What is the Drakensberg known for?
Drakensberg in KwaZulu-Natal is the highest mountain range in Southern Africa and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. Drakensberg is famous for its hiking routes, with trails for all abilities. The mountains are also home to many nature reserves with waterfalls and abundant wildlife.
What is unique about the Drakensberg?
Drakensberg Quick Facts Did you know: Drakensberg is a 200km long mountain range with the tallest peak at 3,500m, the highest in Southern Africa. Unique for: between 35,000 and 40,000 bushman rock paintings can be found here.
What type of mountains are the Drakensberg?
A map of South Africa shows the central plateau edged by the Great Escarpment and its relationship to the Cape Fold Mountains to the south. The portion of the Great Escarpment shown in red is known as the Drakensberg….
| Drakensberg | |
|---|---|
| Geology | |
| Type of rock | Basalt and Quartzite |
Where does the Drakensberg start?
The Drakensberg is part of the Great Escarpment and separates the extensive high plateaus of the South African interior from the lower lands along the coast. From its northeastern termination in Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces, the range extends through Lesotho to Eastern Cape province.
Are there lions in Drakensberg?
We then look for birds and flora in the grasslands around Wakkerstroom, before exploring the world-famous Kruger National Park, home of lions, African wild dogs, southern white rhinos and southern giraffes, plus a beautiful private nature reserve in the Mpumalanga Highlands.
How is Drakensberg formed?
The Drakensberg Group was formed approximately 182 million years ago during the early Jurassic period. Rifting tectonics in response to the breakup of the supercontinent Gondwana are believed to have been the cause for the formation of the Drakensberg Group.
Is the Natal green snake poisonous?
Like the Spotted Bush Snake, the Natal Green does not have fangs, nor venom, however they do have quite a few sharp little teeth that they use to catch and swallow their prey. This means that the Natal Green Snake is absolutely harmless.
Why is the Drakensberg important to South Africa?
Known in Zulu as Quathlamba (‘Battlement of Spears’), the Drakensberg rises like a great green fortress, forming a natural border between South Africa and Lesotho. Basalt buttresses jut into the sky and folds of land create deep valleys where waterfalls plunge into rock pools and rivulets seep down the sheer mountain faces. Unsurprisingly,…
How did the Drakensberg mountain range get its name?
The Drakensberg forms the eastern section of the Great Escarpment which borders the Central Plateau of Southern Africa. Thanks to its unique formation and distinctive structure, the range’s name translates to Dragon’s Mountains in Afrikaans and Barrier Of Spears in Zulu.
Are there any rock art in the Drakensberg mountains?
The Drakensberg mountains are an area incredibly rich in rock art. Our Southern section contains well over 150 discovered shelters containing rock art. Some well-known sites have been badly damaged as a result of uncontrolled visitor access, and sites on Nature Conservation land can now only be visited with a guide. (link Tour Operators)
Which is the best place to stay in Drakensberg?
Your guide to the best Drakensberg accommodation, activities and adventures. The Drakensberg Experience Tourism Association promotes and markets accommodation and tourism related activities in the Drakensberg mountains, a region world renowned for its stunning vistas and beautiful sunny skies.