• Eco-tourism and nature conservation go hand-in-hand and are highly sensitive issues. These labour intensive industries have the important potential to offer employment and other benefits to neighbouring rural communities.

Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park, KwaZulu-Natal Province

The Drakensberg Park, known as Ukhahlamba Park, is an inland mountain range in KwaZulu-Natal Province, along the eastern border of Lesotho, forming part of the eastern escarpment of southern Africa. This is the most important mountain catchment area in South Africa as the 3 largest high-yield rivers have their source in the Drakensberg, including the Tugela with its series of spectacular waterfalls. These rivers provide quality water in KwaZulu-Natal.

  • The Park is a place of exceptional natural beauty – jagged high peaks, pristine steep-sided river valleys, rocky gorges, patches of forest, high-altitude rolling grasslands, cascades tumbling into clear rock pools, displays of spring flowers… highly rewarding to the nature-lover and explorer.
The Drakensberg, KwaZulu-Natal
© Satour

There are several very popular areas within the Drakensberg where one may enjoy the magnificence of the mountains:

  • Cathedral Peak – One of the country’s prime mountaineering areas with awe-inspiring views from the summit; indigenous trees, waterfalls, fern-fringed trout-filled pools and wonderful walking trails. Splendid San rock art – some of the best in the country - is on view at the lonely Ndedema Gorge with in a steep-sided valley with many pools and cascades and an abundance of plant and animal life. Accommodation is available at campsites and an hotel.

Champagne Castle, Cathkin Peak & Sterkham, Drakensberg
© Satour
  • Cathkin Peak – The most popular mountain resort area offering a wide choice of recreational facilities. Behind Cathkin Peak is Champagne Castle, at 3377m the second-highest peak in South Africa and a strenuous hike to the summit.
     
  • A very wide range of comfortable accommodation is available at Cathkin Peak – more so than anywhere else in the Drakensberg – rustic camp sites, family resorts and luxury hotels.
     
  • The school of the world-famous Drakensberg Boys’ Choir is located in this area and the choir frequently holds concerts at the school.
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  • Giant’s Castle - Serrated peaks more than 3 km high pierce the clouds.
     
  • The Reserve offers dozens of hiking- and horse-riding trails, birding, trout fishing, photography and magnificent scenic vistas.
     
  • Accommodation is available in campsites, caves, cottages, bungalows and a lodge.
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Hiking in the Drakensberg
© Satour

Bushmen Cave Museum, Giants Castle
© Satour
  • Individual San rock art paintings may be viewed at Main Cave. The Main Caves Site Museum exhibits a fascinating display of lifelike San models, tools, weapons and other artefacts.
Rock Art in the Bushman Cave Museum, Giants Castle
© Satour
  • Royal Natal National Park – This spectacular national park with its mighty Amphitheatre is awe-inspiring in its majesty, especially when viewed from the rim of the escarpment. This is a wilderness of craggy mountain peaks, ravines, rivers, waterfalls, forests… The highest peak of the plateau is Mont-aux-Sources. Hiking may include easy 2-hour strolls to near-vertical ascents with chain ladders (not suitable for persons suffering from vertigo!). Other activities include horse-riding, birding (the rare and majestic lammergeyer or bearded vulture soars here), trout fishing, swimming in streams and rivers, San rock art and again, superb scenery for the keen photographer. Accommodation is available at hutted camps, chalets, camping grounds and an hotel. Because of the popularity of this mountain sanctuary, accommodation is always at a premium so bookings are recommended well in advance of proposed visits.

The Amphitheatre
© Satour
Riding in the Royal Hotel National Park, KwaZulu-Natal
© Satour
Bearded Vultures
© Satour

Flora:
The Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park is located within the Drakensberg Alpine Region, a centre of plant diversity and endemism, with a total of 2153 plant species. The Park contains a diversity of habitats with diverse vegetation species. Wetlands are widely distributed – mountain tarns, valley vleis and marshlands and intricate networks of rivers and streams.

Fauna:
Numerous species of fauna thrive in the Park including a few endemic only to the Park such as the Cream-potted mountain snake), Sclater’s Golden Mole and the small Grey Mongoose. Large populations of the Clawless Otter and Spotted-necked Otter are found in the Park. Almost 300 bird species have been identified here such as the ground woodpecker, Buffstreaked Chat, Guney’s Sugarbird, Bald Ibis and high altitude species such as the Orangebreasted Rockjumper, the Drakensberg Siskin and the Yellowbreasted Pipit.

Climate:
Thunderstorms and rain occur during the Summer months, most frequently in the late afternoons, whilst Winters are dry with frequent frost at high plateau altitudes, from mid-April to October. Temperatures vary widely and may reach 35’C in high summer on north-facing slopes at lower altitudes, to as low as –20’C during winter nights on the summit plateau.

Archaeology & Rock Art:
The Drakensberg region also ranks as one of the most important archaeological areas in South Africa. Archaeological sites from the Early, Middle and Late Stone Ages and the Late Iron Age are present, indicating that the period of human occupation in this mountainous region possibly extends over the last million years.

The strictly protected Ndedema Gorge is one of the most important sites of San rock art found in 17 sandstone rock shelters with over 4000 individual paintings, a priceless legacy of these ancient hunter-gatherers. Tour guides are necessary to visit the site and preferably 2-3 days should be set aside to explore and view the paintings in depth.

Several caves containing important San rock art are national monuments, including Main Caves. The settlement of Iron Age farmers in the foothill areas of the main escarpment may possibly date from the 1200s, or earlier. White settlers (Dutch-speaking Voortrekkers) arrived late 1837.

Accommodation:
A variety of accommodation exists in the Park, ranging from caves, camping facilities, chalets, mountain huts, family resorts to luxury hotels, providing for all tastes and budgets. Pre-bookings essential to avoid disappointment.

  • KOKANYA TOURS arranges:
    • Guided trips and hikes to various regions of the Park
    • Self-drive vehicle rental including 4X4’s
    • Accommodation
    • Horse riding trails
  • Please Contact Us for further information.

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