Drakensberg (Champagne Valley)

South Africa's most spectacular basalt range, with the Amphitheatre and Tugela Falls, the peaks of Champagne Valley and San rock art at Giant's Castle; a World Heritage hiking destination.

The Drakensberg (uKhahlamba in Zulu, 'barrier of spears') lies in western KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, along the border with Lesotho; most of it falls within the Maloti-Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site. This destination uses Champagne Valley in the Central Drakensberg (the area from Winterton to Monk's Cowl) as a base. About 65 km north are the Amphitheatre and Tugela Falls in Royal Natal National Park; to the west is Cathedral Peak; and to the south are Giant's Castle and Kamberg, all different gateways to the same range. The mountains hold more than 20,000 San rock paintings, one of the greatest concentrations of rock art in the world. Seasons: Mar–May and Sep–Nov are best for hiking, with stable weather; Nov–Feb is the rainy season, with frequent afternoon thunderstorms, so start early and finish early; Jun–Aug is clear and dry but cold at night, with possible snow at altitude. Getting there: about 3 hours' drive from Durban or 4 hours from Johannesburg via the N3, taking the Winterton or Bergville exit. There is almost no public transport in the mountains, so you'll need your own car, and some roads are gravel. Allow 3–4 days: spend one or two nights in Champagne Valley (hiking from Monk's Cowl, a choir school performance), a day at Royal Natal to see the Amphitheatre or climb the chain ladders on the Sentinel, and a day at Giant's Castle for the Main Caves rock art; on the way back, stop at the Nelson Mandela Capture Site and Howick Falls. The reserves are managed by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and charge conservation fees. Sign the mountain register for longer hikes, and bring windproof and waterproof layers, as the weather changes fast.

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Itineraries