logo

home


About Mfula Store

Mfula Store (Umfula Store) is a traditional South African Trading Store located on the banks of the Umgeni River in the Valley of a 1000 Hills in Kwa-Zulu Natal.

 

The House at Mfula Store offers overnight accommodation for visitors to this rural area.

The nearby Umgeni river, surrounding valleys, roads and isolated homesteads provide opportunities for all outdoor enthusiasts and those looking for a cultural experience within 50km of Durban or Pietermaritzburg.


Click here to see the Before and After pictures



Our plans for the future of Mfula Store:

Extensive Renovations to the original house are complete. Care has been taken in order to maintain the traditional Trading Store house style.


Mfula Trading Store will continue trading as it always has done, and will provide a much needed community focal point for essential services, such as
the mobile clinic, pension payout points etc.


This now peaceful area remains a tranquil oasis midway between Pietermaritzburg and Durban.


The History of Mfula Store - Our Story

Established in 1947, it was the first Trading Store in this area of the Valley of 1000 Hills.  For the first 30 years of the store's existence the trading family lived in the house behind the store, as was typical of the time.


Mfula Trading Store flourished until the 1990's when, due an unfortunate combination of the political situation and the trading store's remote location, this area of the Valley of 1000 Hills rapidly became depopulated.


During 2008, while seconding friends on the Non-stop Dusi, John and Gill Graaf met the then proprietor of Mfula Store, Mr Christopher Gwala on the bridge crossing the Umngeni River at Mfula Store.

After metting Mr Gwala, John and Gill used the Store as a base for mountain biking and paddling in the Valley of 1000 hills. As a result, they got to know him quite well. Mr Gwala mentioned that, due to the lack of residents in the area, the trading store was not profitable, and he wished to sell. John then remarked, tongue in cheek, "Maybe you must sell it to me."

While tripping in the area during December 2009, John enquired about Mr Gwala and was informed that he had recently passed away.

Upon enquiring about the future of the store, John was surprised to be told that it was to be sold. Mr Gwala had told his family that the sale to John was a done deal!



Durban Green Corridoor

Mfula Store is proud to be associated with the Durban Green Corridor project.

panoramic image