Mzinyathi Falls

The Mzinyathi Waterfall, as seen

from the top, is only a creek that locals use for fetching water and washing clothing. But a bit farther down the road a small platform opens up that offers a beautiful view of the cascade, as the Mzinyathi River plunges 320 feet down into the lush valley below.

This little-known site is a stone’s throw from the beaches of Durban, just about 20 minutes from the resort town of Umhlanga north of the city. Yet it gets very few visitors. Access to the falls (also spelled uMzinyathi) is not easy, as the last stretch of the way is a dirt road full of potholes and cracks.

Those that do make the trip to this hidden gem are rewarded with beautiful vistas from the top of tall sandstone cliffs, which also offer some great rock climbing routes. To explore the local culture deeper, you can book a guide to take you down into the gorge to the Rasta Caves at the base of the cliff. These rock houses are home to a community of Rastafarians who live and practice their spiritual traditions at the foot of the falls.