If you drive along the coast from Johannesburg via Durban to Cape Town, you will pass the Drakensberg Mountains. The mountain range begins around 350 kilometers south of Johannesburg. If the weather is good, the route can bedone in about 3-4 hours via the motorway. The Drakensberge are around 200 kilometers long, so if you drive further south it will take longer. In South Africa you can drive 120 km / h on the highway. 100 km / h are allowed on the country road. In towns and cities the speed is 60 km / h (as of 2020). The roads are generally in good condition.
The Drakensberg Mountains form the eastern border between South Africa and Lesotho. The Kingdom of Lesotho lies on a high plateau, with snow to be expected from May until June.
Best time to travel:
The Drakensberg is up to 3,500 m high, in winter (May-August) it can get cold. In summer (December-February) the temperatures are mostly pleasant. In spring and autumn it can still get cold and rainy.
The Royal Natal National Park is in the north of the Drakensberg. The national park icoveres only an area of 88 km², but offers the most spectacular landscape of the Drakensberg Mountains. One of the attractions of the Royal Natal National Park is the Tugela Waterfall. With a drop of 948 m, it is the second tallest waterfall in the world, after the Salto Angel in Venezuela with a height of 979 m.
The amphitheater is also located in the Royal Natal National Park. The magnificent mountain backdrop is formed by a 6 km long, crescent-shaped basalt wall, which rises over 1,000 m. There are peaks at both ends of the amphitheater. The Eastern Buttress (left) is 3047 m high, the Sentinel (right) even 3,165 m.
The Drakensberg are very suitable for hiking. There are many hiking trails with different levels of difficulty. Even inexperienced hikers can walk through the beautiful landscape. If you want to climb the steep paths near the high rock walls, you should join a guided tour. The Drakensberg Mountains are one of the most beautiful landscapes of South Africa. There are many lodges in all price ranges.
Accommodation options in the Royal Natal National Park www.thendele.co.za
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