Waterfall Today
Waterfall has long been associated with the outer reaches of greater Durban, at one stage enjoying the autonomy of its own local council that became defunct with the advent of Durban’s eThekwini municipality. Growth of the population and consequent development in the general upper highway area are unprecedented seeing big sisters Hillcrest and Kloof booming in property prices and in the case of Hillcrest, infrastructure. (For some history of Waterfall choose from the History tab above.)
Consequently areas like Waterfall, Crestholm and Crest view, usually associated with being at the end of the earth, have seen a change in the demographics of the area. Locals have noticed that the area has changed from young couples starting out and earning in the lower to middle income bracket to more established families in the middle to upper income bracket. Houses are being built or renovated and a few estates, including the Three Falls Estate off Inanda Road going up. The residents are hoping Waterfall will not be too densely developed and to this end the eThekwini Planning Department have put a Development Plan in place that is intended to control growth by limiting the minimum size of sub-divisions. Despite all the changes Waterfall remains a remarkably beautiful part of the world with magnificent views of gorges and valleys, quiet tree lined streets hosting a wealth of bird life.
Shops
Waterfall’s retail infrastructure is well established and growing. The long standing shopping centre, the Waterfall Shopping centre, is being demolished and a new upmarket Regional Mall being built in its place: The Watercrest Mall. This will feature supermarkets: Spar and Checkers as well as a full Woolworths. A Ster Kinekor Movie Theatre is also included as well as 120 other stores with a GLA of over 40 000sqm. The mall is expected to compete with the Pavilion for shoppers from the Upper Highways who routinely trek to Westville for a broader shopping experience.
Link Hills
Across Inanda road is the recently completed Link Hills Shopping centre which includes anchors Pick n’ Pay and Mica, as well as a Muscle & Fitness Gym upstairs. There is also a broad selection of take away restaurants including KFC, Steers, Fishaways,Debonairs and iYO Frozen Yoghurt. The centre has been the stand-in guy whilst the old centre was emptied and demolished. It includes shops with a more local flavour unlikely to be found in the coming big regional mall across the road and is likely to retain a local appeal in years to come.
Link Road
The M33 which runs from Hillcrest to Kloof via Waterfall is initially the Inanda Road but becomes the Link Road at Waterfall’s main intersection. Link Road has become a commercial strip worth mentioning. From the intersection with the two shopping centres to Bridle Road which continues through to Kloof, there are numerous businesses and facilities important to the running of Waterfall. The eThekwini Municipality Health Unit is a gap away from the Nissan dealership and includes the centre for Environmental Health from Forest Hills to Cato Ridge. The Waterfall Clinic and the Waterfall Library are also on this road. Just off Rock Road is the Scout Hall. Also Just off Link Road in Yellowwood Drive is the Waterfall Gardens Retirement Village. On the corner of David road is a building facilitating an electrician as well as hair and beauty businesses and the Sham Pooch Dog groomers. Also in Link Road there is a Chiropractic Clinic, a doctor, another beautician and the Pirates Tapas bar among other businesses.
If one were to continue on Inanda road instead of turning off to Link Road, on the right hand side is the Inanda Link Centre a modest building accommodating a pet shop, Chetty’s Curry Den, Fantasia Costume Hire, Quirky Queens event management among other businesses.
Medical
Just one stand further down is the pivotal Link Hills Medical Centre on the corner of Niagara. This much loved local practice includes six doctors, a dentist, a physiotherapist and an Ampath Laboratory. There is also a Reflexologist in Waterfall as well as a dentist up-stairs at the Link Hills Shopping centre. As mentioned, there is also another medical practice on Link Road as well as a chiropractic clinic. Also in the area is Private Nursing Practitioner Sister Marjorie Warnes who specialises in home care.(See Our Medical Page for Details)
Pets
There are vets at both ends of Waterfall, The Waterfall Veterinary Clinic on Rowles Avenue and the Inanda Veterinary Hospital on the corner of Howick and Inanda. Although both vets sell pet food there is also a Petwise, pet food and accessories shop in the new Watercrest Centre. Online Pet Memorials are catered for by a Waterfall resident. Pets can be bought at the Waterfall Pet shop in the Inanda Link Centre on Inanda Road or Helshar Persians from Sharon Kelly (see animal page). Sham Pooch are Waterfall’s dog groomers on the corner of David and Link Roads and there is even a waterfall animal therapist on Cam Close. For those who enjoy horses, the Rocking Horse Equestrian Centre on Inanda Road caters for both children and adults as does the Sunrae Valley Stables. Pets Country club is the local Kennels & Cattery down at the Mazarat Farm off Brackenhill Road. (See our Animals Page for details.)
