The Drakensberg (Dragon's Mountain) is an awesome basalt escarpment that runs from the eastern border of Lesotho to the northern part of Eastern Transvaal. In Zulu it is called Quathlamba, which translates as 'battlement of spears'. The northern part of the Drakensberg occupies most of Eastern Transvaal, while the southern part is the area east of the Lesotho border. The many San rock paintings are proof of the fact that people have been living in the area for thousands of years, but during the 20th century it was mostly colonized by Europeans and nowadays few blacks live in there.
There are numerous nature parks and reserves in the Drakensberg area, of which the most interesting is probably the Royal Natal National Park in the southern part of the Drakensberg area. The nearby Tugela Falls are a spectacular series of waterfalls that drop 850 meters in five different stages. Other park in Drakensberg include the Golden Gate Highlands National Park and Giant's Castle Game Reserve.
The whole area is excellent for hiking and several trails run through the Drakensberg. The five-day Giant's Cup Trail is interesting and you can stay in huts along the route. If you make longer treks, take some warm clothes with you, as during the winter temperatures can drop below zero. The town of Bergville is the railway terminus and jumping-off point for trips to the Royal Natal National Park. South Africa's highest peak, 3408 meter Njesuthi is 30 km south of Bergville. Minibuses and taxis run between Bergville and Ladysmith.
There are numerous campsites, hotels and guesthouses all throughout the Drakensberg area.
Images have kindly been made available by UNESCOFind a flight to Drakensberg