KwaZulu-Natal, on the Lesotho border · South Africa
A 200-kilometre wall of basalt and sandstone peaks, the Dragon Mountains, with waterfalls, hiking trails, ancient San rock paintings and the highest waterfall in Africa.
Photo: Ad Meskens · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Drakensberg, Afrikaans for Dragon Mountains and known to the Zulu as uKhahlamba, the Barrier of Spears, is the highest range in southern Africa. Its great basalt escarpment runs for about 200 km along the border between South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province and Lesotho, rising to more than 3,400 metres, with sandstone foothills, deep valleys, grassy slopes and rivers. It was inscribed by UNESCO in 2000 for its spectacular scenery, biodiversity and its rock art.
The most famous sight is the Amphitheatre, a rock wall about 5 km long and 1,200 metres high in the Royal Natal National Park, with the Tugela Falls plunging in five drops over the edge, the second-highest waterfall in the world at about 948 metres. Elsewhere, Cathedral Peak, Champagne Castle and Giant's Castle offer hiking, and the sandstone shelters hold more than 35,000 paintings by the San people, who lived here for thousands of years.
It is a place for walkers, riders, birdwatchers and those who enjoy mountain air. Small resorts and lodges are scattered through the valleys, and the days are best spent on trails, with a swim in a rock pool at the end. Weather can change fast, with summer thunderstorms and winter snow, and a car is the best way to reach the trailheads.
Why visit
The Drakensberg is South Africa's finest mountain scenery, with excellent walks for all abilities.
Sheer basalt walls, spires and amphitheatres.
One of the highest waterfalls in the world, reached by a hike.
Easy waterfall walks to multi-day treks.
Thousands of paintings in shelters, some up to 3,000 years old.
Family-friendly lodges with horse riding and swimming holes.
Main attractions
The range has several distinct areas, each with its own character.
A great curving rock wall with the Tugela Falls behind. Trails lead to the Tugela Gorge, and a hike to the top via chain ladders from Sentinel car park reaches the escarpment.
Tip Go on a clear day.
A waterfall in five drops totalling about 948 metres, often cited as the second highest in the world. It flows best after rain, and can freeze in winter.
Tip Check the flow before you go.
A sharp, cathedral-like peak in the central Drakensberg, with hiking trails, rock pools and Didima Gorge, and access to San rock art.
Tip A good base for walks.
The Drakensberg holds one of the world's greatest collections of rock art, with paintings of eland, humans and spirit beings, at sites such as Main Caves and Eland Cave.
Tip Visit with a guide.
A high-altitude reserve with eland, other antelope and the rare bearded vulture, which can be seen at a hide in winter.
Tip Book the vulture hide.
A 4x4 route over the escarpment into Lesotho, with steep hairpins, and the highest pub in Africa at the top.
Tip Go on a guided tour.
Things to do
Walking and outdoor activities make up most of the days.
A 5-hour walk through a spectacular gorge to the base of the Amphitheatre.
Tip Start early.
Trails through the foothills and valleys.
Tip Book at your lodge.
Guided walks to painted shelters.
Tip Book in advance.
Cool off in mountain streams.
Tip Check the water levels.
Rivers and dams stocked with trout.
Tip Book a guide.
Bearded vultures, cranes and sunbirds.
Tip Bring binoculars.
Local food
Mountain lodges serve hearty meals, with braais and traditional dishes.
Freshly caught rainbow trout.
Where to try it Lodges and restaurants.
Barbecue with boerewors and steak.
Where to try it Lodges.
Roasts, stews and pies.
Where to try it Resorts.
Slow-cooked stew.
Where to try it Braai nights.
A hiker's breakfast.
Where to try it Lodges.
Accommodation
Stay in a mountain lodge, resort or self-catering cottage in one of the valleys.
Transport
The Drakensberg is 350 to 450 km from Johannesburg and Durban.
A car is essential for trailheads and valleys.
When to go
The Drakensberg has hot, wet summers with thunderstorms and cold, dry winters, with snow on the peaks.
Warm and green, with afternoon thunderstorms.
Clear, warm days and cool nights.
Dry and sunny, but very cold at night, with snow.
Mild, with wildflowers.
Worth planning around: Summer afternoons for hiking, when storms and lightning are common.
Itinerary
Walks, waterfalls and rock art.
A gentle start.
The big walk.
San heritage.
Travel tips
A few tips help you stay safe in the mountains.
FAQ
Three days is ideal.
It is often described so, at about 948 metres in five drops, though rankings vary by definition.
March to May and September to November.
Many day walks are fine without one. Take a guide for longer routes and rock art.
Nights are cold, even in summer, and winters can be freezing.
It is about 4 to 5 hours by road.
Keep exploring
Places that pair well with the Drakensberg, whether you have a few spare days or are building a longer route.
KwaZulu-Natal, north-east coast, South Africa
South Africa's first UNESCO World Heritage Site: hippo and crocodile cruises on the St Lucia estuary, the beaches of Cape Vidal, diving at Sodwana Bay, turtle nesting, whales and nearby big-game parks.
Don't miss A boat cruise on the St Lucia estuary at sunset, surrounded by hippos and the sound of fish eagles.
Explore Destination — iSimangaliso and St LuciaGauteng, north-east interior, South Africa
South Africa's largest city and its historic heart: the Apartheid Museum, Constitution Hill, Soweto's Vilakazi Street and Hector Pieterson Memorial, urban renewal in Maboneng and the Cradle of Humankind.
Don't miss Vilakazi Street in Soweto, where two Nobel Peace Prize winners lived a few doors apart.
Explore Destination — Johannesburg and SowetoMpumalanga, north-east South Africa, South Africa
A scenic route through Mpumalanga's escarpment, with Blyde River Canyon, God's Window, the Three Rondavels, Bourke's Luck Potholes, waterfalls and the old gold town of Pilgrim's Rest.
Don't miss The view from God's Window across the lowveld, with the Blyde River Canyon and the Three Rondavels beyond.
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