Things to do near
Northern Drakensberg
*Distances are shown as the crow flies and not necessarily the actual travelling
distance.
Nature Reserves
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Royal Natal National Park (9.9 km from Northern Drakensberg) Royal Natal National Park easily features some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in Africa. The star of the show is the famous Amphitheatre, a massive 500-metre high rock wall that stretches for five kilometres.
Standing like a sentinel above the Amphitheatre is Mont-aux-Sources peak. From here, Tugela Falls, the second highest waterfall in the world cascades down the face of the Amphitheatre on its journey to the Indian Ocean.
The park is a hiker’s paradise offering a network of hiking paths ranging from a gentle stroll to Fairy Glen and the challenging Crack and Mudslide. A detailed hiking guide is available at the visitor centre, Thendele Camp office and the main entrance gate.
Trout fishing is also a popular activity with options of the Mahai River, Thukela River or in a dam. There are some lovely spots for picnicking and swimming in sparkling mountain streams. Rugged Glen stables offer horse rides into the mountains with stunning views and sightings of mountain reedbuck and grey rhebuck.
Hiking Trail
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Royal Natal National Park (World Heritage Site) and surrounds (11.4 km from Northern Drakensberg) Located in the Royal Natal National Park, the Devils Hoek Valley hiking trail takes you from the Tugela River car park, all along the Tugela Valley and then up the Devil's Hoek tributary. A fantastic hike that gradually elevates with amazing views.
Duration: 4 Hours;
Distance: 15 km;
Grade: E.
Popular Attractions
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Royal Natal National Park (17.2 km from Northern Drakensberg) Tick off the highest waterfall in Africa and the planet's second highest waterfall in the Drakensberg (Dragon's Mountains).
The Tugela Falls drops 947 meters down the rock-face of the Amphitheatre in three free-leaping falls. The source of the Tugela River is at Mont-Aux-Sources, several kilometres from where the falls cascade down.
Situated in the Royal Natal National Park, the falls are easily seen after heavy rains from the main road into the park. The best time for viewing is during the summer rainfall season.
Two superb hiking trails lead to the Tugela Falls. The most spectacular trail is a full day walk to the summit of Mount-Aux-Sources and to the top of the falls.
The other trail leads to the foot of the falls up the Tugela Gorge though indigenous forest. A climb up a small chain ladder takes you to a stunning view of the falls rushing down the Amphitheatre in a series of spectacular cascades.
KZN Wildlife +27 (0) 33 845 1999
Dams Vleis
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Clarens (21.2 km from Northern Drakensberg) The Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve is situated 23 km from Harrismith. It has several excellent trails for visitors to meander upon. The reserve is a favorite with bird lovers, holding over 200 bird species, such as mountain reedbuck, oribi, woodpecker, yellowwood and redwood.
The terrain varies from veld to forest to kloof. Wildlife is not prominent but there are several antelopes to be spotted. Every year in February the reserve hosts the annual Catamaran Championships on the 7,000 ha dam. Visitors can also enjoy water sports activities such as fishing and canoeing.
Dams Vleis
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Harrismith (26.3 km from Northern Drakensberg) The vast expanse of water which is the Sterkfontein Dam lies a few kilometres from the edge of the Drakensberg Escarpment in the topmost reaches of the Vaal Dam catchment on the Nuwejaarspruit. The cool, fresh, deep waters are ideal for trout and other fish and it is a popular angling spot. It is the third largest dam in South Africa providing a perfect playground for sailing and other watersports. The surrounding landscape is scenically stunning - characterised by rugged mountains, lush ravines and rolling grasslands.In this beautiful setting is the Sterkfontein Dam Reserve covering 18 000 hectares. Perfect for long walks, hiking (there is a two-day hiking trail) and biking, it also offers excellent game viewing and bird watching. You can tick off oribi, reedbuck, mountain reedbuck, grey rhebuck, the bald ibis, the blue and whitebellied korhaan, the buffstreaked chat, the ground woodpecker and the sentinel. Gaze up to the sky and you could spot bearded and Cape vultures as well as Verreaux's (black) and martial eagles soaring. Secretary birds can also be spotted in treetops or stalking in the grasslands.The precipitous ravines are populated with yellowwood, wild peach, koko, silky bark, and black bark trees as well as bush guarri. Wild grape has twined into the tree tops where they form a dense leafy canopy. Fungi and lichen nestle against living and rotten tree trunks. Mountain slopes are adorned with wild myrtle, redwood, ouhout, hush guarri, highveld protea, silver sugarbush and the scarce tree fern.
