City Details: Pietermaritzburg

A few alternate names for Pietermaritzburg are: Maritzburg, Mokokotlofo, PZB, Petromaritzburgum, Pietermaritsburg, Pietermaritzburg, Pitehrmarycburg, Pitermaricburg, Pitermaricburgas, Piturmaricburg

Pietermaritzburg is the capital and second-largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa after Durban. It was named in 1838 and is currently governed by the Msunduzi Local Municipality. The town was named in Zulu after King Dingane's royal homestead uMgungundlovu. Pietermaritzburg is popularly called Maritzburg and is often informally abbreviated to PMB. It is a regionally-important industrial hub, producing aluminium, timber and dairy products, and is the main economic hub of uMgungundlovu District Municipality. The public sector is a major employer in the city due to local, district and provincial government offices located here.

Inspired by Petr Knoll and Filip Zrnzevic
TimeNow
Pietermaritzburg

General Information

  • Official Name: South Africa
  • Common Name: South Africa
  • Population: 750845
  • Timezone: Africa/Johannesburg
  • Coordinates: -29.61679, 30.39278
  • Country Code: ZAF
  • Continent: Africa

Closest Airports to Pietermaritzburg

  • 1. Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB), distance from city center: 3.63 km
  • 2. Virginia Airport (VIR), distance from city center: 66.53 km
  • 3. King Shaka International Airport (DUR), distance from city center: 70.27 km

Location of Pietermaritzburg

South Africa Country Details

  • Country: South Africa
  • Official Name: Republic of South Africa
  • Capital: PretoriaBloemfonteinCape Town
  • Region: Africa
  • Subregion: Southern Africa
  • Population: 59,308,690
  • Area: 1,221,037 km²
  • Languages: Afrikaans, English, Southern Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu
  • Currency: South African rand (R)
  • Timezones: UTC+02:00
  • Flag: Flag of {countryDetailsInfoJson[0].name.common}

Has borders with:

  • Botswana
  • Lesotho
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Eswatini
  • Zimbabwe

Holidays in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

Planning a short trip? Check out the Long Weekends Calendar in South Africa for 2026

  • New Year's Day - 2026-01-01
  • Human Rights Day - 2026-03-21
  • Good Friday - 2026-04-03
  • Family Day - 2026-04-06
  • Freedom Day - 2026-04-27
  • Workers' Day - 2026-05-01
  • Youth Day - 2026-06-16
  • National Women's Day - 2026-08-10
  • Heritage Day - 2026-09-24
  • Day of Reconciliation - 2026-12-16
  • Christmas Day - 2026-12-25
  • St. Stephen's Day - 2026-12-26

Museums in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

Museum

Comrades Marathon House

18 Connaught Road, Msunduzi Ward 36, Pietermaritzburg, 3200, South Africa

Coordinates: 29.6142° S, 30.3953° E

Hours: Mo-Fr 08:00-16:30

Museum

Voortreker

351 Langalibalele Street, Msunduzi Ward 32, Pietermaritzburg, 3201, South Africa

Coordinates: 29.6000° S, 30.3830° E