The pleasant drive on the R617 from Howick on a winding country road leads you to "The Hidden Valley of Beauty", Karkloof.

Numerous craft outlets dot the countryside, where visitors can purchase anything from expertly crafted, handmade leather sandals and sheepskin slippers to exquisitely decorated pottery or even a hammock.

If you're in luck, you will spot the fragilely beautiful Butler Butterfly, endemic to Natal and found only in the Karkloof area. This rare butterfly was chosen as the emblem of the Midlands Meander Association which is a tourist initiative co-ordinating the more than 100 craft outlets and home industries open to the public on a route which includes the Karkloof Valley.

Many of South Africa's Polo players either originate, or are trained here as the area boasts three polo playing fields and Karkloof regularly produces players reaching Springbok status.

The Karkloof Canopy Tour was a feat of engineering to set up in this hilly and wooded terrain. Starting with an open jeep drive to a high point in the valley and descending, via a series of foefie slides, through the treetops, the hour long tour ends with a short walk to where refreshment is waiting.