In and around Woodridge there are many things to see and do.

Midmar Mile

Woodridge sunrise
 

Close to Woodridge the Midmar dam hosts the Midmar mile each year.

The Midmar Mile is a swimming race held annually in February at the Midmar Dam north of Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Each year, it draws thousands of competitors, from serious international athletes and Olympic medallists to purely recreational swimmers.

In 2009 the event, in which 13 755 competitors finished the race, was recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's largest open water swimming event.

The event gains its name from the location (Midmar Dam) and the distance (roughly one mile). A unique feature of the race is that while the distance covered is always a mile, depending on rainfall and the water levels in the dam, the distance swum varies from year to year. In years with poor rainfall, competitors are subject to the infamous Midmar sprint start: a bedlam of bodies sprinting across the muddy lake-shore and through the shallows until the water is deep enough to swim.

In order to handle the vast number of competitors, the swimmers swim out in 5 groups at three-minute intervals in 8 separate mile races over two days; the group division the swimmer is assigned to is based on a qualifying time in a previous (qualifying) event, with the fastest group leaving first.

 


Howick Falls

Howick Falls
This view is from the Yellowood Café.

Howick Falls is just 20-minute drive away with a breath taking 365 ft of water cascading down. This beautiful natural wonder is a must-see.

Howick Falls' other name is KwaNogqaza, the 'place of the tall one', for obvious reasons – the waterfall is a 95 metre cascade into a broiling, restless pool, regarded by the local Zulus with grave superstition, and said to be the place of the spirits of ancestors. Local legend believes that in the pool lives a giant snake-like creature and, probably because of this, only sangomas are safe when close to the falls.

Weddings in the Midlands

Midlands meander's wedding venues have it all - beautiful scenery, wonderful climate and a great location only being 4.5 hours from Johannesburg and less than 2 hours from Durban making it a great place to celebrate.

A venue can mean anything from a hotel, to a country lodge, or a game farm, to purpose built Wedding venue. The advantage of using a venue as opposed to a home Wedding is that the infrastructure is already there and you are able to utilize, not only their facilities but their expertise as well. Some venues will take care of all the details including décor, others will be hired out as a space and your role will be to fill this space with dreams.