Richmond is situated in the picturesque hills of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands and is flanked by the Illovo River.

The area consists mainly of dairy, livestock and sugar farming, and is surrounded by scenic rolling hills blanketed with timber plantations. Near the town visitors will find Beaulieu Dam, where they can try their luck at fishing. From time to time angling competitions are held here for the monster-sized carp that lurk in it's waters. The nearby Highover Nature Reserve which is a privately owned natural heritage site, nestled in the scenic Umkomazi Gorgeis a popular birding destination, with over 100 recorded species. The area is home to the endangered Blue Swallowand and other rare species including the Black-winged Lapwing, Black-rumped Buttonquail, Striped Flufftail, Broad-tailed Warbler, Pale-crowned Cisticola and Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk.

The Richmond, Byrne and District Museum, which was built as the Presbyterian manse in 1882 has many interesting artefacts. Other building of historic interest include the St Mary's Anglican Church constructed in 1856, The Freemason's Lodge completed in the late 1800's and Bombay House which was built in 1902. The Old Court House built in the 1860's is now the home of the town's Publicity and Information offices, and the former prison cells have been transformed into a series of shops in an Old Type Mall.