About Kloof

Kloof is an Upper Highway suburb of greater Durban, sitting on the inland escarpment about 25 km west of the Durban CBD and around 200m higher in elevation. The Upper Highway corridor (Kloof, Hillcrest, Gillitts, Waterfall) is the leafy, residential, cooler-by-five-degrees alternative to the coastal heat of central Durban — and that profile carries into its conference offering: country-style lodges and gardens, not city hotels.

Where conferences happen

Conferencing in Kloof is small and characterful. Makaranga Garden Lodge is the area's flagship — a 14-acre Asian-themed sculpture garden estate with conference facilities up to ~80 delegates and on-site accommodation. Ammazulu African Palace handles smaller bespoke events in an unusual heritage-themed setting. The neighbouring suburbs of Hillcrest and Gillitts add a handful more options for small to mid-sized events. Total active inventory on Conference Venues SA: 4 properties in Kloof itself, more in the wider Upper Highway corridor.

Getting there

King Shaka International (DUR) is 45 minutes north via the M13 and N2. The Upper Highway is on the western edge of Durban's urban sprawl, so traffic into central Durban (25 minutes off-peak, 50+ in rush hour) is the main planning consideration if you have inbound delegates flying in. Self-drive territory — the M13 is the main artery and rush-hour direction matters for transfer planning.

When to pick Kloof

Durban-region events where you want delegates out of the coastal humidity and traffic — board strategy sessions, leadership offsites, training programmes, smaller corporate retreats. The cooler, leafier setting is the differentiator over Umhlanga or central Durban hotels. Not the right pick if your delegates need walkability to a beachfront, the ICC, or a major hotel cluster.

Climate

Cooler and slightly drier than coastal Durban thanks to elevation. Summers warm and humid (Nov–Mar, days 26–30°C, regular afternoon storms); winters mild and dry (May–Aug, days 22–24°C, nights down to 8°C). Year-round operating; the Upper Highway holds up well in summer when the coast can feel oppressive.

What to budget

Day-delegate packages run R750–R1,400. Accommodation R1,200–R2,800 per room per night. Roughly comparable to Umhlanga pricing but with more space, gardens, and lower delegate density.