Jan
2015
When picturing the Drakensberg Mountains a picture of majesty and beauty comes to mind. With a diverse geographical pattern changing from snowcapped peaks to buttress, grass and moss covered sandstone to bare rock.
The mountain range spans almost the entire southern part of South Africa from Lesotho to the Cape Province. For this and the bio-diversity, major parts of this majestic mountain have been proclaimed national heritage sites by UNESCO and RAMSAR. It is part of the Great Rift Valley which is typical of the landscape of most of South Africa and more evident in places like Kenya in the Masai Mara flood plains.
This is arguably one of South Africa’s major tourist attractions all year round and is favoured by the more sedate tourist and extreme hikers and adventure seekers with rock climbing and mountain biking enthusiasts alike.
The mountain range is home to a diverse bio-sphere which changes from region to region and the plants growing here are indigenous and some even endangered.
The mountains are not free from development with some areas being encroached by the development of hotels and holiday resorts as well as hiking and camping trails.
Towns in specific parts of the mountain include Clarens, Barkley East, Ladysmith and Vryheid.
Places of interest in the Drakensberg include UKhahlamba Drakensberg Park (World Heritage Site where across the mountain there are many different sites where San rock paintings have been preserved), The Royal National Park , Cathedral Valley , Tugela Falls and the Golden Gate National Park.
To isolate any part of the mountain range as spectacular would be an injustice as it spans throughout South Africa and will be attractive for those who prefer the grasslands to those who prefer thick bushveld.
Take a tour of the towns along the mighty Drakensberg Mountains via the MyRoof website.
