uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park

The Amphitheatre, uKhahlamba-Drakensberg, from Royal Natal National Park
Photo: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The uKhahlamba-Drakensberg is South Africa’s grandest mountain landscape — a UNESCO World Heritage Site (for both its natural beauty and the richest concentration of San rock art in the world) running along the Lesotho border. This is a scenery, hiking and culture destination rather than a Big Five safari: think the towering Amphitheatre, alpine valleys, waterfalls, eland and the rare bearded vulture. It pairs naturally with the Zululand reserves and with Lesotho via the Sani Pass.

Ratings

Wildlife Density: ★★☆☆☆    Infrastructure: ★★★☆☆    Photography: ★★★★☆
Adventure: ★★★★★    Exclusivity: ★★★☆☆    Value for Money: ★★★★☆    Scenery: ★★★★★

Location: Western KZN, along the Lesotho border; gateways Bergville, Winterton, Underberg (Sani Pass)
Key wildlife: Eland, grey rhebok, baboon, bearded & Cape vulture; San rock art
Best for: Hiking, scenery, photography, culture, Lesotho combos
Best time: March–May & September–November (clear, mild); winter for snow

More about this reserve will be added here over time.