Just a bit further west of Inchanga, on the Mariannhill Toll Road between Assagay and Camperdown, is a place called Cato Ridge. Cato Ridge, despite having a charming name, is not particularly picturesque. It may be perched on a ridge, but in reality, it has absorbed Pietermaritzburg and Durban’s excess population, expanding both industrially and residentially as a result. Because of the ease of access to the highway between Johannesburg and Durban and the major distribution and logistics companies that utilize this location to keep their goods before transporting them to other areas of the country, it has come to be known as Durban’s “dry port.”
However, it is also one of the undiscovered treasures of this region of the world, and as a result of the growing residential area, some areas have been made to look more attractive. Actually, this region of KwaZulu Natal, to the north of Kloof and Hillcrest, doesn’t require much assistance because the surrounding landscape is so stunning. It serves as a gateway to the Midlands, is located just south of the Midlands Mistbelt, and offers incredibly simple access to the Valley of 1000 Hills.
Due to its ideal location for the Comrades Marathon and the Valley of 1000 Hills, as well as the fact that it is a tourist route, there are a number of handy and upscale guest houses and other lodging alternatives now available between the nearby towns of Hillcrest and Cato Ridge. There is no doubt that Cato Ridge offers a less hectic and accessible location outside of the big centres that are more serene. The 1000 Hills Choo Choo, which departs from Kloof Station and travels through stunning terrain, also stops at Cato Ridge.