Waterfall Industrial
A couple of kilometres along Brackenhill road from the main intersection with Inanda Road is Waterfall Industrial. Waterfall Industrial is a collection of industrial parks that run the length of the Brackenhill road until it reaches Ngwele Road (ex Fischer Road) in Riverview. These industrial parks include storage facilities, warehousing and light industry as well as the workshops for numerous trades-persons providing much needed jobs.
Religion
Religious places of worship are numerous in Waterfall. Christ Church Waterfall traces their roots back to 1986, while the Methodist have just finished building their new church after having met in the Forest Hills primary school for many years. The Afrikaans congregation of Corpus Christi meet in the library hall and the Baptist Church meet in the Forest Hills Primary School. The Apostolic Church which has its roots in the Danish Apostolic Church, meet off Fisher Road now Ngwele Road just above Waterfall Industrial. The old Waterfall Community Church (WCC) after many decades of service to the community has been absorbed by City Hill from Hillcrest are located in WCC building on Rock Road. The Waterfall Coastal Assemblies marks the entrance to Waterfall on Inanda Road. Down in the dip on Inanda Road in what used to be the Crinkley Bottom, now the Nkuthu Gardens is where the Waterfall Christian Fellowship meets. There is also a Buddhist retreat centre overlooking the Nkuthu Valley in Waterfall 3. With 8 churches Waterfallers don’t need to leave town to worship.
Education
Waterfall is spoiled for choice when it comes to preschool and aftercare, revealing the demographics of the area as one populated by young couples with small children. Waterfall Educare is a busy little school in Lin Road. Humpty Dumpty caters for ages 2 to 5 and there is a Montessori in the area too. Just outside Waterfall is the Clifton Hill Nursery School which caters for 18 months to 5 years. Although not strictly in Waterfall the Forest Hills Primary School is a block away from Waterfall and Waterfall College on the iThemba campus, Fischer Road (now Ngwele Road) is just up the road catering for grades 8-12. Those choosing to send their children to Kloof or Hillcrest schools can make use of two shuttle services, Kidz Shuttle and Kidz on the Move. (See our Schools Page)
Eateries
Eating out is bound to change with the advent of the new shopping centre, many new restaurants are planned. However until then there are two main pub/food/entertainment venues that are very popular with locals: The Meercats in Waterfall 3 is a regular music venue and the Pirates Tapas bar on Link Road is open every night. During the day the Coffee Nut Café at Link Hills and The Falls Coffee Shop at the Spar both catering for day to day ‘grub’ and good coffee. Take Away Food is well catered for by Debonairs Pizza, Fishaways fish and chips, KFC, Steers burgers all at Link Hills (For detailed information see the Food Page)
Accommodation
Waterfall also offers three main accommodation venues. African Sunrise offers dorms, twin rooms, double rooms and a cottage. Nkuthu Gardens (AKA Crinkley Bottom) is a popular venue for weddings, conferences, accommodation and functions now under new ownership. The Du Boirs is Waterfall’s boutique hotel as well as being an exquisite and scenic wedding and conference venue.
Waterfall is becoming more and more of a self-contained location. With growing retail space, well located industrial and commercial property and a profusion of uncrammed residential space with an abundance of beautiful green lungs and tree-lined streets. With the new dual carriageway due to be completed within the next year improved infrastructure is putting Waterfall on the map.
