South African's spectacular Drakensberg escarpment is a 200-kilometre-long world heritage site which stretches from the north western border of Kwazulu Natal to the Tugela Region in the south. Originally referred to as the "Dragon Mountains" by early settlers, to the Zulu's living in the east the rock formation resembled a row of spears so they called it 'Ukhahlamba', meaning Barrier of Spears. Today, it is affectionately known to locals as the 'Berg'.
Its mountains rise as high as 3000m, and host some of the most popular South African Nature Reserves, all of which have unique, breathtaking views.
It is the source of many rivers and spectacular waterfalls, including the Tugela Falls, the second highest in the world.
The foothills and caves of the Drakensberg contain over 35,000 San rock art images - evidence of the tiny, indigenous people who practiced a prehistoric lifestyle in the area hundreds of years ago.
The Drakensberg Mountains are synonymous with a unique richness of biological diversity. They are home to rare and exquisite flora, such as cycads, and a variety of birds and wildlife, including the eland, the largest of the African antelope, oribi, jackal, baboon and porcupine. It is here that the rare Bearded Vulture has made its home, the largest of Africa's birds of prey with a wing span of nearly three metres.
The Drakensberg Peaks are:
- Champagne Castle (3377m)
- Giant's Castle (3314m)
- Mount-aux-Sources (3282m)
- Cleft Peak (3280m)
- Indumeni Peak (3200m)
- Cathkin Peak (3181m)
- The Sentinel (3165m)
- Ndedma Peak (3078m)
- Windsor Castle (3065m)
- Castle Buttress (3053)
- Cathedral Peak (3004m)
- Organ Pipes (2914m) and
- Gatberg (2408m)
Hear ...
The silence of nature
|
