Page 277 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa
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THE WILD C O AST , DR AKENSBERG AND MIDLANDS 275
Champagne Valley & Royal Natal National Park 4 Golden Gate
Monk’s Cowl Road map E3. Bergville. n 036 Highlands
Road map E3. Winterton. n 036 488 438 6411. Open daily. & = Ó National Park
1103. Open daily. & 0 Ó } } ∑ kznwildlife.com
Champagne Castle, at 3,377 m The Royal Natal National Park Road map E3. Clarens. Tel 058 255
(10,975 ft), is the secondhighest comprises some of Africa’s 1000. Open daily. & Ó } =
peak in South Africa. It juts out most spectacular scenery. ∑ sanparks.co.za
from the surrounding escarp One of its main features is an
ment and dominates the horizon aweinspiring natural Amphi Situated in the foothills of the
in a delightful valley. This has theatre – a cres centshaped Maluti Mountains in the eastern
been dubbed Champagne basalt wall 6 km (4 miles) wide, Free State, this national park
Valley, thanks to the 31km and 1,500 m (4,875 ft) high. encompasses 48 sq km (18 sq
(19mile) road from Winterton Here, the Tugela River plunges miles) of grassland and sand
to Monk’s Cowl being lined with 948 m (3,080 ft) into the valley stone formations.The park was
a cluster of luxury hotels and below on its journey to the proclaimed in 1963 to protect
timeshare resorts. Monk’s Cowl is Indian Ocean, making this the sand stone cliffs above the
the peak between Champagne the secondhighest Little Caledon valley. Black
Castle and Cathkin, where there waterfall in the world. wildebeest, grey rhebok,
is a camp site and a number of Chalets at the award blesbok, moun tain
hiking trails. winning Thendele reedbuck, eland
Resort, above and oribi can be
Cathedral Peak the Tugela seen, as well as
Road map E3. Winterton. n 036 488 River, provide endangered bearded
1800. Open daily. & 8 = Ó } unrivalled vultures, black eagles,
∑ kznwildlife.com views of the steppe buzzards and
Some of the Drakensberg’s amphitheatre and Bearded vulture bald ibises. SANParks
finest scenery is to be found countryside below. accommodation and
in this region. The road from In the valleys, the Mahai camping is in Glen Reenen
Winterton winds for 42 km camp site provides easy access Rest Camp and the Highlands
(26 miles) through Zulu villages to an extensive network of Mountain Retreat, while a more
that are scattered across the hiking trails that can be used upmarket option is provided
gentle folds of the Mlambonja to explore the 88sqkm by the privately run Golden
Valley. The towering peaks (34sqmile) reserve. Gate Hotel.
of the Drakensberg form a
spectacular back drop.
The hike to the top of
Cathedral Peak (3,004 m/ 9,855
ft) is one of the most exciting
and strenuous hikes in the
Drakensberg, and the views from
the top are unforgettable. There
are also guided drives to the
top of Mike’s Pass, which gains
500 m (1,625 ft) in 5 km (3
miles), and the Rock Art Centre
at Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife’s
Didima Resort explains the
complicated meaning of
many of the San paintings. Royal Natal National Park, an unspoiled wilderness
Old Woman Grinding Corn Cathedral Peak Mnweni Needles Eastern Mont-aux-
Cathkin Champagne Castle Pyramid South Peak Buttress Sources
Peak Gatberg Amphitheatre
San rock art at Kamberg in uKhahlamba-Drakens berg Park
274-275_EW_South_Africa.indd 275 25/05/17 11:59 am
