Harburg (original) (raw)
Harburg, Natal Midlands
Take the Midlands Amble (not to be confused with the Midland Meander) and you'll find yourself on the lesser-explored perimeters to the south-west and north-east of Pietermaritzburg, with the Albert Falls Dam as the fulcrum.
The Amble incorporates the towns and villages of Pietermaritzburg, Hilton, Ashburton, Umlaas Road, Tala Valley, Richmond, Albert Falls, Bishopstowe, Wartburg, Harburg, New Hanover, Noodsburg, Greytown, Muden, Weenen and Hermannsburg.
Harburg lies off R614 just beyond Wartburg, one of several German communities that mushroomed after 1840. German settlers arrived to grow cotton for the Natal Cotton Company, but their attempts failed and many of the Bergtheil colonists who had settled in New Germany, Westville moved inland to the area around Pietermaritzburg and New Hanover.
In 2011 Harburg's beautiful Neuenkirche celebrated 125 years. The church is a hangover of the mission station established here by missionaries who originally set sail for Ethiopia, but could not land and continued on to Durban. After getting permission from Zulu chiefs they set up a few mission stations � Hermannsburg first and then New Hanover.
Harburg only came later when several of the families broke away from these original mission stations, because of the distance they had to travel every Sunday, to build their own chapel, which they called Neuenkirchen (new church). Their town was originally known as Honey Grove. Only in 1893, once a trading store and a few houses had joined the church, was it named Harburg.
Today descendants of these same German settlers still live in Harburg � a pretty rural village that is still only a few homes and a converted post office (now a self-catering cottage). The original police station and community hall no longer stand. The school has been converted into a retreat. But the Neuenkirche still stands and continues to celebrate regular Sunday services in German and English.
There is a caravan park just outside the village.
In the vicinity
Hotels & other accommodation options
Bed & Breakfast / Self Catering
Africa's Eden
Africa's Eden is a 2 acre estate situated along a small green belt, wedged between 2 streams - hardly what you would expect to find a mere 2.5 km...
Bed & Breakfast / Self Catering
Gowrie Farm Golf Lodge
Set in the heart of the KwaZulu Natal Midlands and within the context of a working farm, the estate is surrounded by a choice of well-stocked tro...
Self Catering
Ferndene Farm
Nestled in the Dargle forests, Ferndene Farm is a lovely old stone and thatch farmhouse offering self catering accommodation. The house sleeps 12...
Bed & Breakfast / Self Catering
Lincoln Cottages
Lincoln Cottages is nestled amongst indigenous Acacia trees in the tranquil suburb of Lincoln Meade, and offers an ideal base from which both the...
Self Catering
Giant's View Village
Giant's View Village apartments are located in Giant's View Estate which is just 8km from Nottingham Road, in the heart of the KZN Midlands Meand...
Hotel / Guest House
iNsingizi Lodge
iNsingizi Lodge offers accommodation in the farming district of Mid Illovo / Eston on a working cane farm. Here you can enjoy a relaxing getaway ...
Bed & Breakfast
Thorn Tree Lodge
Thorn Tree Lodge is located in Hayfields, Pietermaritzburg. The lodge offers accommodation in twenty one rooms and is set in an indigenous garden...
Bed & Breakfast / Self Catering
Wild Berry Guest Farm
Wild Berry provides an attractive, relaxed environment and facilities in which guests are reassured that their needs will be met, all of which tr...
Self Catering
Rockwood Mountain Cabin
Rockwood Mountain Lodge located in the Karkloof Nature Reserve is ideal if your family wants to get away from it all and go hiking up to the beau...
Things to do in the area
Art Galleries
Ardmore Ceramic Art Studio
Africa's Iconic Luxury Brand ~ Drawing Inspiration from African Art and Nature to Create Unique Ceramics, Luxury D�cor, and Fashion.The vibrant c...
Noteworthy attractions
Nature Reserves
Albert Falls Dam Nature Reserve
The source of the uMngeni River lies in the uMngeni Vlei area, an ancient wetland bounded by hills. From here it meanders eastward through undula...
Lakes / Dams
Midmar Dam Nature Reserve
The large stretch of fresh water from the uMngeni, coupled with 1000 hectares of game park that contains red hartebeest, blesbok, reedbuck, black...
Golf Courses
Bosch Hoek Golf Club
Bosch Hoek Golf Course in the KwaZulu Natal Midlands must qualify as one of the most picturesque layouts in the country. The estate is convenient...
Golf Courses
Gowrie Farm Golf Course
Gowrie Farm Golf Course, one of KwaZulu Natal�s finest golf courses, was built in the traditional way with push up greens and rugged bunkers. The...
Golf Courses
Maritzburg Golf Club
The Maritzburg Golf Club in Pietermaritzburg is one of the oldest golf clubs in South Africa, dating back to 1886. It has lush, smooth cynodon gr...
Golf Courses
Sakabula Golf Club
Sakabula Golf Club is a unique combination of agricultural smallholdings around a delightful 18-hole, par 73, golf course in a scenic rural envir...
Golf Courses
Victoria Country Club
Less than five minutes from the CBD of Pietermaritzburg, the Victoria Country Club is superbly located in the scenic parklands adjoining the Quee...
Popular Tourist Routes
Battlefields Route
The KwaZulu Natal hinterland has witnessed some of the most brutal and significant battles to be fought in South Africa. These historical sites f...
Popular Tourist Routes
Midlands Meander
The enchantment of the Midlands has long inspired many a visitor and resident to creativity and as a result, local artists, potters and weavers c...
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