Highmoor Nature Reserve

Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park

The beautiful Highmoor Nature Reserve lies within the Mkhomazi Wilderness in the central section of the Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park, a World Heritage Site. As its name suggests Highmoor is reached by a spectacularly winding road that reaches up towards Mount Lebanon and Cleopatra Mountain. It is flanked by Kamberg and Lotheni to the south, and the beautiful Giant's Castle to the north. Its height means that its pretty and its virtually hidden and artfully designed campsites are of the highest in KwaZulu Natal.

Highmoor is one of the most exceptionally pretty reserves, possibly because its elevation allows such splendid views, but also for the examples of rare, endemic and endangered flora and fauna to which the 15 000 hectare reserve is home. Highmoor also has no fewer than three large carefully managed, in terms of the numbers of fishermen, trout dams brimming over with rainbow trout, and wildlife such as eland, oribi, rooikat, serval and a wonderful array of birds, including bearded vultures and black eagles.

The moors of KwaZulu Natal can get cold – the downside of the heights attained by the reserve - but the upside is obviously the views. It is thus probably not a good idea to venture into the caves available for accommodation during winter months, but for the rest of the year, this is an idyllic form of accommodating large groups of around 20, and there are two caves to choose from.

Just a little further south is Kamberg Nature Reserve, whilst on the northern flank of Highmoor is Giants Castle Nature Reserve, something of a mountain wonderland and one of the major hiking and walking reserves in the Drakensberg.