Waterfall has long been associated with the outer reaches of greater Durban, at one stage enjoying the autonomy of its own local council that became defunct with the advent of Durban’s eThekwini municipality. Growth of the population and consequent development in the general upper highway area are unprecedented seeing big sisters Hillcrest and Kloof booming in property prices and in the case of Hillcrest, infrastructure. (For some history of Waterfall choose from the History tab above.)
Consequently areas like Waterfall, Crestholm and Crest view, usually associated with being at the end of the earth, have seen a change in the demographics of the area. Locals have noticed that the area has changed from young couples starting out and earning in the lower to middle income bracket to more established families in the middle to upper income bracket. Houses are being built or renovated and a few estates, including the Three Falls Estate off Inanda Road going up. The residents are hoping Waterfall will not be too densely developed and to this end the eThekwini Planning Department have put a Development Plan in place that is intended to control growth by limiting the minimum size of sub-divisions. Despite all the changes Waterfall remains a remarkably beautiful part of the world with magnificent views of gorges and valleys, quiet tree lined streets hosting a wealth of bird life.
Shops
Waterfall’s retail infrastructure is well established and growing. The long standing shopping centre, the Waterfall Shopping centre, is being demolished and a new upmarket Regional Mall being built in its place: The Watercrest Mall. This will feature supermarkets: Spar and Checkers as well as a full Woolworths. A Ster Kinekor Movie Theatre is also included as well as 120 other stores with a GLA of over 40 000sqm. The mall is expected to compete with the Pavilion for shoppers from the Upper Highways who routinely trek to Westville for a broader shopping experience.
Link Hills
Across Inanda road is the recently completed Link Hills Shopping centre which includes anchors Pick n’ Pay and Mica, as well as a Muscle & Fitness Gym upstairs. There is also a broad selection of take away restaurants including KFC, Steers, Fishaways,Debonairs and iYO Frozen Yoghurt. The centre has been the stand-in guy whilst the old centre was emptied and demolished. It includes shops with a more local flavour unlikely to be found in the coming big regional mall across the road and is likely to retain a local appeal in years to come.
Link Road
The M33 which runs from Hillcrest to Kloof via Waterfall is initially the Inanda Road but becomes the Link Road at Waterfall’s main intersection. Link Road has become a commercial strip worth mentioning. From the intersection with the two shopping centres to Bridle Road which continues through to Kloof, there are numerous businesses and facilities important to the running of Waterfall. The eThekwini Municipality Health Unit is a gap away from the Nissan dealership and includes the centre for Environmental Health from Forest Hills to Cato Ridge. The Waterfall Clinic and the Waterfall Library are also on this road. Just off Rock Road is the Scout Hall. Also Just off Link Road in Yellowwood Drive is the Waterfall Gardens Retirement Village. On the corner of David road is a building facilitating an electrician as well as hair and beauty businesses and the Sham Pooch Dog groomers. Also in Link Road there is a Chiropractic Clinic, a doctor, another beautician and the Pirates Tapas bar among other businesses.
If one were to continue on Inanda road instead of turning off to Link Road, on the right hand side is the Inanda Link Centre a modest building accommodating a pet shop, Chetty’s Curry Den, Fantasia Costume Hire, Quirky Queens event management among other businesses.
Medical
Just one stand further down is the pivotal Link Hills Medical Centre on the corner of Niagara. This much loved local practice includes six doctors, a dentist, a physiotherapist and an Ampath Laboratory. There is also a Reflexologist in Waterfall as well as a dentist up-stairs at the Link Hills Shopping centre. As mentioned, there is also another medical practice on Link Road as well as a chiropractic clinic. Also in the area is Private Nursing Practitioner Sister Marjorie Warnes who specialises in home care.(See Our Medical Page for Details)
Pets
There are vets at both ends of Waterfall, The Waterfall Veterinary Clinic on Rowles Avenue and the Inanda Veterinary Hospital on the corner of Howick and Inanda. Although both vets sell pet food there is also a Petwise, pet food and accessories shop in the new Watercrest Centre. Online Pet Memorials are catered for by a Waterfall resident. Pets can be bought at the Waterfall Pet shop in the Inanda Link Centre on Inanda Road or Helshar Persians from Sharon Kelly (see animal page). Sham Pooch are Waterfall’s dog groomers on the corner of David and Link Roads and there is even a waterfall animal therapist on Cam Close. For those who enjoy horses, the Rocking Horse Equestrian Centre on Inanda Road caters for both children and adults as does the Sunrae Valley Stables. Pets Country club is the local Kennels & Cattery down at the Mazarat Farm off Brackenhill Road. (See our Animals Page for details.)
