Kloof: Trails, Nature and Viewpoints

Kloof can be explored through a range of natural areas and trail routes: from a path into the Edgecliff Conservation Area to hiking trails and viewpoints, and the cliffs of Kloof Gorge. Memorial Park also combines a green community space with a diverse array of wildlife. If you’re looking for a hotel in Kloof, these different features can help you choose an area that suits your travel plans.

Trails and Viewpoints in Kloof

A 1.5 km trail starts at the cul-de-sac at the end of Cambrium Drive, which branches off Jerome Drive, and leads into the Edgecliff Conservation Area. At Peace Road, a network of trails continues after 500 metres, passing through and by Kloof Golf Course to the cliff edge. It offers views of Glenholm Gorge and continues to the Motala-Peace Road Grasslands. At Nkonka Trust at the end of Haygarth Road, there are about 8 km of hiking trails and west-facing viewpoints.

These details describe different routes: a single 1.5 km trail, a trail network with a 500-metre reference point, and about 8 km of hiking trails at Nkonka Trust. For planning, the named starting points and destinations are therefore just as useful as the distances. Check local access conditions before visiting.

The walk to the waterfall also has a clearly described route: it leads to Ronaldskloof Stream, first descending steeply to the stream, then following it along a relatively flat section, and finally taking a short but steep climb back to Cliffview. This route profile distinguishes the sections you can take into account when planning. Check local access conditions for this walk as well.

Memorial Park: Community Space and Wildlife

Memorial Park in Kloof is a green community space used throughout the day by people of all ages. Its resident wildlife includes a nesting pair of hammerkops, a water monitor, a genet and thick-billed weavers. The park is also home to various bats, snakes, eels, fish, crabs and toads, including the Natal tree frog (Leptopelis natalensis), as well as butterflies, moths, dragonflies and other insects. The park thus brings together a shared green space and a wide variety of animal groups.

In 2023, updated information boards replaced those installed in Memorial Park by Kloof Conservancy in 2011. They provide information about the flora and fauna, as well as the history of Kloof and the park. These topics bring nature and local history together in one place: visitors interested in both can find information in the park about its plant and animal life as well as the area’s development.

Kloof Gorge and Krantzkloof Nature Reserve

The orange-red cliffs of Kloof Gorge are made of erosion-resistant Natal Group sandstone and are stained by iron oxide. The gorge is part of Krantzkloof Nature Reserve. The landscape is therefore shaped not only by its visible form, but also by the rock that makes up the cliffs. The reserve is also home to several popular climbing areas. The trails, viewpoints, rocky landscape and climbing areas each offer a different focus, and are not described as one continuous route.

To take in the landscape from another perspective, compare the routes described: the walk to Ronaldskloof Stream includes a steep descent, a relatively flat section along the stream, and a short, steep climb back to Cliffview. The hiking trails at Nkonka Trust and the network at Peace Road have their own named destinations and viewpoints. Check local access conditions before visiting any of these trails.

The Wider Setting: Durban Metro

Within the wider destination of Durban Metro, the eThekwini Municipality stretches from cosmopolitan coastal areas in the north to rugged valleys in the west. The municipal museums of eThekwini include the Durban Local History Museums, covering cultural and historical heritage; the Durban Art Gallery, dedicated to visual art; and the Durban Natural Science Museum, covering natural science aspects of heritage. These museums offer a different thematic perspective from the natural and landscape features that define Kloof.

uShaka Sea World and uShaka Wet n Wild are also part of the Durban Metro regional context: Sea World is an aquarium featuring dolphin shows, seal viewing and penguin presentations; its program may change. Wet n Wild is a water park. These attractions are regional additions to the nature trails and park areas described in Kloof.

Discover more destinations: Paulpietersburg, Kokstad, Durban, Bergville, Himeville, Winterton, Southbroom, Cathkin Park.

View the wider travel guide: Kwazulu-Natal.