The Natal Midlands is the broad highland plateau between Durban and the Drakensberg foothills, known for rolling grasslands, misty mornings, and a concentration of small towns, craft studios, and country hotels that have positioned themselves along the Midlands Meander. This is green, temperate country, distinctly different from the subtropical coast.
The Midlands Meander is a loose trail of studios, farms, and restaurants strung along the R103 between Mooi River in the north and Hilton in the south. You'll find weavers, potters, cheese-makers, trout farmers, and fly-fishing lodges. The accommodation is excellent by South African standards, and the slow pace suits a weekend of driving and stopping rather than a tightly scheduled itinerary.
Pietermaritzburg, the provincial capital, sits at the eastern end of the Midlands. It retains a large stock of Victorian architecture from its colonial years, including the City Hall — said to be the largest red-brick building in the southern hemisphere — and the excellent Natal Museum with strong natural history and cultural collections.