WHAT AWAITS YOU IN ROYAL NATAL NATIONAL PARK?

Fanning out from some of the range’s loftiest summits, the 80 square km Royal Natal National Park has a presence that far outstrips its relatively meagre size. With some of the Drakensberg’s most dramatic and accessible scenery, the park is crowned by the sublime Amphitheatre, an 8km wall of cliff and canyon that’s spectacular from below and even more so from up on high.

Here, the Tugela Falls drop 850m in five stages (the top one often freezes in winter). Looming behind is Mont-aux-Sources (3282m), so called because the Tugela, Elands and Western Khubedu Rivers rise here; the last eventually becomes the Senqu (Orange) River and flows all the way to the Atlantic. The park is renowned for its excellent day walks and hiking opportunities.

Tugela Falls is located near the source of the Tugela River in the Drakensberg mountains and ranks among the highest waterfalls on the planet, with an uninterrupted leap of 1,350 feet (411 metres) and a total drop of 3,110 feet (947 metres).

 

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FACTS

WHERE IS IT?

KwaZulu Natal province of South Africa.
The capital is Pietermaritzburg.

CLOSEST AIRPORTS

Bram Fischer International Airport [Bloemfontein]
OR Tambo International Airport [Johannesburg]
King Shaka International Airport [Durban]

GEOLOGY AND WILDLIFE

The Drakensberg Mountain Range is the eastern part of the Great Escarpment and forms the borders between Lesotho and the surrounding provinces. The Drakensberg is generally defined by three regions: the Northern, Central and Southern Regions. There are many deep valleys and peaks with spectacular mountain views throughout the range.

WHAT'S THE WEATHER LIKE?

Royal Natal has had snow recorded on the summit throughout the year. It gets frosty! The winter months runs from May to September [low season] while the summer runs from October to April [high season]. The summer averages 22C [72F] while winter temperatures average 16C [61F].

LOCAL LANGUAGES

English, Zulu and Afrikaans

WHAT IS THE CURRENCY?

Rand [ZAR]
US Dollars are not accepted.
Foreign exchange services are available in big cities and airports.

PERFECT FOR

Drakensberg Amphitheatre
Tugela Falls
Bushman Rock Art