Drakensberg
Nature Reserves
-
Royal Natal
- Cathedral Peak
- Mnweni
- Monks Cowl
- Injasuti
- Giants Castle
- Highmoor
- Kamberg
- Lotheni
- Vergelegen
- Sani Pass
- Cobham
- Bushmans Nek
Drakensberg Attractions
- Bushman Rock
Art
- Hiking Trails
- Hot air
ballooning
- Horse trails
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flights
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- Drakensberg
Boys Choir
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- Midlands Meander
- Fly Fishing
- Game Viewing
- Golf
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rafting
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Quad Biking
- 4x4 Offroad trails
- Battlefield
Tours
- Wine Tasting
- Museums
- Bicycle tours
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- Wellness & Spas
Drakensberg Towns
- Bergville
- Ladysmith
- Winterton
- Estcourt
- Mooi River
- Weenen
- Underberg
- Himeville
- Rosetta
- Nottingham Road
- Balgowan
- Howick
- Lidgetton
- Currys Post
- Karkloof
- Lions River
- Fort Nottingham
- Hilton
- Dargle
Drakensberg
Accommodation
Drakensberg
Links
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Tugela Falls
The Tugela Falls is the second highest waterfall in the world
Nestled in the Dragon’s Mountains (Drakensberg) of the Royal Nata
National Park, the Tugela Falls is just a memorable spectacle that is ranked
second in the list of highest waterfalls on the planet. Adorning the KwaZulu-Natal
region of South
Africa, the Tugela Falls is split into five free cascades all making for
the total drop of 3,110 feet. With this geographical layout, the surrounding
scene of green and misty mountains along with the shine of the cascade due
to the reflection of the sun in the late afternoon form up a breathtaking
vista for the tourists to hike to this great Tugela Falls.
One more astonishing
feature of the the Tugela Falls is that its source called the Tugela River
is nestled many kilometers away from the escarpment, the spot from where
the plunge starts. Accessible from the major travel road leading one in the
park, the Tugela
Falls is not only worth seeing, but is also worth drinking as
its water is clean and safe.
To
reach the falls, you need to hike on one of the two hiking trails ending
at the cascade. Among the two, the first one is called the Tugela Gorge Trail
leading one up to the base of the falls. This hiking trail is reachable by
going down the Tendele Camp up to the Tugela River from where route starts.
Many say that this is one of the most famous and scenic walk that must be
taken up for a full day trip for obtaining the most of it. The total time
with the round trip is 6.5 hours making you hike a distance of 22.5 km (up
and down trips including). This trail is certainly a superb experience of
ascending the mountains from the Tugela car park. Despite it being the flat
trail, it just does not miss to give you splendid scenery. The trail’s
initial 4 km is just good as no instructions or special directions are required;
in fact, the path just meanders by the side of and over the Tugela River.
If you are passing this way in spring and summer, the scenery is just mind
blowing as the valley comes to life with its blooming indigenous flora. Talking
about the further distance of the trail, it just moves in and out of green
jungles plunging down the hills until the below watercourse. Do not forget
to spot the sights of the Amphitheatre wall that becomes more gorgeous as
you reach near and near the Gorge. Soaring at 1800 m from the floor of the
valley, the wall is just spectacular to visit. In fact, viewing the Tugela
Falls from above the Amphitheatre is the main attraction of an excursion
to these Dragon Mountains.
As you approach the last km of this trail, you will come across the river’s
three boulder crossings that are only tough to approach during floods. Unless
you encounter floods, just don’t look back and make some efforts so
that you are rewarded with the most scenic landscape in the park, which is
seen only after reaching at the far end while you sip a welcome tea served
by the guide of The Cavern. Once you reach the Gorge, a tunnel appears via
which the river meets an impenetrable rock formation that you can avoid via
a rushing up a right chain ladder. Utilize this one to evade the tunnel and
directly enter the Amphitheatre and the boulder trip above the falls where
each footstep of yours beholds your eyes with a different view ending at
the top of the Tugela Falls. However, beware of the thunderstorms
that in no time loom over the wall of Amphitheatre, while you enjoy at this
exceptional site. On your down trip, you will reach the car park site quicker,
so it’s better to enjoy the views while on up trip.
There is one more route to reach the falls, which leads one up to the spot
from where the waterfalls begins its plunge below the escarpment. A majority
of the tourists consider this trail to be the most spectacular one for mountain
hiking that makes you reach at the summit of the Mount-Aux-Sources. Beginning
from the Witsieshoek’s Sentinel car park, the route passes through
Phuthadjhaba from where one needs take up a short ascend at the apex of the
Amphitheatre with the help of the dual chain ladders. The entire trail takes
your 5 to 8 hours including a return trip, which is actually dependent on
your fitness. If you want to be atop the Drakensberg escarpment, then take
up this hiking trail.
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