Drakensberg Mountains Holidays

From Royal Natal National Park in the north to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Maloti-Drakensberg Park in the south, the Drakensberg Mountains is one of the most scenic destinations in South Africa. Spend days on hiking trails over mountains and through dramatic gorges, discover ancient San rock art, or grab your binoculars and go birding.

Looking for more? Indulge in lunch with a bottle at the Cathedral Peak Wine Estate. See the Drakensberg Boys Choir in concert. Go sport fishing for yellowfish at Sterkfontein Dam. Uncover a long and fascinating history in the Himeville Museum. Take a day trip into Lesotho and meet Basotho shepherds as they work. Game viewing? Why not? Giant's Castle Game Reserve sits in the mountain foothills while Spioenkop Nature Reserve and the Nambiti Big 5 Private Game Reserve are just a short drive away.

Pack your walking boots because hiking is one of the best things to do in the Drakensberg Mountains. Scramble over vertical rock faces on metal chain ladders and climb to the 3,004-metre-high summit of Cathedral Peak for incredible views. See Tugela Falls, the second-highest waterfall in the world, cascading down the stark cliffside of the Drakensberg Amphitheatre.

Prefer something easier? Stay in the foothills and keep it simple on the riverside paths of the Kamberg Nature Reserve, try a portion of the Giant’s Cup Trail, or take five days to complete its whole 40-mile distance. One location not to be missed is the Sani Pass, reaching from the valley floor to the mountaintop border with Lesotho, a climb you can do in three hours on foot or much quicker in a 4x4 vehicle.

San people, often referred to as bushmen, called the Drakensberg Mountains home for millennia until the violent conflicts of the 19th century. Despite their almost total disappearance, the marks they left behind remain today. Explore more than 600 rock art sites including Battle Cave near Injisuthi, Main Caves near Giants Castle, and Games Pass Shelter near Kamberg. Learn more about these ancient petroglyphs and the people who left them at the Didima Rock Art Centre in Royal Natal National Park.

As you travel these ancient sites, keep an eye on the sky. Birding is one of the best activities to enjoy in Drakensberg with over 350 species in the lush hillside and sanctuaries across the region. Visit the Hlatikulu Crane Sanctuary, watch vultures from Lammergeyer Hide at Giants Castle, and see raptors rehabilitating at Falcon Ridge.

It’s always a good time to visit somewhere in the Drakensberg Mountains as each season brings new charm to varied landscapes. Hiking, especially on higher ground, is likely to be at its most pleasant in the dryer shoulder seasons of April to May and September to October.

Early starts are recommended in summer, from November to March, when warm days are perfect for exploring but afternoon thunderstorms are to be expected. Drakensberg’s peaks are likely to see snowfall between June and August and cooler days mean you’ll need to wrap up warm and stick to the foothills and valleys, but your photos will be stunning.