Drakensberg

The Drakensberg mountains of South Africa is a 200-kilometre-long mountainous wonderland and world heritage site.It is the highest mountain range in Southern Africa.It is also know as “uKhahlamba” or“The Barrier of Spears”. The Dutch Voortrekkers named it as 'The Dragon Mountain'. It forms a natural border between Lesotho and KwaZulu Natal.The largest proportion of the Drakensberg area falls in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. The Drakensberg Range has three sections,South, Central and North.The Northern Drakensberg comprises Royal Natal National Park,Rugged Glen Nature Reserve,Amphitheatre,Mont-aux-Sources, Ifidi, Mnweni & Ntonjelana valleys, Singati Valley, the Mnweni cutback, Mponjwane, and the Saddle.The Central Drakensberg or Berg comprises of Mlambonja Wilderness Area, Cathedral Peak,Organ Pipes, Ndedema Gorge,Ndumeni, Mdedelelo Wilderness Area, Monk’s Cowl, Champagne Castle,Cathkin Peak,Injasuti, and Giant’s Castle Game Reserve.Southern Drakensberg has Mkhomazi Wilderness Area,Loteni,Kamberg,Vergelegen,Hinghmoor,Sani Pass,Mzimkhulwana Nature Reserve, Mzimkhulu Wilderness Area, Garden Castle, Rhino, Giant’s Cup Hiking Trail, Bushman’s Nek, Sehlabathebe National Park, Thomathu, Devil’s Knuckles, and Ramatseliso's Nek.
The mountains are capped by a layer of basalt approximately 1,400 m thick, with sandstone resulting in a combination of steep-sided blocks.The Drakensberg Mountains, with their awe-inspiring basalt cliffs, snowcapped in winter, lush yellowwood forests and cascading waterfalls, form a massive barrier separating KwaZulu-Natal from the Kingdom of Lesotho. This 243,000 hectare mountainous region known the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park has been preserved and venerated for eons since the San people or bushmen roamed these slopes.This is one of South Africa`s best hiking spots, with varied environments and awesome views. It is an important region for adventure activities like mountaineering, camping, bird watching, river crossing, trout fishing, and many more such activities.The entire Drakensberg is riddled with incredible waterfalls, rock pools, mountain streams, crisp mountain air, caves and special spaces that draw both visitors to South Africa and locals alike.
Cave and cave paintings :- In Drakensberg of KwaZulu Natal lies Ukhahlamba-Drakensberg Park which is a world heritage site , it also has over 600 examples of rock paintings in caves around the park. The Drakensberg has between 35000 and 40000 works of bushman art and is the largest collection of such work in the world. The oldest painting on a rock shelter wall in the Drakensberg dates back about 2400 years", "paint chips at least a thousand years older have also been found.It is famous for its outstanding both in quality and diversity of subject. Drakensberg range is a major tourist destination in South Africa and one of the best-known adventure destinations in the world.

Mont-aux-Sources :-It is regarded as the one of the highest portions of the Drakensberg Mountain range. Mont-aux-Sources is regularly described as a mountain block. The amphitheatre, of which Mont-aux-Sources is part, is a five kilometre wall of rock that is at once intimidating and awesome, and forms part of the Royal Natal National Park.It is surrounded by mountain peaks and visitors can enjoy hiking.

Cathedral Peak :- It is surrounded by most spectacular mountain scenery.The peak is bordered by two wilderness areas the Mdedeleo and Mlambonja.It is a retreat for nature lovers, mountain bikers and rock climbers.

Giant’s Castle :- It lies at the southern end of the Drakensberg.It get its name from the outline of the peaks and escarpment that combine to resemble the profile of a sleeping giant.There are a number of hikes to choose from and they range from the rather severe hike to Bannerman Hut, to the more sedate Champagne Pools circular walk from Giant’s Castle main gate, which takes you to secluded pools for swimming and fishing.

