Himeville is a small village/town situated in the foothills of the picturesq Southern Drakensberg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, approx 130 km from Pietermaritzburg. It is a landmark en route to the world famous Sani Pass and the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site).
Himeville is the closest town to the Sani Pass which links the town with Mokhotlong Lesotho.
Himeville was named in 1902 after the then Prime Minister of Natal, Sir Albert Henry Hime a road engineer elected as Prime Minister of Natal in 1889.
The town was first established as a police outpost and a branch of the Border Mounted Rifles in 1890 following a spate of gun-running and cattle rustling in the area.
Area
• Total
4.34 km2 (1.68 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Total
1,697
• Density
390/km2 (1,000/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
• Black African
83.5%
• Coloured
1.1%
• Indian/Asian
0.1%
• White
15.0%
• Other
0.3%
First languages (2011)
• Zulu
72.4%
• English
16.7%
• Xhosa
4.7%
• Sotho
2.4%
• Other
3.8%
PO box
3256
Area code
033
Himeville Nature Reserve
Himeville Nature Reserve is situated in the southern Drakensberg, 130 km from Pietermaritzburg. The reserve stretches along the eastern boundary of Himeville Village and was proclaimed to its present size of 104 ha in 1973. Himeville Nature Reserve offers trout fishing in two dams situated in the reserve.
Boats are no longer available for hire but anglers may use their own small rowing craft or flotation tubes. Power boats are not permitted. Visitors may walk freely throughout the reserve and view Blesbuck and Black Wildebeest. The two dams offer good opportunities for bird watching.
Himeville is only 14 km from Cobham Nature reserve which offers enjoyable walks and hikes for the whole family. Visitors to Himeville can arrange with local tour operators for day trips up Sani Pass or, providing that they have a 4 x 4 vehicle, choose to make the trip into Lesotho on their own. For those wishing to go on their own a valid passport is compulsory. There are also a number of dams in and around the Underberg/Himeville District for the fly fishing enthusiast. Horse rides can be arranged locally. Visitors must also provide their own trout fishing equipment while a nominal rod fee will be charged for fishing in the dams on the reserv
Gate Opening and Closing Times:
Summer ( October to March ) 05h00 to 19h00
Winter (April to September ) 06h00 to 18h00
The nearest town which has a full range of services is Underberg which is 5 kms away.
How to get there:
Turn off the N3 at the Bulwer/ Underberg off ramp near Howick. Take the R617 to Underberg and turn right into the R315 to Himeville. In the village turn right to the reserve.