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Drakensberg Mountains was known as “Dragon Mountains” by the early inhabitants and had covered a wide area from Kwazulu Natal to the faraway Tugela Region. This mountainous terrain is a spectacular sight from a distance and as part of the mountains are covered with natural vegetation the mountains take a greener look in some parts. Drakensberg Mountains is counted among the most visited Drakensberg tourist attractions. One can find a number of rock formations, crags, caverns, and caves in Drakensberg Mountains. Some of the rock formations in the eastern portion of the range take the shape of spears with their pointed peaks. The Zulus who used to live in this area named them “Ukhahlamba” which literally means “barrier”. Today the people of Drakensberg Mountains call it the “Berg”.
The peaks of the Drakensberg Mountains in Drakensberg are almost 300m high and are the homeland of many nature reserves which are famous all over Africa. These nature reserves are considered among the topmost tourist destinations in Drakensberg. Some of the reserves are home to many rare and endangered species. The Ukhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, the Mount-aux-Sources Park and the Natal National Royal Park are some of the favorite haunts of the nature lovers. However the major attraction of Drakensberg Mountains is the panoramic view of the surroundings. The land is vast and the eyes will see no boundaries as far as they can see. The gentle plains dotted with tiny houses are a treat for the eyes.
The Ukhahlamba-Drakensberg Park has earned the prestigious position of World Heritage Site and is a major crowd-puller among all the attractions of Drakensberg Mountains. The beauty of the place cannot be described in one or two words. If you visit the northern region of the Drakensberg Mountains you will come across unimaginable natural beauty. The much-talked about attraction of this area is the famous Amphitheatre. This large plateau which rises up to 300 m is known as the mouth of the Tugela River. Apart from the famous Tugela River there are eight other rivers which come out of this plateau. The Tugela Falls which is known as the second highest waterfall of the world gushes out of this plateau. The cascading waterfall is just a beauty to watch out for.
If you are an adventurous type then you can follow the horse trail and cover the large terrain. Hikers can choose from the various walks and explore the surrounding areas. The walks are categorized in various groups and even if you are not an experienced hiker you can always try out the smaller walks of Drakensberg Mountains. Some of the rock formations have granite and basalt walls and one of this basalt walls is known as the Giant’s Castle. This formation looks like the profile of a giant and hence it is named in such a manner. The early paintings of the Bushmen are preserved in a museum and are the major attractions of the place.
The southern region of Drakensberg Mountains is famous for the Bushmans Nek. Here one can find the Sani Pass which acts as an entry point or road link. The other entry point to Lesotho is Bushmans Nek. Home to some rare and exotic plants and wildlife, the Drakensberg Mountains is famous for the eland or a large African antelope, jackal, baboon and oribi. Bird watchers will find the “vulture hideouts” worth visiting as they can see the Bearded Vulture. Other bird species include Cape Vulture and the Black Eagle. Some of the famous peaks of the area are Cathedral Peak, Monk’s Cowl, Castle Buttress, Cleft Peak and the Champagne Castle.
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