Drakensberg

The Drakensberg (mountains of the Dragon), which is a World Heritage Site, is affectionately called the “Berg”. It stretches along two thirds of the western border of KwaZulu-Natal for a distance of 200km and forms the border with Lesotho. In the north it borders on the Maloti range and Golden Gate. It is actually an escarpment and to the west it loses altitude gradually through Lesotho. This does not imply that the top is at all flat. It is an eiderdown of enormous hills and valleys. The highest points are about 3300m and the resorts are at about 1500m.

While the main range is quite formidable and hiking there requires expertise and fitness, the little ‘Berg or foothills are more gentle. They offer moderate hikes over grassy knolls and through shady gorges with waterfalls and teeming with birdlife.

Although there are different areas, each basically situated in a valley and with different names they are all continuous and all part of the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park. Authors of guide books often place emphasis on different regions. This leads visitors to think their life depends on visiting a certain region. That is not true. On a scale from one to ten, every region is much the same though each area is unique in its own way. So relax and enjoy.

Geographically, the Drakensberg has an extension which runs east through Mpumalanga Province at a much lower altitude. While being a lovely area this is not the “true Drakensberg”.

Recently, rather arbitrary designations of Northern, Central and Southern Berg are being used. North would be from Royal Natal National Park down to Cathedral Peak, Central from Cathedral to Giants Castle and the South from there to beyond Sani Pass.
That leaves an enormous area further south around uMzimkhulu, Bushman’s Nek and Sehlabathebe. I suppose this is the far south.

The range was formed volcanically and the Berg is basalt and the little Berg is sandstone.

Climate and Seasons

The climate is surprisingly mild , a typical winter’s day may have a mininum of 2° and maximum of 20°, and that is only in June and July. Many people will tell you that it is very cold here in winter. The fact is we are warmer than Johannesburg. When the Cape is wet and cold in winter and spring we have warm dry days (nights may be cold).

Summers are warm to hot with odd thunderstorms. These are more likely to occur in the afternoon and at night