Page 276 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

274  THE EAST C O AST AND INTERIOR

3 uKhahlamba-Drakensberg VISITORS’ CHECKLIST
Park Road map E3. Winterton.
n (and reservations) Ezemvelo
Extending over 2,350 sq km (907 sq miles), the uKhahlamba- KZN Wildlife, 033 845 1000.
& 8 Ó } 
Drakensberg Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, protects a ∑ kznwildlife.com
dramatic and rugged escarpment that provides an awesome
backdrop to the pastoral midlands of KwaZulu-Natal.
A hiker’s paradise, this scenic range of secluded valleys, Giant’s Castle
Road map E3. Estcourt. n 036 353
green highland meadows and dense mist-shrouded forests 3718. Open daily. & 0 Ó } 
incorporates all of South Africa’s tallest peaks. Wildlife ranges ∑ kznwildlife.com
from the massive eland antelope and vociferous Chacma In 1903 a sanctuary was estab­
baboon to majestically soaring raptors such as the jackal lished in this area to protect
buzzard and bearded vulture. The rock overhangs of the some of the last surviving eland
Drakensberg shelter offer some of the world’s most prolific in South Africa. They now
number around 2,000 – one
and best-preserved prehistoric rock art. of the largest populations in
the country.
Exploring uKhahlamba- Park, Kamberg is known for A camouflaged hide allows
Drakensberg its trout­fishing locations. There visitors to view endangered
The provincial conservation are several small dams near bearded vultures (lammer­
authority, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, the trout hatchery, and fishing geyer), an estimated 200 pairs
has subdivided uKhahlamba­ gear can be hired from the of which are found here.
Drakensberg into individually reserve shop. Walking trails cut The main camp, with chalets,
administered wilderness and through the valley or meander a camp site and the Izimbali
conservation areas. Several along the river. Restaurant, over looks the
government rest camps and Shelter Cave has some superb Bushman’s River, with Giant’s
private hotels have been set San rock paintings and can Castle (3,314 m/10,770 ft)
up in the foothills as a base for be visited with a guide –the dominating the sky line.
exploring the middle and upper return walk takes about three A short walk brings visitors to
slopes on foot. Shorter hikes hours. There is also the San the Main Caves, where 500 San
range from hour­long rambles Rock Art Interpretation Centre rock paintings, some of which
to ancient rock art sites (many to visit. are 800 years old, can be seen.
of which can be visited only
on guided tours, to protect
them from vandalism), to a
demanding full­day hike to
Cathedral Peak. Within the park,
unequipped caves and camp
sites cater to more intrepid over­
night hikers and mountaineers.

Kamberg
Road map E3. Estcourt. n 033 267
7251. Open daily. & = Ó } D
∑ kznwildlife.com
Nestling in the foothills of the
uKhahlamba­Drakensberg The high-lying Giant’s Castle is covered with snow in winter

The Drakensberg Range Giant’s Castle Old Woman Grinding Corn
The Drakensberg, “dragon mountains”, is South Africa’s Giant’s Castle Die Hoek
greatest mountain wilderness. It follows the Pass
border of Lesotho for 250 km (155 miles) – Hodgson’s Peaks
an escarpment that separates the
high interior plateau from the
subtropical coast of KwaZulu­
Natal. The Drakensberg is
divided into the rocky High
Berg and the pastoral Little Berg.
Both are superb hiking areas.

For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp388–9 and pp406–7

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