South Africa offers tourists coming to our country a huge choice of holiday
destinations. But its the Drakensberg Mountains that are still kept as an secret
place thats seems a bit off the normal beaten track and while some folks do make
it to the Drakensberg most dont.
The best place to start your journey would be to download the free
Drakensberg Tourist Map which will give you a great idea of where everything is.
This is the only to scale tourist map thats available for the region. It shows
all the back roads, indicates which are recommended and which are not and
indicates how far things are. But what I like about the map is that its freely
distributed, includes all the activities that the region offers and a great
selection of the best accommodation that the Drakensberg has to offer.
The Drakensberg starts in the North with Clarens and the Golden Gate National
Park and ends in the South at Bushmans Nek. Inbetween you will find the Royal
Natal National Park with its Amphitheatre, Mweni the wildest part of the
mountains, Cathedral Peak, Monks Cowl, Injasuti, Giants Castle National Park,
Kamberg with the best bushman rock art site in the whole Drakensberg Mountains,
Loteni, Sani Pass, Cobham, and Garden Castle.
There is lots to do in the region but the main reason you come to the
Drakensberg is because of the mountains. While every part of the Drakensberg is
special and has its own uniqueness there are a few spots you dont want to miss.
The best place to get to the top of the escarpment is at Sentinel peak. The
return hike is 5 hours and takes you the top of the Tugela Falls which falls
some 948 meters into the Royal Natal National Park below. The view from on top
of the Amphitheatre is proberbly one of the most spectacular views in the world.
Most tourists tend to walk at the bottom and while its worth the visit ist just
not the same as the top.
The Central Drakensberg and Northern Drakensberg form one region and by far
the best example of this section of the Drakensberg Mountains is
Giants Castle
National Park. Essentially the experience in any part of this region is the same
where you have the oppertunity to hike the lower reaches of the Drakensberg
Mountains or otherwise stay low in one of the valleys. What makes Giants Castle
more interesting is the large choice of trails and the lack of other people. I
suppe it wont stay that way forever but the experice of walking in the montains
and not seeing another sole can still be found here. From Giants Castle looking
south the mountains become softer , less dramatic but make no mistake hiking
trails in thes gentler landscape is just as good and should be included in your
trip. Kamberg is a really good spot where the added attraction of the best site
of bushman rock art is available.
Bushman Rock Art is most definatly a reason to visit the Drakernsberg
Mountains The excellent video presentation before the 3 hour guided tour at
Kamberg gives a
great explaination of the history of the people as well as the rock art at game
pass shelter. The rock art at Giants Castle at the main caves is also good and
is a very easy walk. The Didima Rock Art Centre at Cathedral Peak offers a great
presentation although the paintings are reproductions. All rock art must be
viewed with a guide.
Horse riding through the foothills of the Drakensberg is an experience not to
be missed. Sengani horse trails offers safe trails for beginners and experienced alike.
Spionkop game reserve even offers game viewing on horse back.
Steeped in history, the Battlefields Region offers enthralling tales of
British, Boer, Zulu and Voortrekker history. The Anglo Boer War reached as far
south as Mooi River and the many sites are best visited with a specialist guide
The region offers a fun and fascinating collection of art galleries, craft
shops, cheese tastings, leather work, antiques, clothing, gifts and pottery. All
the activities represent a unique collection of South African creativity. Take a
slow journey to view outstanding galleries such as Millgate, Indigo Fields
Gallery, and Zombeza. Community development projects like Eyethu Ceramics and
Thandanani Craft uplift local communities allowing tourism a wider benefit.
A trip up Sani Pass into Lesotho and a visit to the highest pub in Africa is
a must. It’s a dramatic 4×4 trail climbing 1330m in 6,5km’s Passports required.
Game viewing is available at Weenen, Spionkop, Umgeni Valley and Golden Gate.
For Birders the Lammergeyer hide at Giants Castle the Crane Foundation at
Kamberg and the bird of prey display at Falcon Ridge are highlights. Fort
Durnford in Estcourt offers one of the most complete bird egg collections in
South Africa.
For adventure seekers the region offers white water rafting and quad bikes ,
the longest cable slide in South Africa, a gorge swing and a flying trapeze,
bicycle tours and even hot air ballooning
The Drakensberg Boys Choir is a world renowned choir which performs most
Wednesdays at 3:30 pm. Bookings 036 / 468 1017. Don’t miss this enriching
cultural experience. Another enriching culteral experience is Mpopomeni Zulu
tourism experience where tourists have the oppertunity to meet local people,
hear a bit of the history of the settlement and taste some of the traditional
food. Whats great is that the experience is about real people and does not feel
touristy at all.
Or just pamper yourself at one of the region’s many health spas. For a
difference Indigo Fields offers a real Africa day spa experience
Drakensberg resourses
over 7 years ago
