The Dutch named it Drakensberg or ‘The Dragon Mountain’, but the Zulu people, whose magnificent home this has always been, call it Ukhahlamba or ‘The Barrier of Spears’. Both names suggest spines or spires of rock in a line, which is exactly what the photos of South Africa’s highest mountain range reveal. The rocky ridge splits the KwaZulu-Natal from the Kingdom of Lesotho and run 1000 kilometres, roughly parallel to the coastline. The peaks are basalt but lower down the range’s sandstone heart is revealed in colourful cliffs.

The San Bushmen once lived below the range, in the lush yellowwood forests, and in the caves and crevices they recorded the stories of their daily life in tens of thousands of rock paintings.

Snow capped in winter, if you’ve an adventurous spirit you can go ice climbing here as well as marginally safer rock climbing. Or abseiling, or white water rafting or exploring on foot, and if you’re a birdwatcher you’ll have almost 300 species to tick off your box.

The only road crossing the Drakensberg’s goes via the Sani Pass, at 3,000 metres above sea level the proud home of South Africa’s highest pub.

Drakensberg Region Website.

Written by  World Reviewer Staff.

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