Kloof – Trails, Gorges and Nature

Discover Kloof through a variety of nature experiences: trails lead into a conservation area, to viewpoints along the cliff edge and through Memorial Park. The area is also known for the distinctive orange-red cliffs of Kloof Gorge. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing between the different trail routes and landscape views rather than treating them as a single hike.

Trails with Different Destinations

A 1.5 km trail leads from the cul-de-sac at the end of Cambrium Drive into the Edgecliff Conservation Area. Cambrium Drive branches off Jerome Drive. Another trail network begins at Peace Road: after 500 metres, it passes through and alongside Kloof Golf Course before reaching the cliff edge. From there, there are views of Glenholm Gorge; the trail network continues to the Motala-Peace Road Grasslands. The 1.5 km trail length and the 500 metres therefore refer to different details and sections of the route.

At the end of Haygarth Road, the Nkonka Trust has about 8 km of hiking trails. There are also west-facing viewpoints. These details give you different points of reference for planning, without combining the trails into a single route. Check local access conditions before visiting; they may change.

Cliffs, Gorge and Wildlife

In Kloof Gorge, erosion-resistant sandstones of the Natal Group form the orange-red cliffs, coloured by iron oxide. The gorge is part of Krantzkloof Nature Reserve. The reserve has several popular climbing areas. The rocky landscape and climbing are separate nature and activity options alongside the hiking trails described above.

Kloof Memorial Park also brings nature into the heart of a green community space: people of all ages use it throughout the day. Animals living there include, among others, a nesting pair of hammerkops, a water monitor, a genet, thick-billed weavers and various bats. Also mentioned are snakes, eels, fish, crabs and frogs, including the Natal tree frog (Leptopelis natalensis), as well as butterflies, moths and dragonflies. This list describes the park’s wildlife; individual sightings are not guaranteed.

A Park with History and On-Site Information

In 2023, updated information boards in Memorial Park replaced the boards installed by Kloof Conservancy in 2011. They provide information about the flora and fauna, as well as the history of Kloof and the park. Along with its diverse wildlife, the boards make the park a place where nature and local history can be experienced in a single visit. Unlike the longer trails, the focus here is the park itself and its green community space.

Consider the Trail Profile and Other Interests

Another hiking experience is the walk to the waterfall on Ronaldskloof Stream. It begins with a steep descent to the stream, then follows the stream along relatively level ground and ends with a short but steep climb back to Cliffview. This trail profile is a practical planning tip: if you plan the walk, you can take the steep descent and the climb on the way back into account. Check local access conditions for this trail as well.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Kloof, it may help to first decide what you want to focus on during your trip: different trails and viewpoints, the cliff landscape, climbing or the green grounds of Memorial Park offer different themes to plan around. If you would also like to include culture and larger attractions, the broader destination of Durban Metro offers additional options. The eThekwini municipal museum offering includes the Durban Local History Museums for cultural and historical heritage, the Durban Art Gallery for visual arts and the Durban Natural Science Museum for natural science aspects of heritage. All 19 Local History Museum sites are managed entirely by the Municipality.

The broader destination of Durban Metro also includes uShaka Sea World and uShaka Wet n Wild. Sea World is an aquarium with dolphin shows, seal viewings and penguin presentations; the show programme may change. Wet n Wild is a water park. These regional cultural and attraction options complement the nature experiences in Kloof as further interests to consider when planning your trip.

Discover more destinations: Amanzimtoti, Durban, Paulpietersburg, Cathkin Park, Southbroom, Umhlanga, Verulam, Empangeni.

View the broader travel guide: KwaZulu-Natal.