Discover KZN’s “Secret” Waterfall.
The Mooi River Falls, also known as Zulu Falls, are hidden deep in the KZN Midlands country side, somewhere between Mooi River and Weenen.
With an 89m drop, they are not quite on a par with the two better known Midlands waterfalls – Howick Falls(95m) and the Karkloof Falls (105m) – but they are majestic in their own right.
And if you are not into crowds, then Zulu Falls’ secluded beauty and rugged surroundings will make it even more appealing.
The waterfall is on a lesser-known stretch of the Mooi River. While the roads are not bad, the last 15km or so are dirt roads where a vehicle with high clearance or a 4×4 would be preferable. Our group travelled in a Land Rover 110 and short wheel based Pajero which made navigating the difficult bits a breeze.
Stay a While
While it is perfectly possible to make the trip to Zulu Falls a one-day outing from either Durban or Pietermaritzburg, it will certainly limit the time you spend at this unique destination.
We booked in for the weekend at the rustic, self catering Zulu Falls Lodge which was a great experience in itself.
Zulu Falls Game Lodge
Zulu Falls game Lodge looks up the Mooi River to the falls.
It is worth booking in there for the view of the falls alone!
The interesting thing about this lodge is that only one group can book it at a time. You pay a standard fee per day irrespective of how many of you there are. So the idea is to get a group together and the more there are, the cheaper the per-person-per-day rate will be.
There are 7 different rooms that can accommodate up to 24 people. So don’t be shy with the invitations. The rooms are serviced every day and washing up is done for you after meals which is a real bonus!
There is a fully equipped kitchen with a wonderful large open fire place (with an unending supply of firewood) that is ideal for cooking on a fire inside. But if you are not into that then there is a gas stove, oven and a microwave to help you prepare your meals.
Best of all was the large dining room table situated in front of the fire place. This allows you to keep an eye on the cooking while watching the sun go down over the falls.
What To Do at Zulu Falls
Eat, sleep, relax, take in the amazing view, have a dip in the pool, read a book in the Lapa, play some table tennis or darts.
OR – you can get out and about.
You can walk to the Zulu Falls via the river route or the bush route (which you can also drive if you are so inclined).
There are plenty of hiking trails that will put you in contact with a amazing array of birds as well as Giraffe, Wildebeest, Zebra, and an array of antelope including Kudu, Blesbok and Impala.
There are no big cats or rhino or buffalo so taking a stroll along the trails is a relaxing event.
If you are into fishing then you can try your hand at yellowfish fishing in the river below the falls.
What to Bring With You
This is a self catering lodge and there are no shops anywhere close by.
So plan accordingly!
We tend to like our food, so we took enough to feed the five thousand for a week even though there were only seven of us for two nights!
Potable water is supplied so you can leave the water bottles at home. There is more than enough fridge space for food and drinks and there is also a deep freeze to preserve your supply of ice (so essential for sundowners).
If you are into birding or game viewing, then don’t forget to pack your binoculars and your bird book.
Having said that, there are several bird books at the lodge to help you identify birds. This was particularly useful when we couldn’t decide whether we were looking at a Mocking Cliff Chat……or not!
If you are going to head down a trail then some decent walking shoes are in order. They don’t have to be mountaineering quality and ordinary running shoes will do the trick.
And don’t forget the fishing tackle if you want to try your luck down at the river.
And We’ll Be Back
We only managed a weekend this trip, but next time we will definitely book in for longer.
Experiencing Zulu Falls is like stepping into another world, even though it’s just round the corner from the hustle and bustle of modern living.
If you are into slow living, then this is a must visit place.
And if you enjoy this sort of getaway, then the Southern Drakensberg is also an excellent option.
