The 14 Best Day Trips from Pietermaritzburg
How far each place is, what to see there, and a plan for the day.
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There are 14 good day trips from Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, led by Durban, KwaDukuza, Pinetown. The closest is Howick, about 35 min by car, and 4 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.
Built from 14 nearby places, with sights from real traveler trips, on Packy AI. Last updated November 2026 by the Packy AI Travel Team.
Day trips from Pietermaritzburg
- 1
Durban, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 15 min by car67 km south-east of PietermaritzburgKnown for Mitchell Park Zoo.
- 2
KwaDukuza, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 25 min by car93 km east of Pietermaritzburg - 3
Pinetown, South Africa
Half-day tripAbout 1 hr by car53 km south-east of Pietermaritzburg - 4
Ladysmith, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 5 min by car132 km north-west of Pietermaritzburg - 5
Mpumalanga, South Africa
Half-day tripAbout 35 min by car32 km south-east of Pietermaritzburg - 6
Ntuzuma, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 5 min by car55 km east of Pietermaritzburg - 7
Tongaat, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 20 min by car70 km east of Pietermaritzburg - 8
Kokstad, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 10 min by car139 km south-west of Pietermaritzburg - 9
Port Shepstone, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 55 min by car125 km south of Pietermaritzburg - 10
Mandeni, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 45 min by car112 km north-east of Pietermaritzburg - 11
Margate, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 10 min by car139 km south of Pietermaritzburg - 12
Wembesi, South Africa
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 20 min by car87 km north-west of Pietermaritzburg - 13
Howick, South Africa
Half-day tripAbout 35 min by car22 km north-west of Pietermaritzburg - 14
Richmond, South Africa
Half-day tripAbout 35 min by car31 km south of Pietermaritzburg
A sample day: Pietermaritzburg to Durban
- 08:30Leave Pietermaritzburg
- 09:45Arrive in Durban (1 hr 15 min drive)
- 10:00Mitchell Park Zoo
- 12:00Lunch
- 13:15Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Durban
- 15:45Head back to Pietermaritzburg
- 17:00Home in Pietermaritzburg
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best day trips from Pietermaritzburg?
- The best day trips from Pietermaritzburg are Durban, KwaDukuza, Pinetown, Ladysmith, Mpumalanga. The closest is Howick, about 35 min away by car.
- What is the closest day trip from Pietermaritzburg?
- Howick is the closest, 22 km north-west of Pietermaritzburg, roughly 35 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
- Where can I go within an hour of Pietermaritzburg?
- 4 places are within about an hour's drive of Pietermaritzburg: Howick (35 min), Richmond (35 min), Mpumalanga (35 min), Pinetown (1 hr).
- What is the biggest city near Pietermaritzburg for a day out?
- Durban is the largest city in day-trip range, 67 km south-east of Pietermaritzburg and about 1 hr 15 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
- Where can I go for a weekend from Pietermaritzburg?
- For a weekend away from Pietermaritzburg, pick the places far enough to be worth a night: Margate (139 km, 2 hr 10 min), Kokstad (139 km, 2 hr 10 min), Ladysmith (132 km, 2 hr 5 min), Port Shepstone (125 km, 1 hr 55 min). Closer places on this list work better as a single day.
- How far is too far for a day trip from Pietermaritzburg?
- Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Margate at 139 km, around 2 hr 10 min by car.
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