Drakensberg, KwaZulu Natal

Bergville

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Bergville

Equidistant from Johannesburg and Durban, the pretty little town of Bergville, also known as the gateway to the Northern Drakensberg, lies on Route 74 - the more scenic alternative to the Toll Road. This route takes you ... Bergville information

Cathedral Peak

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Cathedral Peak

The spire-like Cathedral Peak is described by many as simply awesome and is one of the most instantly-recognisable summits in a line of free-standing peaks that have been separated from the main escarpment by erosion. ... Cathedral Peak information

Champagne Valley

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Champagne Valley

Lying in the central Drakensberg, the Champagne peak is one of the highest peaks in this mountain range, although the prominent peak from here is Cathkin. But it is the enchantedness of the Champagne Valley that ... Champagne Valley information

Estcourt

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Estcourt

Lower down in the valley from Van Reenen’s Pass, and in the heart of the Anglo-Boer War territory, Estcourt is a fairly large town that serves as the gateway to the central Drakensberg, together with Winterton just 40 ... Estcourt information

Giants Castle

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Giants Castle

Lying at the southern end of the central Drakensberg Giant’s Castle, which gets its name from the outline of the peaks and escarpment that combine to resemble the profile of a sleeping giant, is essentially a grassy ... Giants Castle information

Himeville

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Himeville

The hamlet of Himeville lies nestled at the foot of the Southern Drakensberg, its high altitude, heavy snowfalls and climatic extremes possibly the initial reason for its relative neglect, but the breathtaking scenery, ... Himeville information

Kamberg

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Kamberg

The Kamberg valley is described by its people as ‘the valley, which God created once he had practised on the rest of the world”. It lies in the foothills of the Drakensberg Mountains just beyond the Nottingham Road ... Kamberg information

Kokstad

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Kokstad

The little town of Kokstad sits on the boundary between KwaZulu Natal and the Eastern Cape, nestled in the heart of East Griqualand. Kokstad lies in the shadow of Mount Currie on the outer slopes of the Drakensberg and ... Kokstad information

Matatiele

Where to Stay: Drakensberg Accommodation

Situated in the lesser explored southern Drakensberg, the quaint little town of Matatiele lies 70 kilometres from Kokstad, at the junction of the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Natal and southern Lesotho. The village is ... Matatiele information

Monks Cowl

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Monks Cowl

Monk’s Cowl is named after the distinctive mountain in the shape of a monk’s hood that lies between Champagne Castle and Cathedral Peak in the central Drakensberg. The peak marks the access point to the Mlambonja and ... Monks Cowl information

Mont-aux-Sources

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Mont-aux-Sources

Mont-aux-Sources is regarded as the one of the highest portions of the Drakensberg Mountain range, and it lies on the north eastern edge of the Drakensberg, practically on the border with Lesotho. Mont-aux-Sources is ... Mont-aux-Sources information

Nottingham Road

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Nottingham Road

As a child, I always thought Nottingham Road was the equivalent to ‘The Wind in the Willows’ in KwaZulu Natal, and indeed, this beautiful part of the world with its old-world country taverns and traditional old family ... Nottingham Road information

Rosetta

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Rosetta

Rosetta is one of those little villages that, until recently, would have been relegated to a passing glance as you drove through it, on the way to elsewhere. Originally the area was dominated by the Rosetta Farm, ... Rosetta information

Sani Pass

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Sani Pass

The tight zig-zagging curves of Sani Pass, one of the most magnificent mountain passes in South Africa, ascend through the sheer cliffs of the Drakensberg, linking KwaZulu Natal to the independent country of Lesotho. ... Sani Pass information

Swartberg

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Swartberg

Swartberg and its surrounds are hidden away in those parts of the country after which visitors hanker as a genuine 'getaway' experience. The town also lies close enough to Durban to make it a perfect part of a planned holiday, or a ... Swartberg information

Underberg

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Underberg

The last town in the southern Drakensberg, Underberg, lies immediately beneath the majestic mountains of this area, their looming greatness offering a multitude of hikes and moments of breathtaking beauty. Underberg ... Underberg information

Van Reenen

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Van Reenen

Van Reenen’s Pass, a sweeping pass renowned for its slippery and precarious roads (particularly as a result of the frequent misty conditions), and some of the most gorgeous views, is the main route through the ... Van Reenen information

Winterton

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Winterton

The pretty town of Winterton serves, quite literally, as the gateway to the central Drakensberg some 14 kilometres away, and lies in the foothills of these towering giants, a typical pioneer settlement and one of the ... Winterton information

Cathedral Peak Golf Course

Set in spectacular berg scenery the Cathedral Peak Golf course was designed and built by Roly Taylor with the collaboration of his well-known brother, Reg. The course which has been termed "the thinking golfer's course" was opened on 13 January 1996 by Dayle Hayes. Cathedral Peak Hotel's immaculate 9 hole ... more information

Cathedral Peak State Forest

The Cathedral Range, with its numerous free standing peaks and magnificent mountain scenery, is one of the most favoured parts of the Berg for backpacking and rock climbing. Bordered in the north and north-west by the Upper Tugela Location and in the south by the Mdedelelo Wilderness, the area is ... more information

Champagne Sports Resort Golf Course

Situated in the Central Drakensberg at Champagne Sports Resort this course has recently been extended to an 18-hole layout designed by Huch Biaocchi. The backdrop of Cathkin and Champagne Peaks makes it one of the most scenic courses in South Africa and it is a fair challenge for the low handicapper ... more information

