Drakensberg

The Drakensberg is South Africa's most dramatic mountain range - a 200-kilometer wall of basalt cliffs and peaks rising to over 3,000 meters that forms the border between KwaZulu-Natal and Lesotho. Named "Dragon Mountains" by Afrikaner settlers (and uKhahlamba, "Barrier of Spears," by the Zulu), these mountains are a UNESCO World Heritage Site for both their natural beauty and their extraordinary San (Bushman) rock art.

The Drakensberg contains the largest collection of San rock paintings in the world - over 35,000 individual images in 600 caves and rock shelters, some dating back 3,000 years. The most famous site, Game Pass Shelter in the Kamberg area, contains the iconic "Rosetta Stone" panel that helped unlock the spiritual meaning of San art.

Hiking is the primary draw. From gentle walks to challenging multi-day traverses, the Drakensberg offers some of the finest mountain trekking in Africa. The Amphitheatre in the Royal Natal National Park - a 5-kilometer-wide, 1,000-meter-high wall of rock - is one of the most impressive cliff faces in the world. The Tugela Falls, dropping 948 meters in five cascades, is the second-highest waterfall on Earth.

Autumn (March to May) and spring (September to November) offer the best hiking conditions - clear skies, moderate temperatures (12-22°C), and lower rainfall.

Summer (December to February) brings afternoon thunderstorms (sometimes violent) but the mountains are green and waterfalls are at their most spectacular.

Winter (June to August) is dry and cold (0-15°C), with snow on the peaks. Mountain passes may close temporarily.