The uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park is a 200Km long UNESCO World Heritage Site, most of which is in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The area embraces the spectacular Drakensberg Mountain Range with its soaring basaltic peaks, golden sandstone cliffs, cascading waterfalls, river valleys and grasslands. This ecologically diverse area supports many different habitats protecting a high level of endemic and globally threatened species of plants and birds.
The many caves and rock shelters are home to the largest and most concentrated collection of rock paintings in Africa. These exceptionally high quality and well preserved paintings were created by the San people at some 600 different sites over 4000 years ago.
The KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg area can be divided into Bergville and the Northern Drakensberg; Winterton and the Central Drakensberg; Himeville, Underberg and the Southern Drakensberg and East Griqualand and Umzimkhulu.
The Park is a veritable paradise for eco-tourists, mountain climbers, hikers, mountain bikers and nature lovers of any description and consists of numerous unique areas, nature reserves and holiday resorts:
In the northern area:Royal Natal National Park, Rugged Glen Nature Reserve, Injisuthi Valley.
In the southern area: Lotheni Nature Reserve, Highmoor Nature Reserve, Mkhomazi Nature Reserve.
Combining sheer natural beauty with a wealth of biological diversity, this 243 000 hectare mountainous region has been preserved and is as pristine today as it was thousands of years ago when the San people roamed the land.
To view the list of criteria for the Umhkahlamba Drakensberg Park’s inscription, visit UNESCO.
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