The small town of Frere in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands falls under the municipality of Umtshezi, which takes its name from the Zulu name for Bushman's River. It is situated between the lower Southern end of Van Reenen's Pass and Estcourt. The Frere area is supports rich agricultural farmlands. The town originally was developed as a stopping point for ox wagons.

The Frere area has numerous areas of scenic beauty. There are mountainous areas, mainly in the North and West, and numerous river valleys, such as the uThukela River along the northern boundary, and the Bushman's River, which traverses the centre of the municipal area. Bushman's River is well suited to development for eco-adventure tourism as there are numerous settlements close to the river. The potential for development is heightened by the fact that the water is of a very high quality and the river is ideal for canoeing and river-rafting.