Botha's Hill

Location Spotlight: Botha’s Hill

Durban Film Office | Filmmakers’ Location Guide

Rolling Hills, Colonial Charm, and Misty Escapes

Nestled in the Valley of a Thousand Hills, Botha’s Hill offers filmmakers a stunning blend of lush green landscapes, winding roads, historic architecture, and sweeping panoramic views. Just 35 minutes from Durban, this elevated location brings an atmospheric, rural-meets-vintage charm that suits everything from period dramas to road films and psychological thrillers.

Coordinates

📍 Botha’s Hill (Hillcrest Area):
Decimal: -29.765900, 30.721300
DMS: 29°45'57.2"S 30°43'16.7"E

Why Botha’s Hill is a Director’s Dream

🌄 Cinematic Landscapes

• Set high above the coastline, the area offers dramatic hilltop views, valleys below shrouded in mist, and tree-lined country roads perfect for drone shots, long tracking sequences, or emotional storytelling moments.

🏘️ Historic and Quaint Aesthetic

• Home to classic colonial and Edwardian-style homes, old-school cafés, and roadside craft markets – the setting works for period pieces, small-town dramas, or South African heritage documentaries.

• The presence of the renowned Kearsney College also adds opportunities for institutional or academic-themed shoots with historic backdrops.

🛣️ Scenic Drives & Rural Roads

• Winding country roads through Botha’s Hill and the surrounding Thousand Hills Route are ideal for car commercials, music videos, or emotional journeys in film narratives.

🌿 Natural Light & Changing Weather

• Morning mist, midday clear skies, and golden sunsets over the hills give cinematographers ample flexibility for visual mood shifts in a single shoot day.

Ideal For

• Coming-of-age or boarding school dramas

• Historic or rural South African stories

• Car commercials and motorbike travel scenes

• Period pieces, docu-dramas, or thrillers

• Nature features and Zulu cultural documentaries

Quick Facts

• Location: Outer West Durban, eThekwini Municipality

• Distance from Durban CBD: ±35 minutes via M13

• Nearby Towns: Hillcrest, Drummond, Inchanga

• Permit Required: Yes – via Durban Film Office

• Nearby Amenities: Local shops, petrol stations, private lodges, schools

• Best Time to Film: Early mornings for mist and light, dry season for clarity

• Film Tip: Coordinate with local tourism and cultural offices for access to nearby Zulu cultural villages, marketplaces, and Valley of a Thousand Hills outlook points

Explore Botha’s Hill

Whether you're after a gentle period atmosphere, a remote family estate, or a sweeping valley view, Botha’s Hill delivers richness, charm, and film-friendly infrastructure all wrapped in KwaZulu-Natal’s rolling green hills.

Contact the Durban Film Office to coordinate permits, scout support, and access to this serene, story-rich landscape.