Drakensberg Safaris

SOUTH AFRICAN SAFARIS AND THE DRAKENSBERG

The Drakensberg region boasts one of the highest mountains in Southern Africa (3482 m) and stretches over 1000 km. Surrounded by the Orange River and Vaal River, the Drakensberg Mountains boast the most magnificent peaks in South Africa. This area is dominated by cliffs, valleys, paths and caves, with yellowwood forests and scattered waterfalls.

This South African mountain range is the natural dividing border between the Kwa-Zulu Natal and Free State Provinces and includes four well-known valleys; Champagne Valley, Didima Valley, Amphitheatre Valley and the Middledale Pass Valley. The Drakensberg Mountains took its form over many years of erosion and magma protrusions. These mountains were created through a volcanic explosion that deposited massive amounts of magma/lava onto the Drakensberg area. About 200 million years ago, the Gondwanaland area (covered in shale and sandstone) broke up creating an extrusion of magma which formed the Drakensberg Mountains.  

The Drakensberg Mountains are also known as ‘Ukhahlamba’, a Zulu word meaning ‘barriers of spears’; referring to the bordering peaks  ... The highest peak of the Drakensberg Mountains is called the Thabana Ntlenyana Peak (3482 m). Other astonishing peaks are; Mafadi (3450 m), Makoaneng (3416 m), Njesuthi (3408 m), Champagne Castle (3377 m), Giant's Castle (3315 m) and the Ben Macdhui Peak (3001m)…

The Drakensberg Mountains are furthermore known for their massive collection of rock art in the Drakensberg caves done by the Bushmen! These paintings and rock-art works attract many travellers annually as this mountain is believed to contain the biggest collection of rock art in the world. There are thought to be between 35 000 and 40 000 bushman paintings in this area - over 20 000 paintings are found between the Drakensberg Royal National Park and the Bushman’s Peak. It is thought that this area was populated around 100 000 years ago, making the Drakensberg Mountains a historic and educational area to visit.  

The Drakensberg area boasts many different day-activities, such as; hiking, horse riding, 4x4 trails, mountain biking, trout fishing, bird watching (299 species) and river-swimming! The best time to visit the Drakensberg is in April and May. Summer (Dec – Feb) is very rainy and the winter months are dry with freezing-cold nights...

Have a look at our South African safaris that include the Drakensberg area below. There are also other South African attractions beneath that you might want to visit on your South African Safari.

 

• Kruger National Park
• Garden Route
• Cape Town
• Winelands
• KwaZulu-Natal
• Addo Elephant National Park
• Greater St Lucia
• Hluhluwe-Umfolozi National Park
• Overberg
• Pilanesberg National Park
• Ukhahlamba
• West Coast
• Aquila
• Table Mountain
• Cango Caves
• Cape Point, Cape Agulhas
• Gods Window
• Kapama Game Reserve
• Kirstenbosch
• Knysna
• Madikwe Game Reserve
• Pilgrims Rest
• Robben Island
• Soweto
• Sun City
• Karoo South Africa
• Wild Coast
• V&A Waterfront
• Johannesburg
• Gansbaai
• Tsitsikamma
• Valley of a 1000 Hills
• Inverdoorn
• Cederberg
• Kimberley
• Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
• Zululand
• The Battlefields