In the massif of the Drakensberg are the highest elevations of the southern Africa with a height of up to 3748 m. In a broader sense, the Drakensberg is the mountain range that extends from the north of the south african province Eastern Cape above Lesotho and KwaZulu-Natal to the northeast of the province Mpumalanga extends. The extension in north-south direction is approx. 1000 km.
Here the term "Drakensberg" is used in a more widespread, narrower sense, which only refers to the South African side of the striking rift valley (Escarpment) along the border between Lesotho and KwaZulu-Natal. In Lesotho are the Drakensberg Maloti mountains called.
Regions
places
Other goals
background
The Escarpment the Drakensberg forms the natural border between the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and Lesotho. Its most impressive form is reached by the up to 1000 m high, vertical demolition edge on the so-called. amphitheater in the northern Drakensberg.
The top edge of the Escarpments is almost entirely at an altitude of over 3,000 m, the highest peaks reach almost 3,500 m Escarpments are from north to south: Mont-aux-Sources (3,282 m), Cathedral Peak (3,004 m), Cathkin Peak (3,148 m), Champagne Castle (3,374 m), Mafadi Peak (3,446 m), Giant's Castle (3,314 m), Thabana Ntlenyana (3,482 m), Hodgson's Peaks (3,257 m) and Rhino Peak (3,051 m).
The landscape below the escarpment is characterized by flanks overgrown with lush grass and deep gorges. In some places, grass slopes with ravines and ridges with rocky summit structures stretch up to the upper edge of the escarpment, with mighty, compact rock faces several hundred meters high in between. On an approximately 40 km wide, mountainous strip along the escarpment, the terrain drops to the east to less than 1500 m. The landscape then flattens out and gradually merges into the lowlands of KwaZulu-Natal. Cities with restaurants, supermarkets and overnight accommodations can only be found again in the flatter country. The villages in the valleys that slope down from the escarpment usually have no tourist infrastructure. For visitors who want to spend several days in the mountains, there are well-equipped camps, which are often located above the last village.
While the Lesothic side of the Escarpments is only very rudimentary, visitors to the South African side have long benefited from the well-organized infrastructure, which is geared towards tourists and mountaineers as well as business conferences or wedding parties. A large part of the high mountain region lies in the Natal Drakensberg Park, which stretches for about 150 km along the border with Lesotho. The much smaller one Royal Natal National Park encloses the amphitheater. The camps within the parks are the usual starting points for one-day and multi-day mountain tours.
getting there
- From the north over Harrismith or Ladysmith.
- From the east via suitable exit of the N3, the Harrismith with Pietermaritzburg connects.
- The only road connection from Lesotho leads over the 2,837 m high Sanipass, which can only be crossed with off-road vehicles.
- The camps in the parks can mostly be reached on paved roads, at the top of which they are located.
mobility
Important access roads are paved and mostly lead from the east into the respective valleys. The valleys are not connected to one another by pass roads, so that when crossing into another valley you first have to drive out of one valley and then drive back into the other.
Except for shared taxis, which supply the villages along the access roads, there is no public transport in the valleys, but some camps offer a personal transfer with their own buses by arrangement.
Tourist Attractions
activities
hike
For hikes lasting several days, a permit is required, which can be purchased in the KZN Wildlife offices in the camps. The cost is 30 Rand per person per night. Before starting a multi-day hike, you have to register in the camps with KZN Wildlife, stating the planned route, your equipment and personal skills. If you fail to deregister after returning, you risk a mountain rescue operation, which can be expensive. Outside the camps there are no real shelters, but with appropriate planning you can often find shelter in caves or sometimes in buildings that are no longer in use. Camping is in caves with San paintings Not allowed. It is usually advisable to take a tent with you.
Compared to the Alps, the paths are often only sparsely marked or not marked at all and require a certain minimum of orientation skills and pathfinding skills. The hiking maps available in the camps (1: 50,000) show a wealth of details that they often do not even have, and should therefore be used with a certain amount of caution. Depending on the season, day of the week and route, you may have to be prepared not to meet other hikers who could be asked for directions.
The winter months (April to August) are well suited for hikes at medium altitude (up to approx. 2300 m), as there are longer periods of good weather and it is not too cold. In the summer months it can get very hot and the frequency of thunderstorms is higher. Especially in the summit region of the Escarpment, thunderstorms sometimes seem to come together out of nowhere. Warm and rainproof clothing is highly recommended for longer tours.
The water of the mountain streams can be drunk without hesitation. Even in the winter months you will find enough opportunities to refill your drinking bottle several times a day. The Drakensberg are not at risk of malaria. It is forbidden to start fires outside of the camps because of the risk of fire. Stoves are allowed. Mountain Rescue: Tel. 10177 within KwaZulu-Natal.
Web links
- http://www.drakensberg-tourism.com/drakensberg-hiking-trails.html - Large compilation of one-day and multi-day hikes, each with a short description.
kitchen
Most camps in the national parks have a restaurant, but the range and opening times vary greatly from camp to camp. In simpler camps, the restaurant can close at 4 p.m. outside of the season, while in larger camps there is still a wide range of dishes on offer in the later evening. A hotel is attached to some camps. Hotel guests can expect the usual standards.
Outside the parks, restaurants can be found in the smaller towns at the valley entrances. The probability of finding a restaurant that meets tourist requirements on a trip to one of the villages in the valleys is probably rather low.
nightlife
The larger camps in the parks have their own bar. If you want to get up close and personal with the locals, you can also go on an evening excursion to a village in the vicinity and enjoy the village bar (usually a combination of bar and Bottle shop) to attempt. To do this, however, you have to leave the park and should clarify beforehand how long the gate will be open and whether you have to pay entry again.
The nightlife in the lower-lying small towns is rural.
security
climate
In general, the summers are warm and humid and the winters are relatively cold and dry. However, rapid weather fluctuations are always to be expected, especially in the high mountains. Snowfall can occur on the escarpment at an altitude of over 3,000 m even in summer.
literature
Web links
- http://www.drakensberg-tourism.com - semi-official looking site.
- About Drakensberg
