Drakensberg Mountains

Royal Natal National Park

This area of the Drakensberg is particularly well known as a tourist attraction and accommodation area. Situated in the Northern Drakensberg, the most famous feature is the Amphitheatre. Here the Drakensberg, for the length of 5 kms raises straight up to the sky, to a height of over 3000 meters. A stunning feature of the Drakensberg is the Tugela Falls cascading down 5 drops forming the second highest waterfall in the world.

Cathedral Peak and Didima Valley

The Cathedral Peak Area of the Drakensberg has splendid scenery with the Dorian Falls as an excellent example of a Drakensberg waterfall. Views of the Central Drakensberg can be had by venturing to the top of Mike’s Pass (accessible with a 4x4 vehicle) and a natural feature of breath-taking nature is the Rainbow Gorge, with two enormous boulders forming a wedge. The recently built Didima Resort and San Art Centre, a KZN Wildlife Project is well worth a visit whilst in this area of the Drakensberg. A 4x4 trail leads from the Amphitheatre in the Northern Drakensberg to Cathedral Peak via the Mweni Valley. It provides a challenging drive as well as a remoteness that is unique in today’s world. The Mweni Cultural Centre, which provides accommodation, trails and guides, is also in this area as well as some of the most challenging climbs in the entire Drakensberg.

The Cathkin and Champagne Valley

Cathkin and Champagne Castle have peaks at 3149m and 3248m respectively. These, together with Monk’s Cowl (3234m) are some of the highest peaks of the Drakensberg Mountains. Cathkin was named after an area around Glasgow, Scotland by the first Scottish settlers in the Drakensberg. The Champagne Peak received its name as a result of the first climber to reach its peak taking a bottle of Champagne to celebrate his achievement and accidentally dropping it. Champagne Valley is noted for its many different sporting activates, especially golf, for which there are numerous challenging golf courses.

Giants Castle and Injisuti

Giants Castle Game Reserve , home of the eland and the majestic bearded vulture, lies in the Central Berg region of the Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park. Giants Castle camp is situated on a gassy plateau among the deep valleys running down kamberg.htmlfrom the face of the High Drakensberg, offering glorious views for hikers and mountain climbers. Superb rock art is high among its special attractions. The renowned vulture restaurant is open in winter for visitors to watch bearded vultures and other endangered species feeding.Visit the Main Caves Museum for fascinating insight into the past lifestyle of the San people. Giants has four mountain huts, three of which are situated just below the main escarpment. They sleep eight and provide opportunities to climb up various passes onto the top of the Drakensberg range. The fourth mountain hut is situated lower down on a ridge overlooking Meander Valley and sleeps four people.

Kamberg

The Kamberg Nature Reserve trail to Game Pass Shelter is a two-and-a-half, to three hour guided walk, via the spiritually moving Waterfall Shelter. It is nothing short of a world-class experience in Khoisan rock art and living Zulu and San culture. Walks normally leave at 08h00, 11h00 and between 12h30 and 13h00. The walk is preceded by a spectacular DVD presentation at the state-of-the-art Interpretive Centre

Sani Pass

The Sani Pass is the only access from KwaZulu Natal to the harsh environment of the Lesotho Highlands, the domain of the endangered Bearded Vulture, Basotho shepherds and their animals. The Route, aptly called the "roof of Africa", boasts to be the highest road in Africa and third highest in the world and peaks at a heady height of 3200m above sea level! Close to the Sani Pass summit, within a couple of kilometres, is the highest peak in Southern Africa, Thabane Ntlenyana, 3482m high.

Underberg & Himeville

The small towns of Underberg and Himevilleare located beneath the Southern Drakensberg Mountains. This is very evident when one is driving down the main road into Underberg from Bulwer. The peaks of the "Giants Cup" loom above the town, perfectly framed by a magnificent avenue of plain trees.

Garden Castle and Bushmans Nek

Garden Castle is the southern most part of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park and incorporates the beautiful Bushmans Nek Valley. Dominated by the Rhino a 3051m Peak which extends about 2km from the main escarpment , the area is characterized by many unusual sandstone buttresses and other formations.

Accommodation in and around Drakensberg