Some more attractions :-

Cape Winelands

A journey through the lush Cape Winelands of the Western Cape will soon reveal why South Africa has gained an international reputation for the production of award-winning wines.There are a number of wine growing areas in South Africa, the bulk of our wine comes from the area we classically call 'the Winelands' that includes Stellenbosch, Paarl and Franschhoek. Towns such as Stellenbosch, Paarl, Wellington and Franschhoek are framed by mountains and lush vineyards and are home to historic buildings and museums that showcase the natural beauty, world renowned wines and accessibility to Cape Town make the winelands an ideal holiday destination.Visitors may have a hard time choosing which of the many superb wine routes to explore.The Cape Winelands is a scenically enchanting region.Dramatic mountains and fertile valleys are planted with vines stretching across rolling fields. Here farmers enjoy perfect conditions and produce some of the best wines in the world. It is the Mediterranean climate and winter rainfall of the south-western Cape that produces some of the best wines in the country. The production of wine has shaped the development of this area for over 300 years, and it has been proposed for consideration as a World Heritage Cultural Landscape.The winelands are a wonderful combination of small historic towns, beautiful scenery and wine estates producing delicious wines and brandies.The Cape Winelands features health spas, golf courses, restaurants, nature reserves, museums, galleries, open-air theaters, art & craft shops and, row upon row of vineyards changing colors with the seasons.Visitors could enjoy hiking, game viewing, bird watching, canoeing, 4x4 trails, horseback safaris, mountain biking, abseiling, kloofing, rock pool swimming and more.

Stellenbosch is the de facto capital of the Winelands. It is very attractive and full of old thatched and whitewashed Cape Dutch buildings and historic national monuments. The wine estates of Stellenbosch are most impressive, with grand manor houses and beautifully laid out grounds. Here you'll find beautiful wine farms, amazing restaurants, charming guest houses and unforgettable wines. The Stellenbosch wine route is the oldest in the country and represents over 300 wineries. Because of this it is divided into a number of sub-routes to make it easier to travel, namely: Bottelary Hills, Devon Valley Vintners, Helderberg and Simonsberg-Stellenbosch.Bottelary Hills lies on the slopes of the Bottelary mountain range and produces red wines.Devon Valley Vintners lies to the west of Stellenbosch focus on red wine but also produced premium white and sparkling wines.

Franschhoek is the heart of one of the oldest and most beautiful wine routes in the Cape. The valley produces all the classic styles and noble cultivars - from whites such as Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon through to the reds of Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot. Over 30 wine cellars produce some of the country’s top wines.

Paarl is renowned for its very beautiful countryside, excellent wines and some incredible architecture. Paarl Wine Route is also known as the ‘Red Route’ because a large variety of grapes are grown in Paarl, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Shiraz, Chardonnay etc.

The Garden Route

The Garden Route lies east of Cape Town and encompasses some of South Africa's most beautiful beaches, mountains, and rivers. It is one of the famous place while visiting South Africa. The Garden Route is a series of bays, cliffs, beaches and towns, stretching hundreds of kilometres from Heidelberg in the west to the Tsitsikamma Forest in the East.This route takes travelers through a series of picturesque towns and villages, each with their own unique character and attractions.This is a strip of land like no other in the world in terms of beauty, natural attractions and unique flora and fauna . The Garden Route is a paradise for eco-lovers, bird watchers and one of the most beautiful part of the Cape.The route is a popular holiday destination for both seasons, are equally beautiful and attractive due to the largely Mediterranean climate. A wide range of leisure options, spectacular scenery and a mild climate guarantee an unforgettable holiday experience when visiting the Garden Route in South Africa.Along the way, every kind of adventure activity is possible scuba diving, abseiling,bungee jump off the Bloukrans Bridge,hikers and bikers enjoy here, fishing, Whether you're paragliding over sandy white beaches, spotting dolphins it's a place where nature rules, and it does so beautifully.It is also a top priority of many foreign visitor.