Maclear (where adventurers turn off to the beautiful village of Rhodes) before it joins Mount Fletcher.
Today what is left of the important wetlands is protected in the Matatiele Nature Reserve that also protects important grasslands, rare species of plants and the bird-rich Matatiele commonage.
The Mehloding Hiking Trail starts and ends just outside the village. It follows a route through the foothills of the mountains and rural villages, taking in rock-art and incredible views.
Need to Know
WhereRoute 56, Follow the R56 from either Molteno or Pietermaritzburg, Ukhahlamba Drakensberg, South Africa
WhenBest during daylight hours.
OvernightStay in Drakensberg Accommodation, KwaZulu Natal
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Attractions near Matatiele
In the vicinity
Hotels & other accommodation options in Drakensberg
Guest House / Self Catering
De Berg Guesthouse
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The Fairways Gold Crown Resort
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Ondini Cottage
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Arbuckle House
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Bellevue Berg Cottage
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Kamberg Valley Hideaway
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Valley Lakes Lodge
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Dragons Landing Cottage
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Aloe Cottage at Highbourne
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Things to do in the area
Family Entertainment
Drakensberg Canopy Tour
Drakensberg accommodation is always special because it promises a place to stay in some of South Africa�s most spectacular countryside. The area ...
Museums
Matatiele Museum
Matatiele is a beautiful town in KwaZulu Natal filled with history and to show it off at its best is the Matatiele Museum. Originally a Dutch Ref...
Hiking Trails
Maluti Community Trail
Start: Matatiele on the edge of the Eastern Cape, KZN and southern Lesotho bordersEnd: MatatieleDuration: 4 days, 5 nightsFitness: there are reas...
Hiking Trails
Mehloding Hiking Trail
Start: just beyond the village of MatatieleFinish: Qacha's Nek border postDuration: 60 km trail, 1 � 4 daysFitness: relatively fitWalking in amon...
Accommodation convenient to Route 56
FIND / South Africa Accommodation / KwaZulu Natal Accommodation / Drakensberg Accommodation
Drakensberg as a destination
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