Drakensberg
The Drakensberg Mountains are part of the 243 000 hectare uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park, which was added to the World Heritage Site list in 2000.The Zulu name, uKhahlamba, meaning ‘barrier of spears’, aptly describes this awe inspiring region.
Registered tourist guides will help you find examples of the ancient Bushman rock art of the San people who lived in the area thousands of years ago. These paintings are one of the Drakensberg’s greatest cultural treasures, with some 20 000 individual rock paintings having been recorded at different caves and overhang sites.
This area of seasonally snow-capped peaks is divided into three regions, southern, central and northern Drakensberg, and is a mecca for outdoor activities and the adventurous.The Northern Drakensberg is home to the spectacular Amphitheatre and the source of the uThukela River. This river plunges 948 metres over the edge of the Mont-aux-Sources Plateau as the uThukela Falls, the second highest waterfall in the world.
Feel the adrenalin rush provided by sheer rock or ice climbing, abseiling, canopy tours, white water rafting, helicopter rides and 4×4 excursions up Sani Pass – the highest pass-road in South Africa. Or experience the awesome Drakensberg on horseback, from hour-long rides to a three-day expedition into Lesotho. Hiking or leisurely walks along the many routes on both the lower and upper slopes of the Drakensberg will yield sightings of up to 290 species of birds, 48 species of mammals and rare varieties of plant life found in the park. Or simply relax on the verandahs of one of the many welcoming accommodation facilities in the region, cocktail in hand, as you soak up the magnificent views of the mountains.
The Mnweni Cultural Centre offers visitors a glimpse of local culture, hand crafted goods and medicinal plants. Visitors will be spoilt for choice when it comes to accommodation, with the selection ranging from luxury lodges and boutique hotels, to picturesque guesthouses and rustic self-catering chalets, all with the magnificent mountains as their backdrop. The more adventurous might even enjoy going with a trained guide for a night in a nearby cave.
For more info, please visit our website at www.drakensberg.kzn.org.za
Central Drakensberg Information Centre offers you:
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1. accommodation bookings for resorts, hotels, |
For accommodation bookings, |
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Tel: +27 (0)36 488 1207
Fax: +27 (0)36 488 1846 Email: cdta@futurenet.co.za |
View the website on www.cdic.co.za/