Swartberg, Drakensberg

Although it appears to be little more than a railway siding in the southern reaches of the Drakensberg when seen on a map, the little village of Swartberg, north of Mount Currie Nature Reserve on Route 617, is actually the centre of agricultural activity of the area.

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 weekend escape. Farms lie nestled in the shadow of the Swartberg Mountain (black mountain) and other mountain peaks like Mount Macdonald and St Bernard's Peak, part of the Southern Drakensberg where you will find some of the most beautiful mountain formations in the country, undisturbed by development and the tireless need of man to infringe on nature.

Rivers run tirelessly through this mountain country and fishing particularly is a favourite pastime for visitors and locals. It is also a hiking paradise, understandably, and the landscape is riddled with incredible landmarks that form the culmination of a day or more's hike through clean, crisp mountain air and effortlessly beautiful scenery.

During winter parts of the country around Swartberg, particularly in the foothills, can experience snow making it the perfect time to spend tucked up before a roaring fire one one of the neighbourhood farms. But in summer the luxuriant grasses, wildflowers and seemingly never-ending number of rock pools make hiking, particularly in the early parts of the day, exquisite.