The Drakensberg Mountains A Beginner’s Guide & Hiking the Trails

The Drakensberg Mountains A Beginner’s Guide & Hiking the Trails. The eastern part of the enormous Escarpments, which encompasses the plateau in southern Africa, is referred to as the Drakensberg. With an elevation of 2,000 to 3,000 meters, the escarpment forms a natural border between Lesotho and the Eastern Cape, and it stretches for more than 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) from the province of Eastern Cape in the south to the province of KwaZulu Natal in the north. With an elevation of about 11,400 feet (3,475 meters), this mountain range is also the most prominent in South Africa. Artwork on rocks and in caves has been discovered throughout the range for a number of years. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with numerous parks and game reserves. Not only that, but it supplies water to the Orange River and is the primary watershed in South Africa. Among the many peaks found on this mountain range are Thabana Ntlenyana, which stands at 3,482 meters (11,424 feet) above sea level, Makoaneng, Mafadi, Njesuthi, Giant’s Castle, Champagne castle, popple peak, Ben Macdhui, and Champagne castle.

Cathedral Peak is another favorite spot for hikers. As Lesotho moves north, its mountain ranges flatten out and eventually enter Mpumalanga. There, the majestic Transvaal Drakensberg Quartzite Mountains stand tall, breaking from the eastern edge of the Transvaal Basin. Day hikes, overnight excursions, and walks, including the world-renowned Giant’s Cup Trail, are all available. The length of the hikes ranges from one to eight hours. Views of the surrounding peaks, including 3,256-meter Hodgon’s paeka, picturesque mountain streams and waterfalls, swimming springs, dense forests, and a challenging atmosphere are all part of these hikes. At 2,200 meters, Ndlovini offers breathtaking views. As you trek, you can see vultures, baboons, eland, reedbuck, oribi, duikers, eland, grey Rhebok, and the floating balancing rocks below.