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The Drakensberg Mountains
Northern Drakensberg, KwaZulu Natal,
South Africa
The Drakensberg (Mountain of Dragons) is one of South Africa's prime ecotourists destinations. Savour the ultimate freedom of great open spaces in a world of gigantic peaks and buttresses, towering cliffs and hidden valleys.
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The Drakensberg mountains is a 200-kilometre-long mountainous wonderland and world heritage site. The largest proportion of the South African component of this area falls in KwaZulu-Natal.
Known to the Zulu people as Ukhahlamba, or 'Barrier of Spears', the Mountains of the Dragon provide a magnificent semi-circular border between KwaZulu-Natal and the inland mountain kingdom of Lesotho.
The Northern and Central Drakensberg areas have some of the most beautiful scenery that can be imagined.
The area falls into four valleys, beginning with the Champagne Valley in the Central Drakensberg, through the Cathedral Peak and Didima valley, then the Royal Natal National Park and Amphitheatre Valley, and finally the Middledale Pass Valley in the Northern Drakensberg.
The Southern Drakensberg lies a bit off the beaten tourist track and is not very well known. There are several nature reserves, of which particularly the Kamberg and the Loteni are worth a visit.
A wonderful circular trail leads through the Lotheni Reserve, but the tourist highlight of the southern Drakensberg is the Sani Pass.
Accommodation
A variety of accommoddation options in KZN Wildlife managed restcamps as well as private hotels and lodges are available in the Northern, Central and Southern Drakensberg Areas.
Culture
The Drakensberg is rich in cultural heritage. It is home to 35% of South Africa's San rock art sites. In South Africa the San inhabited the Drakensberg from the late Stone Age times until the late nineteenth century.
They left some of the finest examples of rock art in the world. Guided Walks to some rock art shelters can be booked at Giants Castle, Injisuthi, Cathedral Peak and Royal Natal. There is a rock art centre at Kamberg with guided walks to Game Pass shelter and a magnificent San rock art centre at the Didima Camp at Cathedral Peak.
Wildlife
The Drakensberg has a diverse population of birds, mammals and reptiles. The more common larger mammals that can be found are mountain reedbuck, grey rhebuck, grey duiker, eland, klipspringer, bushbuck and oribi. The main predators in the Drakensberg are leopard (found in very small numbers) black-backed jackal, caracal, serval, clawless and spotted neck otter, various species of mongoose and genet.
Troops of chacma baboons, porcupines and colonies of rock hyrax are also found throughout this mountain park.
The Drakensberg is home to over 300 species of birds. Thirty two of the species are endemic to Southern Africa. Some of the specials that can be found are wattled crane, cape vulture, bearded vulture, orange breasted rockjumper and yellow breasted pipit.
Activities
Hiking and Walking
A hiker's paradise, this high mountain range is a wilderness where body and soul may be renewed through contact with nature - the hiking experiences are endless. There are hikes to suit most needs. These range from a gentle stroll to an extremely strenuous hike.
Lammergeyer Hide
A visitor has the opportunity to enter into this rare raptor's world at Giants Castle. Here visitors might see the rare Bearded Vulture (Lammergeyer), Cape Vulture, Black Eagle, Jackal Buzzard or Lanner Falcon. The hide is open between the 1st of May and the 31st of September each year and visitors are taken up to the hide by vehicle and walk back.
Mountain Biking
At Cathedral Peak mountain bikers can enjoy the awesome views of the Drakensberg as they traverse the existing network of tracks originally put in place for forestry purposes in the sixties.
A simple 14km mountain bike trail has been established in the beautiful Lotheni valley in the Southern Drakensberg. Mountain bikers have the opportunity to stop at the historic 'Gelib Tree' site and on a warm day there is the opportunity to swim at the magnificent 'Cool Pools'.
The 75km Giants Castle Mountain Bike Challenge is a major annual mountain biking event. This event combines the majesty of stunning Drakensberg views with the opportunity for mountain bikers to pit themselves against South Africa's toughest mountain bike challenge.
Fishing
Kamberg Nature Reserve is the a most popular trout fishing venue for novices and more experienced anglers alike.
River fishing is found at Kamberg, Royal Natal, Injisuthi, Cobham (in the southern area), Garden Castle, Giants Castle and Lotheni. Dam fishing is found at Kamberg, Royal Natal and Highmoor (near Mooi River). Highmoor is reserved primarily for stillwater trophy fishing and is closed intermittently for several months of the year.
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Location: Northern Drakensberg,
KwaZulu Natal |
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