• Explore the Midlands Meander
    Explore the Midlands Meander

Activities in the Area

Thanks you for choosing Pleasant Places By Sanaandi, a charming place that serves great food and drinks with a warm smile and celebrates simply living in the moment, whilst enjoying your own conversations and laughter, in a relaxed country environment designed to captivate your senses.

As much as we’d love to keep you here with us, there’s so much to do in the Midlands and you can’t say you’ve been to the Midlands if you haven’t experienced at least of these favourite tourist attractions.

Tourist Attractions

Piggly Wiggly (9kms from Pleasant Places)

Piggly Wiggly has all the makings of a typical Meander experience. Piggly Wiggly is a truly family, fun orientated venue that has something for everyone, art fanatics, foodies and kids alike can all enjoy great food and activities in a pleasant country setting.

Nelson Mandela Capture Site (13kms from Pleasant Places)

Where our beloved former President Nelson Mandela, was captured and arrested on 5 August 1962 by the apartheid security police.

Midmar Dam (20kms from Pleasant Places)

Midmar Dam offers a large expanse of fresh water surrounded by rolling countryside. Relax in the great outdoors with your family and friends at Midmar Dam. This KwZulu-Natal nature reserve has water sport facilities and a game park for fun in the sun and happy get-togethers.

Howick Falls (21kms from Pleasant Places)

The waterfall is approximately 111 m/ 364 feet in height and lies on the Umgeni River. The Zulu people called the falls KwaNogqaza, which means “Place of the Tall One”. The second tallest waterfall in South Africa, Howick Falls is home to crowned eagles, absailing, rock climbing and boating along the verdant subtropical river.

Karkloof Farmer’s Market (26kms from Pleasant Places)

Coming to the Karkloof Farmers’ Market is about more than shopping. You can meet the farmers or stroll around the nursery while the little ones burn some energy in the sand pit or on the jungle gym. And supporting the Midlands’ farmers means that you are part of the upliftment of this exquisite part of South Africa. And the indoor venue ensures that the market is open all year round. In fact, this is the perfect place to spend a rainy Saturday morning; surrounded by the smells of baking bread and freshly-brewed coffee.

Karkloof Canopy Tours (41kms from Pleasant Places)


Located just outside Howick, in the Karkloof Nature Reserve, this is a one-of-a-kind eco-experience. The Karkloof Canopy Tour takes visitors gliding from tree to through the second-largest indigenous forest in the country.

Local Favourites

A selection of our favourite places in the Midlands Meander, we’ve tried them more than once and they never disappoint. We encourage you to visit and tell them Pleasant places by Sanaandi sent you. If there’s a place not on the list, it just means we’ve only been there once or haven’t been there at all, so please also let us know where you’ve been so we can also go and visit when we are not too busy catering to you.

Restaurants & Cafes

  • Blueberry Café
  • VdeV
  • The Barn Owl
  • Fables Eatery
  • La Lampara

Cheese & Wine

  • Highgate
  • Abingdon Wine Estate
  • Swissland Cheese
  • The Gourmet Greek
  • Indezi Creamery

Sweet Treats

  • Wedgewood Emporium
  • Chocolate Heaven

Craft Beers & Gin

  • Lions River Brewery
  • Rawdons Gin
  • Notties Brewery

Spas

  • Brookdale Health Hydro
  • Fordoun Spa
  • Healing Earth at Brahman Hills

Golf Course

  • Gowrie Farm
  • Bosch Hoek Golf Estate

If you really do not feel like going anywhere, you could stroll down through the pastures below the house to the Lions River or enjoy a leisurely walk around our 16-hectare property, enjoying some of the spectacular scenery. Relax in the garden and watch or simply listen to the abundant birdlife.

We also have picnic baskets filled with snack and treats made with local produce. You can enjoy your picnic baskets here or take with you as you meander through the beautiful countryside of the Midlands.