The Drakensberg. |
| Afrikaaners call them
the Drakensberg: the Dragon Mountains. To Zulus, they are uKhalamba:
the barrier of spears; both are apt descriptions for this wall
of rock that rises from the Natal grasslands, forming a naatural
fortress protecting the mountain kingdom of Lesotho. The Drakensberg
is the highest range in southern Africa and possesses some of
the most spectacular scenery in the country. It's a hikers dream,
and you could easily pass several days here just soaking up
the awsome views. |
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| The blue-tinted
mooutains seem to stain the landscape, cooling the "champagne
air" - as the natives refer to the heady sparkling
breezes that blow around the precipices and pinnacles. the
mountains, with names like Giant's Castle, Cathedral Peak,
and the Sentinal, seem to have a special atmosphere, as
well as unique topography. Its no surprise that South African
- born J.R.R. Tolkien - legendary author of the cult classic
Lord of the Rings - was inspired by the fantastic shapes
of the drakensberg range when he created the fantastic settings
of his Middle Earth. |
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Accommodation. |
| The berg has a range
of places to stay including hotels, lodges, and guest houses,
campgrounds, self-catering cottages and B&B's. The older
berg resorts tend to be more family orientated establishments,
by and large, that encourage guests to participate in outdoor
activities and sports, including daily guided hikes, horseback
rides, tennis, lawn bowls, even golf. However, never to
be left out, many farmers in the area have opened B&B,s
that range from quiant and cute to warm and welcoming. |
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Things to do. |
| Besides hiking opportunities
and the sheer beauty of the mountains, the oter great attraction
of the berg is the San (Bushman) Paintings. The San are
a hunter - gatherer people who once roam the entire country.
More than 5000 of their paintings are sprinkled in scores
of caves and on rock overhangs throughout the berg - the
finest collection in the country. They relay the stories
of bygone hunts dances and battles and touch on mystical
relationship they had with the animals they hunted. |
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The best Times to visit the Berg... |
The
best Times to visit the Berg are spring (September to
October) and late autumn (April to June) Summer sees the
berg at its greenest and the weather at its warmest -
and wettest, so dont forget to pack your raingear.
The Natal Drakensberg is not conducive
to traditional touring. The nature of the attractions
and the limited road system make a connect - the- dots
tour impractical and unrewarding. Check into a resort
for 2 or 3 days instead and use it as a base for hikig
and exploring the immediate area.
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Northern Berg
