Drakensberg is a region of KwaZulu-Natal encompassing the spectacular 200 km long Drakensberg Mountain Range which separates Lesotho from South Africa. Within the region is the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, a 243000 ha protected area and the province’s second World Heritage site.
The uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park is divided into the northern section accessed via the towns of Winterton and Bergville and the much larger southern section accessed via Underberg and Himeville. Starting in 1903, when the Giants Castle Game Reserve was established in the central Drakensberg, a number of game reserves, nature reserves and state forests have been established. In 1916 The Royal Natal National Park and in 1950 the Rugged Glen Nature Reserve were established in the northern section and the Kamberg Nature Reserve in 1951, the Lotheni and Vergelegen Nature Reserves in 1966 and 67 in the central area of the southern section.
The Natal Drakensberg Wilderness Areas were proclaimed in 1973 and included all of the above Natal Parks Board parks. In 1986 the following State Forests were handed over to the Natal Parks Board: Cathedral Peak, Monk’s Cowl, Highmoor, Mkhomazi, Cobham and Garden Castle. All of the above now comprise the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park one of the most spectacular and diverse natural wonderlands in the world – hence its status as a World Heritage Site.
Another way of gaining perspective of this vast and complex landscape is to divide it into four distinct valleys, each with their own kind of beauty and character – starting in the north, the Middledale Valley, then the Royal Natal National Park and Amphitheatre Valley, the Cathedral Peak and Didima Valleys and then down to the Champagne Valley in the central berg.
uKhahlamba means “Barrier of Spears” in Zulu and Drakensberg means “Dragon Mountains” in Afrikaans and this fairly describes the dramatic peaks that make up the longest and highest mountain range in South Africa creating a veritable paradise for hikers, mountain climbers, mountain bikers and nature lovers of all descriptions. Adrenalin junkies will find many opportunities for sheer rock climbing, abseiling and, of-course, ascending the highest peaks in the range. For those who prefer a more leisurely pace, the many hiking routes on the lower slopes provide wonderful opportunities to experience nature at its most magnificent – fly-fishing, bird watching (nearly 300 species), 40 different species of mammals and the diverse and often rare vegetation.
For the historically inclined the Drakensberg is world famous for the number and quality of San rock paintings dating back some 800 years when the San Bushmen first roamed the area. The nearby towns of Ladysmith and Colenso were the scenes of bloody battles between the Boers and the British during the Boer War. Both towns have interesting museums and tours of the battlefields can be arranged. The siege of Ladysmith is probably the most important and talked about aspect of this phase of the war and when the siege was broken the Drakensberg was returned to British control.
The uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park itself is surrounded by densely populated farmlands making the protection of the Park from human encroachment exceptionally important. The Park is also the watershed for KwaZulu-Natal’s three largest rivers, the Mkomazi, the Umzimkulu and the Tugela, the sources of most of the water needed to sustain farming and human habitation in the province.
There are also a number of nature reserves in the region that are not included in the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park and State Forest Complex – Ncandu Nature Reserve, Impendhle, Himeville, the Swamp and Coleford.
For booking within the Park tel: +27 (0)36-4481557, +27 (0)36-4482455 Email.
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