It takes only 45 minutes on the N3 highway to get from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. But why do that, with everything on both sides of the car a blur, if you could take two days to travel the route through the beautiful Valley of a Thousand Hills? Travelling on a mountain bike will also cost much less, at least in fuel. And mature cyclists will improve their memories by doing something unforgettable. The route is along the Umsunduzi and Umgeni rivers on small, winding gravel roads and some single-track trails. It totals about 110km, traversing areas that vary from peri-urban to pristine.

Throughout the ride, with its taverns and small shops, chickens, long-horned cows and goats, stories of rural and urban life unfold. Everything is free range, including yourself. You will also be able to appreciate the valleys and mountains and the rich tableau of modern Zulu rural life. Although the area is called the Valley of a Thousand Hills, some of those hills are mountains. Do not fear, t...

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