Cobham State Forest

Cobham is situated in the Southern part of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park, and is approximately 150 km from Pietermaritzburg. Dominated by Hodgson's Peaks which enclose the Giants Cup, Cobham is a 52,000 ha section of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park in the southern 'berg adjacent to Himeville ... more information

Drakenberg Boys' Choir

There aren’t that many things in South Africa that you can say are unique or world class, but the Drakensberg Boys’ Choir is one of them. Doors opened in 1965 to the first 20 pupils. The dream was of a multi-racial, multi-cultural Choir School to rival the Vienna Boys. Not in ... more information

Garden Castle State Forest

Garden Castle is the southern most part of the Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park and incorporates the Bushman's Nek Valley. The Garden Castle reserve is 35 300 hectares in extent and offers the visitor a variety of experiences. Dominated by the Rhino (a 3051m Peak which extends about 2km ... more information

Giant's Castle Nature Reserve

Historic Giant's Castle Game Reserve, home of the eland and the majestic bearded vulture, lies in the Central Drakensberg region of the Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park, a World Heritage Site. Giant's Castle camp is situated on a gassy plateau among the deep valleys running down from the face of the ... more information

Glengarry Golf Course

Glengarry Golf Course is tucked away in the Drakensberg, truly a golfers delight. Glengarry is the only 18 hole golf course in the Southern Berg, situated in a World Heritage site. The spectacular setting of the first tee box and the eighteenth green flanked by a trout dam, and views of the famous Rhino Horn peak, ... more information

Himeville Museum

The Museum was built in 1900 as the last of Natal's loop-holed forts before housing prisoners until 1972. An open-air exhibition of settler and agricultural history is surrounded by display rooms housing military, African memorabilia and a valued collection of San artefacts and an insightful interpretation of the life and times of the San.

Himeville Nature Reserve

The Himeville Nature Reserve stretches along the eastern boundary of Himeville Village and was proclaimed to its present size of 104 ha in 1973. Himeville Nature Reserve offers trout fishing in two dams situated in the reserve. Boats are no longer available for hire but anglers may use their own small ... more information

Kamberg Nature Reserve

The Kamberg Nature Reserve is within the Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park of South Africa and is situated centrally in the foothills of the mountains. Kamberg is known for its excellent fly fishing and recently a Bushman Rock Art Site has been opened to the public. The Kamberg Nature Reserve nestles in the ... more information

Lotheni Nature Reserve

Noted for its magnificent scenery and beautiful camp, Lotheni is situated in a remote section of the Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park. Many delightful walking trails are available to suit all ages. For spectacular views of the Drakensberg, the Emadundwini Trail, an 11.8 km circular route crossing a number of small ... more information

Mkhomazi State Forest

Mkhomazi is situated in the southern section of the Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park. The Mkhomazi section of the Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park is one of the most isolated and least explored mountainous areas in KwaZulu Natal. The area is not attached to the main escarpment and comprises of a number ... more information

Monks Cowl Country Club

Named after the Monks Cowl outcrop on the nearby mountain range, the Monks Cowl Country Club offers the chance to play its scenic golf course against wonderful views of the Drakensberg. This picturesque Monks Cowl Golf Course is nestled in the magnificent Champagne Valley with views of the ... more information

Monks Cowl State Forest

Monks Cowl is the gateway to some of the most magnificent mountain Wilderness areas in South Africa. Taking its name from the distinctive mountain between Champagne Castle and Cathedral Peak, Monks Cowl marks the access to the Mlambonja and Mdedelelo mountain Wilderness areas ... more information

Mount Currie Nature Reserve

With no obvious official hiking trails up and around the mountain from whence it gets its name, Mount Currie Nature Reserve is a beautiful little reserve that is the only protected area in East Griqualand, just outside Kokstad and some 250 kilometres from Durban. Rather far off the beaten track ... more information

Royal Natal National Park

The Royal Natal National Park was proclaimed in 1916, and contains some of the most spectacular scenery in South Africa. The main feature of Royal Natal is the Amphitheatre, a rock wall about 5km in length, and approximately 1000m in height between the Sentinel (3 165m) and Eastern Buttress ... more information

Spioenkop Dam Nature Reserve

Lying virtually at the foot of the rugged Spioenkop Mountain, the dam was the site of one of the most bloody battles to ensue during the Anglo-Boer War in an attempt to lift the Siege of Ladysmith, Spioenkop Dam Nature Reserve is 4 400 hectares of thorn savannah that contrast magnificently with the ... more information

The Amphitheatre

This sheer, four-kilometre-wide basalt cliff face, The Amphitheatre, is flanked by the Sentinel and the Eastern Buttress and is one of South Africa Drakensberg's most distinctive scenic attractions. The Tugela River plunges over the edge and plummets 2000 m in a series of sheer falls.

Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park

The Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park has exceptional natural beauty in its soaring basaltic buttresses, incisive dramatic cutbacks, and golden sandstone ramparts. Rolling high altitude grasslands, the pristine steep sided river valleys and rocky gorges also contribute to the beauty of this world heritage site ... more information

Ardmore Ceramic Art Studio

Where: Champagne Valley
How much (per person): Free to Browse

The vibrant ceramics of Ardmore, ranging from functional domestic ware to sculptural art in the decorative African tradition, offer a fine i ... more information

Fly Fishing at Penwarn

Where: Drakensberg
How much (per person): On Request

Imagine the early morning mist lifting off a berg river, the trout rising ... Penwarn is a premier fishing location with seven dams (one ... more information

Hot Air Ballooning

Where: Drakensberg
How much (per person): On Request

Experience the awesome thrill and peaceful serenity of hot air ballooning. Hot air balloon flights are offered principally on the edge of th ... more information