South Africa's uKhahlamba-Drakensberg National Park

Useful Information

History

Even before the Zulu, Boers, and British fought bloody battles in this area, it was home to the Stone Age-era Bushmen, also known as the San hunter-gatherers. Their rock art paintings on the smooth rock faces of the Drakensberg are a testament to this. The Drakensberg is home to the world's most significant number of Bushman rock paintings. You can observe more than 35 000 paintings. It is tough to date the paintings' age accurately, but judging from the stone tools in the area and the style of similar paintings, the paintings can be as old as 3 000 years or more.

Wildlife

The mighty Drakensberg Mountains provide sanctuary for a vast array of animals, despite consisting of steep and largely inaccessible terrain. Antelope such as klipspringer, mountain reedbuck, common reedbuck, grey rhebok, oribi, eland, and black wildebeest occur. On the lower, flatter slopes, with plentiful grass, one can find one of the most endangered species: the white rhinoceros. The more secretive species are leopard, caracal, serval, aardwolf, and aardvark.

Birders flock to the Drakensberg from the world over. Navigating the mountains and seeing the birds you are looking for can be quite a mission, but they are most certainly there. The rarest species enthusiasts go there to see are those that occur at high altitudes: the bearded vulture, Drakensberg rockjumper, Drakensberg siskin, bald ibis, and the Cape vulture. Most birds appear lower than 2 000 meters above sea level. More than 300 species have been recorded. The mountain streams also provide a haven for frog species, some only to be found here, like the Maluti river frog, Drakensberg river frog, and the Phofung river frog.

Vegetation & Terrain

The Drakensberg terrain is divided by two main vegetation groups; the Drakensberg alti-montane grasslands and woodlands that occur higher up in the mountains from 2500m, and the Drakensberg montane grasslands, woodlands, and forest, mostly found between 1800m and 2500m. The mountain range is also the source of various rivers, including the Tugela River and the Tugela Falls that occur within it – the second-highest waterfall in the world at 947m. The Orange River, the longest in Southern Africa, originates in the Drakensberg. The waters flowing from these mountains are a vital resource for South Africa and its various industries.

Activities

The Drakensberg region is known for its diverse range of hiking trails that encompass a variety of difficulty levels and areas. There is something for everyone - from hikes to freshwater pools ideal for swimming to trails leading up high into the mountains and short walks for the less physically capable. The area is also popular amongst horse lovers. Horse riding activities are available at various establishments. It is a great way to immerse yourself in the environment and allows you to see more of this vast mountain range. Game-viewing activities are a favorite amongst visitors. Both open 4x4 game drives and interpretive game walks are available. Other activities include golf, paintball, animal interactions, and a host of family-friendly activities.