Hiking Trail
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Cathedral Peak (34.5 km from Northern Drakensberg) The 10 km Cathedral Peak Hiking Trail is a tough 6 to 7 hours hike requiring a high level of fitness. Start from Cathedral Peak Hotel and walk up the footpath to the Cathedral Ridge. A fair amount of rock scrambling is often required in the gorge below Cathedral Peak.
Duration: 6 – 7 hours
Difficulty: Tough
Distance: 10 km
Hiking Trail
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Cathedral Peak (34.5 km from Northern Drakensberg) The Cathedral Peak to Ndedema Contour Path is a difficult three-hour hike. Start at Cathedral Peak Hotel and head up to the contour path below the Cathedral Peak range. Follow the trail south beneath the main ridge and return by descending the Ndedema Gorge.
Duration: 3 hours
Difficulty: Tough
Distance: 3.5 km
Hiking Trail
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Cathedral Peak (34.5 km from Northern Drakensberg) The 5.5 km route to the Blue Pool and Nyosi Grotto is graded as an easy hike. The trail starts at the Cathedral Peak Hotel and heads south along the Nyosi River. This worthwhile trail in the Cathedral Peak area usually takes about two hours.
Duration: 2 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Distance: 5.5 km
Hiking Trail
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Cathedral Peak (34.5 km from Northern Drakensberg) The three-day hiking trail to the Two Passes and Cleft Peak Escarpment is graded as extreme and should only be attempted by fit, seasoned hikers. Starting at the top of Mike's Pass near the Cathedral Peak Hotel, the 40 km route zigzags up the long ridge to the sharp incline of the Organ Pipes Pass. From there it’s a steep descent via the Mlambonja Pass.
Duration: 3 days
Difficulty: Tough
Distance: 40 km
Popular Attractions
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Bergville (34.9 km from Northern Drakensberg) The Northern Horse offers the experience of a lifetime in the Northern Drakensberg. Trusty mountain horses and ponies will take you up mountains, across rivers and cantering over plains in the breath taking foothills of this World Heritage Site. Trails vary from easy outrides on the Montusi Estate to steeper trails, all tailored to suit various levels of experience.
Hiking Trail
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Cathedral Peak (34.9 km from Northern Drakensberg) The 11 km route up the Mlambonja Pass to Twins Cave is a strenuous day’s climb. The steep trail heads up from the Cathedral Peak Hotel and past the trout hatchery, following the Mlambonja River.
Duration: 6 – 8 hours
Difficulty: Tough
Distance: 11 km
Golf Courses
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Bergville (35 km from Northern Drakensberg) Beautifully maintained and picturescue 9-hole course situated at Hlalanathi Resort
Popular Attractions
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Bergville (35 km from Northern Drakensberg) All Out Adventures offer over 100 km of well-marked mountain bike trails for all fitness and skill levels in the Northern Drakensberg. Extreme mountain bikers use this terrain to train for the Cape Epic, Sani and Joberg 2 C riders. Riders can choose between tough training rides and easy rides for families on a mountain biking holiday in the Berg. Maps are available.
Popular Attractions
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Bergville (35 km from Northern Drakensberg) Westline Aviation offer scenic helicopter flights in the Northern Drakensberg region. Flight solutions can be tailored to suit particular needs, corporate services, tourism and special events. They operate from Dragon Peaks Mountain Resort, Cathedral Peak Hotel and the Tower of Pizza .
Popular Attractions
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Bergville (35 km from Northern Drakensberg) All Out Adventures offers a thrilling cable ride through scenic forest. Speeds of up to 60 km per hour are reached between the 7 platforms, making it one of the fastest cable tours in South Africa. It also has one of the longest spans in the country – up to 240 m between the platforms. Great fun for the whole family.