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The Drakensberg Mountains |
The Zulu name for the Drakensberg is uKahlamba the barrier of spears. Its an appropriate name as this huge wall of basalt just rises up out of the pretty green Midlands forbidding and impassable. But don’t let the formidable names put you off.The Drakensberg is a Unesco World Heritage Site.
Cosy inns, characterful hotels and wonderful wayside pubs create an ambience of comfort and country homeliness in the shadow of the High Berg.
You can walk for miles literally. There are lots of lovely day walks but, if youre feeling energetic, you could hike out for a few days, or even a few weeks.
The Drakensberg Traverse is pretty hardcore but, if you have the time, inclination, energy and equipment, you could tackle this 300 km (180 mile) hike. Most people do much shorter ones.
The Drakensberg is designated wilderness, which means there are no laid out trails or overnight spots. You just buy your permit and a map and head off.
Less extreme activities include golf, fly fishing and some short or not-so-short pony trails. In winter, the summit may be covered in snow, and in summer, the whole mountain is bright green with new grass.
Animals you’re likely to see here include the enormous eland, delicate reedbuck, curious baboons, and the highly endangered and endemic lammergeier (bearded vulture).
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