Waterfall Industrial
A couple of kilometres along Brackenhill road from the main intersection with Inanda Road is Waterfall Industrial. Waterfall Industrial is a collection of industrial parks that run the length of the Brackenhill road until it reaches Ngwele Road (ex Fischer Road) in Riverview. These industrial parks include storage facilities, warehousing and light industry as well as the workshops for numerous trades-persons providing much needed jobs.
Religion
Religious places of worship are numerous in Waterfall. Christ Church Waterfall traces their roots back to 1986, while the Methodist have just finished building their new church after having met in the Forest Hills primary school for many years. The Afrikaans congregation of Corpus Christi meet in the library hall and the Baptist Church meet in the Forest Hills Primary School. The Apostolic Church which has its roots in the Danish Apostolic Church, meet off Fisher Road now Ngwele Road just above Waterfall Industrial. The old Waterfall Community Church (WCC) after many decades of service to the community has been absorbed by City Hill from Hillcrest are located in WCC building on Rock Road. The Waterfall Coastal Assemblies marks the entrance to Waterfall on Inanda Road. Down in the dip on Inanda Road in what used to be the Crinkley Bottom, now the Nkuthu Gardens is where the Waterfall Christian Fellowship meets. There is also a Buddhist retreat centre overlooking the Nkuthu Valley in Waterfall 3. With 8 churches Waterfallers don’t need to leave town to worship.
Education
Waterfall is spoiled for choice when it comes to preschool and aftercare, revealing the demographics of the area as one populated by young couples with small children. Waterfall Educare is a busy little school in Lin Road. Humpty Dumpty caters for ages 2 to 5 and there is a Montessori in the area too. Just outside Waterfall is the Clifton Hill Nursery School which caters for 18 months to 5 years. Although not strictly in Waterfall the Forest Hills Primary School is a block away from Waterfall and Waterfall College on the iThemba campus, Fischer Road (now Ngwele Road) is just up the road catering for grades 8-12. Those choosing to send their children to Kloof or Hillcrest schools can make use of two shuttle services, Kidz Shuttle and Kidz on the Move. (See our Schools Page)
Eateries
Eating out is bound to change with the advent of the new shopping centre, many new restaurants are planned. However until then there are two main pub/food/entertainment venues that are very popular with locals: The Meercats in Waterfall 3 is a regular music venue and the Pirates Tapas bar on Link Road is open every night. During the day the Coffee Nut Café at Link Hills and The Falls Coffee Shop at the Spar both catering for day to day ‘grub’ and good coffee. Take Away Food is well catered for by Debonairs Pizza, Fishaways fish and chips, KFC, Steers burgers all at Link Hills (For detailed information see the Food Page)
Accommodation
Waterfall also offers three main accommodation venues. African Sunrise offers dorms, twin rooms, double rooms and a cottage. Nkuthu Gardens (AKA Crinkley Bottom) is a popular venue for weddings, conferences, accommodation and functions now under new ownership. The Du Boirs is Waterfall’s boutique hotel as well as being an exquisite and scenic wedding and conference venue.
Waterfall is becoming more and more of a self-contained location. With growing retail space, well located industrial and commercial property and a profusion of uncrammed residential space with an abundance of beautiful green lungs and tree-lined streets. With the new dual carriageway due to be completed within the next year improved infrastructure is putting Waterfall on the map.