аÄÃÅ¿ª½±½á¹û

uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park- Author; Ad Meskens-

Top 10 Remarkable Facts about uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park

The uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park is a protected area in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. It is part of a world heritage site and thus highly recognized as an attraction site.

This park includes Royal Natal National Park, a provincial park, and covers part of the Drakensberg, an escarpment formation with the highest elevations in southern Africa.

1. It was first declared a World Heritage Site in 2000

UNESCO World Heritage Flag- Author; Henrik Sendelbach-

The park and the adjoining Sehlabathebe National Park in the Kingdom of are part of the Maloti-Drakensberg Park, which was first declared a World Heritage Site on 30 November 2000.

It is described by UNESCO as having “exceptional natural beauty in its soaring basaltic buttresses, incisive dramatic cutbacks, and golden sandstone ramparts… the site’s diversity of habitats protects a high level of endemic and globally threatened species, especially birds and plants… [and it] also contains many caves and rock-shelters with the largest and most concentrated group of paintings in Africa south of the Sahara”.

Plans to boost tourism in the area include a long-awaited cable car project by the Kwa Zulu- Natal Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs Department.

2. Most of the park’s parts have been designated as game reserves

Drakensbergen Amphitheater- Author; Ad Meskens-

Most of the higher South African parts of the Drakensberg escarpment formation have been designated as game reserves or wilderness areas.

It is also on the List of Wetlands of International Importance (under the Ramsar Convention).

Wilderness areas include Mkhomazi, Upper Mkhomazi, Mlambonja, Mdedelelo, and Mzimkhulu. Mkhomazi Wilderness Area is a region of deserted badlands in the Drakensberg, lying between the Giant’s Castle and the Sani Pass.

3. It has a sandstone base that has been eroded over a millennia

Drankesberg view- Author; PhilippN-

The Drakensberg mountains have a sandstone base, which has been eroded over millennia to form numerous caves and overhangs.

Throughout the centuries, South Africa’s original inhabitants, the Bushmen or San, inhabited many of these and left behind a priceless legacy of incredible rock art.

The most outstanding rock art sites are those in the Main Caves at Giant’s Castle and in the magnificent Game Pass Shelter at Kamberg.

4. It also incorporates the huge Drakensberg mountain range

View of Drakensbergen fromThe Cavern- Author; Ad Meskens-

As a World Heritage Site, the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park, incorporates the massive Drakensberg mountain range, which forms the border between KwaZulu Natal in South Africa and the Kingdom of Lesotho.

Its towering basalt peaks and buttresses offer dramatic vistas, the highest peak reaching a spectacular 3482 metres – the highest in South Africa.

A mantle plume under the Southern Gondwana caused a bulging of the continental crust, some one hundred and eighty million years ago. This later became South Africa. Rift valleys formed on the sides of this bulge, some twenty million years ago.

A period of erosion followed. This wearing continues to the present day. Additionally, there was a period of upliftment, especially in the East which as a result, most of the plateau lies above 1,000 m despite the extensive erosion.

The plateau tilted such that its highest point is in the East, and it slopes gently downwards towards the west and south.

5.  A massive upliftment 20 million years ago resulted in the present-day coastal plain of the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park

Drakensbergen park- Author; Ad Meskens-

During the past 20 million years, further massive upliftment has taken place in Southern Africa.

The upliftment of the central plateau over the past 20 million years and erosion of softer sandstone under the volcanic rock resulted in the original escarpment moving inland.

This movement created the present-day coastal plain. The position of the present escarpment is approximately 150 kilometres inland from the first fault lines which formed the walls of the rift valley that developed along the coast during the break-up of Gondwana.

The rate of erosion of the escarpment in the Drakensberg region averages 1.5 millimetres per year.

6. Remarkably, uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park is the main watershed of South Africa and KwaZulu’s significant source of water

Drakensberg water source- Author; Darren Glanville-

The Drakensberg is the main watershed of South Africa and the province of KwaZulu-Natal’s most significant source of water. Moreover, most of KwaZulu-Natal’s rivers originate in this escarpment. It is also the source of the Great Orange River.

The Drakensberg also feeds the Sterkfontein Dam through a unique pump system. This dam provides a large proportion of Gauteng’s water supply.

The Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park is one of South Africa`s prime ecotourist destinations. Here, you can savour the ultimate freedom of great open spaces in a world of gigantic peaks and buttresses.

7. uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park is perfect for hiking and walking

Hiking- Photo by Toomas Tartes on

The park is a hiker’s paradise. This high mountain range is a wilderness where your mind and soul may be renewed through contact with nature. The hiking experiences are just endless.

There are also hikes to suit most needs. They range from a gentle stroll to an extremely strenuous hike.

8. It is also quite popular for anyone interested in mountain Biking

Mountain biking- Image by David Mark from

At Cathedral Peak, mountain bikers can enjoy the awesome views of the Drakensberg as they traverse the existing network of tracks originally put in place for forestry purposes in the sixties.

A simple 14km mountain bike trail has been established in the beautiful Lotheni valley in the Southern Drakensberg.

Mountain bikers therefore have the opportunity to stop at the historic ‘Gelib Tree’ site and on a warm day, there is the opportunity to swim at the magnificent ‘Cool Pools’.

The 75km Giants Castle Mountain Bike Challenge is a major annual mountain biking event. This event combines the majesty of stunning Drakensberg views with the opportunity for mountain bikers to pit themselves against South Africa’s toughest mountain bike challenge.

9. It is rich in cultural heritage

Culture- Photo by Eyasu Etsub on

The Drakensberg is also rich in cultural heritage. For instance, it is home to 35% of South Africa’s San rock art sites.

In South Africa the San inhabited the Drakensberg from the late Stone Age times until the late nineteenth century.

There is a rock art centre at Kamberg with guided walks to Game Pass shelter and a magnificent San rock art centre at the Didima at Cathedral Peak.

10. It is home to a variety of wildlife

Hummingbird- Image by Pexels from

The Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park has a diverse population of birds, mammals and reptiles.

The more common larger mammals that can be found are mountain reedbuck, grey rhebuck, grey duiker, eland, klipspringer, bushbuck and oribi.

The main predators in the Drakensberg are leopard, black-backed jackal, caracal, serval, clawless and spotted neck otter, various species of mongoose and genet.

Troops of chacma baboons, porcupines and colonies of rock hyrax are also found throughout this mountain park.

Additionally, it is home to over 300 species of birds. Thirty-two of the species are endemic to Southern Africa. Some of the specials that can be found are wattled crane, cape vulture, bearded vulture, orange-breasted rockjumper and yellow-breasted pipit.