Guidebook
Lonely Planet South Africa, Lesotho & Eswatini
James Bainbridge et al. · 2022
Covers the Drakensberg, Augrabies, KZN Midlands, Panorama Route falls and Lesotho's Semonkong for Maletsunyane in one book.
South Africa · Southern Africa
Howick Falls
KwaNogqaza
A single sheer drop on the Mgeni River just outside Howick town, easily viewed from a roadside platform, holds deep Zulu spiritual significance as the home of a mythical serpent. Nelson Mandela was captured by security police on the road nearby in 1962, a site now marked by a nearby memorial.
KwaZulu-Natal's most accessible major waterfall Essentials guide
Checked September 2026 by David Bussell
Howick Falls drops 95 metres (312 ft) on the Mgeni. It is a plunge-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Howick, with PZB the closest airport. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy.
As a plunge waterfall, water leaves the rock entirely and falls free through the air.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at Howick Falls itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from Howick are the easiest way to combine it with the area around it.
Also good forHikingPhotography
When to go
Summer thunderstorms (Dec-Mar) swell the Mgeni River.
Entry: Small viewing-platform fee
Getting there
- Base town Howick
- Airport PZB
- Country South Africa
- Region Southern Africa, Africa
- Access Easy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint
How it compares
This waterfall
Howick Falls
South Africa
Height95 mWidth—
Most similar
Lisbon Falls
South Africa
Height94 mWidth—
Also a plunge waterfall, of similar height and in South Africa too
Largest curtain
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe · Zambia
Height108 mWidth1,708 m
Largest single sheet of falling water
Tallest on earth
Angel Falls
Venezuela
Height979 mWidth—
Widest on earth
Khone Phapheng Falls
Laos
Height21 mWidth10,783 m
Measured across the whole multi-channel system
94 m
95 m
108 m
330 m
979 m
Lisbon FallsHowick FallsVictoria FallsEiffel TowerAngel Falls
Khone Phapheng Falls
10,783 m
Victoria Falls
1,708 m
Angel Falls is 10× taller than Howick Falls. It is about the same height as Victoria Falls (108 m). We don't have a reliable crest width for Howick Falls yet, so it is left off the width chart. Tallest · widest lists.
Watch and read
Videos from Howick Falls
8:06
2:12
Chosen from YouTube; videos belong to their creators and play from YouTube's privacy-enhanced player.
Books worth packing
Walking guide
Walking in the Drakensberg: 75 Walks
Jeff Williams · 2017
Route descriptions for the Amphitheatre, including the Sentinel chain-ladder route to the top of Tugela Falls and the gorge walk below.
On the map
-29.4833, 30.2333
Quick answers
Where is Howick Falls?
Howick Falls is in South Africa (Southern Africa). The nearest base is Howick and the closest airport is PZB. Its coordinates are -29.4833, 30.2333.
How tall is Howick Falls?
Howick Falls drops 95 metres (312 feet). It is a plunge-type waterfall on the Mgeni.
When is the best time to visit Howick Falls?
Peak flow is January to March. Summer thunderstorms (Dec-Mar) swell the Mgeni River.
What can you do at Howick Falls?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking and photography. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint.
How do you get to Howick Falls?
The usual base is Howick, and the closest airport is PZB. A short walk or roadside viewpoint from there. Small viewing-platform fee.
Nearby
Closest to Howick Falls
Full guide Tugela Falls
South Africa · 948 m · 150 km away
Among the world's tallest waterfalls (disputed second)
Ncandu Falls
South Africa · 190 km away
Ncandu Falls is a waterfall in the Ncandu River in Northern KwaZulu-Natal, in South Africa close to the town…
Maletsunyane Falls
Lesotho · 192 m · 220 km away
Longest single-drop abseil (204m) in the world
Abseiling
Magwa Falls
South Africa · 142 m · 230 km away
Magwa Falls is a waterfall in Eastern Cape province in South Africa. The main water drop is 142 metres .