Mountains of the dragon - Drakensberg

April 12, 2015 — South Africa 2

Locate on the map

The Drakensberg forms the border between South Africa and the mountain kingdom of Lesotho. This vast region got the World Heritage status in 2000. At that time, the name became park uKhahlamba-Drakensberg.

Drakensberg means the Dragon Mountains in Afrikaans; the Zulus name them Quathlamba, meaning 'Battlement of Spears'.

The Drakensberg are separated in many zones where it is possible to do numerous treks. One would need a few weeks to do all the treks, and that if one is lucky enough to have the temperature on its side. I am presenting you some photos of the Northern and Central Berg. For the southern part, there were too many clouds, thunderstorms and rains when I passed through.

Sentinel Peak area

Sentinel Peak.

The Sentinel Peak hike doesn't go on top of the peak of the same name, but goes around it to reach the Royal Natal Park where the famous Amphitheatre and Tugela Falls can be seen.

The road to get to the trail's start is interesting on its own. A road of a few kilometres on the side of the mountain not made of asphalt, but with bricks...

After getting up early, I started the climb toward the Amphitheatre

Sunrise on the Drakensberg.

View along the trail.

I read there were ladders to climb during the hike. It was mentioned that it wasn't easy to climb them for those having vertigo. When I saw the first ladder, I laughed quite a bit since it is far from being a hard climb... When I saw the second one, I stopped laughing quite abruptly. There were two series of ladders on a 10-20 metres vertical cliff. I hiked 6 hours and about 10 km that day, but at the end of the hike, it was my arms that were hurting. I suffer a bit from vertigo, thus I must have held on to the ladder quite strongly.

Both ladders seem to disappear in the air, isn't-it? It's not an illusion; it’s what it looks like as seen from above.

A fall with an unknown name.

The Tugela River.

Even though it's tiny, the Tugela Fall is the second highest fall in the world after the Angels Fall. The Tugela Fall drop for 850 metres.

The Amphitheatre... to get an idea of its size, notice the two persons sitting on the left.

Royal Natal National Park

The Tugela Fall drops from the Amphitheatre located in this park. The Sentinel hike reaches the top of the fall while, in this park, it is possible to get almost to the bottom of the fall after its 850 metres drop.

The hike is along the magnificent Tugela River gorge.

Along the trail.

Here is part of the Amphitheatre seen from below. The Tugela fall is located somewhere near top watermark's 'W'. It is almost invisible from below.

View of the Amphitheatre at the end of the hike.

View of the Amphitheatre at sunrise.

The park also protects several rock paintings made by the San people. This one is about 800 years old.

Cascades near the campsite.

Cathedral Peak area

Here is another nice area of the Drakensberg. It is possible to do a long hike to Cathedral Peak. I waited 2 days before the sun came back, thus I didn't do this hike.