 |
Home>SA>What to see | 
|
|||
|
|
||
|
|||
| South Africa: What to see | |||
| Drakensberg | |||
>see photographs Overview Meaning “Dragon Mountain” the Drakensberg is an extremely popular destination ranking alongside the Cape Peninsula, the Garden Route and the Blyde River Canyon as a top leisure destination. Formed by erosive forces of water, temperature and wind the Drakensberg offer a multitude of different peaks, pinnacles, walls, domes, amphitheatres and other formations. Breathtaking scenery, the San rock painting sites, and rewarding hiking and climbing is what draws most people to the Drakensberg. Location The Drakensberg extends south from Magoebaskloof in Mpumalanga for over 1,000 kilometres and only ends in the north of the Eastern Cape. The heart of the range is the Kwa-Zulu Natal Drakensberg. Highlights The area can be divided into: the Northern 'Berg, the Central 'Berg and the Southern 'Berg. Listing some of their features the Northern Berg includes: Amphitheatre, Cathedral Peak, Royal Natal National Park, and the Tugela Waterfall (which drops 850 metres in five clear leaps – the main vertical section is 183 metres). The Central ‘Berg includes Injasuti, Monk’s Cowl, Champagne Castle, Giant’s Castle, and the Giant’s Castle Game Reserve – home to the bearded vulture (lammergeier). The Southern ‘Berg includes many forest and nature reserves, as well as the Rhino Horn peak. This southern area has the most chance of snow, and thus South Africa’s only ski resort is located here. A famous 4x4 mountain pass follows a hair-raising route rising, twisting, turning in its’ ascension of the escarpment. One of the greatest highlights of the Drakensberg is a cultural one in the form of Bushman art: over 20,000 individual rock paintings have been recorded at 500 different cave and overhang sites. Climate The “Berg” has a year-round appeal. Night temperatures often drop below 10 degrees Celsius, and snow falls in winter. Thunderstorms are common on summer afternoons. Hikers should be prepared for all kinds of conditions. Activities Sightseeing and hiking are the main activities, although horse riding, pony trekking, fly-fishing, game viewing, mountain biking, kloofing, abseiling, rock climbing and bird watching are other options on offer. Accommodation Recommended establishments – Champagne Sports Resort, Cathedral Peak Hotel, River Glen Country House, Barett’s Country House, Mont-Aux Sources Hotel, Drakensberg Sun, Sani Pass Hotel & Leisure Resort. The Natal Parks Board have excellent reserves including Royal Natal and Giant’s Castle which offer accommodation and camping. How to get there The R617 from Pietermaritzberg takes you west to southern Drakensberg and the Sani Pass into Lesotho. From Johannesburg, take the N3 to Durban. If wanting to enter the northern Drakensberg, take the R616 after Harrismith and before Ladysmith. Oherwise there are various main road accesses off the R103 after Ladysmith but before Pietermaritzberg. |
|||
| TOP | |||
|
||||||
|
||||||
 |
||||||
|
||||||