uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park

UNESCO Site · KwaZulu-Natal, 🇿🇦 South Africa

Area 2,299 km²

Time zone Africa/Johannesburg

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Andynct / CC BY-SA 4.0

Drakensberg Park Essentials

The uKhahlamba / Drakensberg Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site characterized by massive basalt ramparts and soaring sandstone cliffs. This selection includes the five-kilometer-long Amphitheatre and Tugela Falls, which drops 948 meters. The park preserves a significant collection of San rock art, accessible through centers at Kamberg and Didima. Key peaks like Champagne Castle, South Africa's second-highest mountain, and Giant's Castle define the skyline, while specialized sites like the Vulture Hide offer close encounters with rare raptors in their natural high-altitude habitat.

12 places

Martijn van Beijmerwerdt / CC-BY-SA

Drakensberg Peaks & Waterfalls

The Drakensberg mountain range, a UNESCO World Heritage site, contains Southern Africa's most significant geographical landmarks. This selection features the world-renowned Tugela Falls, which drops nearly 950 meters, and Njesuthi, the highest peak in South Africa at 3,408 meters. The region is characterized by dramatic basalt buttresses like Cathedral Peak and Champagne Castle. These landmarks are primarily located within the Royal Natal National Park and the Monk's Cowl reserve, representing the extreme vertical scale of the Great Escarpment.

9 places

Drakensberg Hidden Caves

The Drakensberg mountains contain thousands of sandstone shelters and caves, many of which served as ancestral homes for the San people. This selection features notable overnight shelters ranging from high-altitude summit caves to those hidden behind waterfalls like Ribbon Falls. These sites offer primitive accommodation for hikers and provide access to unique geological formations, natural rock pools at Marble Baths, and ancient rock art sites in the Cathedral Peak and Injasuti regions.

15 places

Stewartmoss / CC BY-SA 4.0

Drakensberg Peaks

The uKhahlamba-Drakensberg range contains some of Southern Africa’s highest elevations and most rugged terrain. This selection features Champagne Castle, the country’s second-highest peak, and the 3,408-meter Njesuthi dome. These summits, including the distinctive free-standing Cathedral Peak and the border-straddling Popple Peak, form part of the Great Escarpment. Characterized by dramatic basalt buttresses and high-altitude plateaus, these peaks offer challenging routes for experienced mountaineers navigating the international border between South Africa and Lesotho.

5 places

Drakensberg Mountain Stays

The Drakensberg mountain range offers diverse accommodation ranging from high-altitude hiker huts to luxury resorts. Key locations include the Royal Natal National Park, home to the Amphitheatre, and the Sani Pass, which hosts the highest pub in Africa. Many camps, such as Didima and Giant's Castle, are managed by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and provide direct access to UNESCO-listed San rock art sites and extensive trail networks for all skill levels.

12 places

uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park — Map

Practical information

Currency: South African Rand ZAR R · Card payments · Widely accepted
Electricity: Type C / Type D / Type M / Type N
230 V · 50 Hz

Languages: Afrikaans, English, South Ndebele, Swati, Southern Sotho, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu
Tap water: Safe to drink
Driving side: Left
Calling code: +27