Top 10 Tourist attractions in the Drakensberg

The Drakensberg region offers a lot and its not easy to select the best top 10 attractions form a selection of over 200 attractions, stunning hikes, adventure activities, arts and crafts, cheese tastings, bushman rock art, culteral experiences and resturants. This list tries to portray an even spread of the best across the board

Drakensberg Top 10 - Whatever you do don't miss these!

1. Hiking the upper and lower reaches of the Drakensberg Mountains is simply stunning and this scenery is is the main reason why you are visiting the region. Every access point offers some different aspect of the mountains. Even consider staying overnight in a cave or mountain hut. Giants Castle offers very good hikes and its location in the middle of the mountain range is perhaps the optimum location to base your visit.

2. Bushman Rock can be found an many locations in the Drakensberg but without any doubt the best examples are found at Kamberg. Not only are the paintings in good condition but this is the only site where spiritual aspects of the paintings are obvious. A great DVD  presentation precedes the stunning 3 hour return guided hike which includes a waterfall to boot. An added aspect is the fact that the guides are from the local community and this is the sort of tourism that helps to uplift poverty.

3. The Karkloof Canopy Tour is a unique eco-experience that takes people on a 3-hr adventure through the magnificent Karkloof indigenous forest. The canopy tour involves traversing from one platform to another along a steel cable suspended up to 30m above the forest floor. The tour comprises seven platforms and eight slides that zig-zag down a pristine forested valley. The scenery and birdlife is spectacular and professional guides provide interesting facts about the forest ecology during the tour.

4. There are many things that are unique and world class in South Africa and the Drakensberg Boys’ Choir is one of them. This school is representative of the multi-faceted cultures that make up this wonderful country. They have created a new trend in the international choral scene that transcends the conventional, A unique style of diversity – Bach, Beethoven, Freddy Mercury, African, Jazz and  Folk – whatever the style, they perform it with excellence and aplomb. The Drakensberg Boys’ Choir performs most Wednesdays during term time at 3.30 p.m. The cost is minimal and bookings can be made under (036) 468 1012

5. If you are interested in horses and horse safaris you will find yourself hard pressed to find a region in South Africa that offers more whether in the mountains, the bush or across the battlefields. The Drakensberg presents opportunities for both the experienced and the beginner to ride this magnificent countryside on horseback. Horse safaris amongst giraffs and zebras in the Spionkop Game Reserve or Sengani Horse Safaris in the Drakensberg foothills

6. The KwaZulu-Natal battlefields have always been very much worth a days trip reliving the past. The Drakensberg and Natal Midlands offer many opportunities to re-discover British, Zulu and Boer clashes on the battlefield. Infact KwaZulu-Natal now hosts the Battlefield Route, an experience that is a South Africa tour highlight. Ron Gold and Raymond Herron are both renowned for their battlefield tours.

7. Ballooning  is a magical slow moving platform from which to view our world. Its probably not unlike being on a flying carpet  Airborne Adventures flys principally on the edge of the Drakensberg mountains. Take off is from a site in or around the Kamberg Valley and within sight of Giants Castle.

8. The awe-inspiring Sani Pass climbs the face of the escarpment to an altitude of 2874m and into the "Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho". It is the getaway to the "Roof of Africa". The scenery is breathtaking and attracts visitors from all over the world. Let Major Adventures take you on a 4x4 journey of discovery through this enchanting part of Africa. Valid passports are essential.

9. The Tugela river offers perhaps the most spectacular white water rafting opportunities that exist in South Africa. South Africa is one of the few destinations in the world that can boast clean rivers, lakes and dams. So, with this in mind, it is obvious that white water rafting, river rafting and canoeing breaks are a very popular way of enjoying the outdoors for both local and international visitors. Zingela Rafting and Four Rivers Rafting are the guys to contact.

10. Pamper yourself. The region offers a variety of beauty centres, health spas and day spas each with a wide range of facilities and treatments. Indigo Fields  will cradle you in comfort and lavish you with the indigenous gifts of Africa ’s rich soils:  from their pure organic body range to a delicious healthy meal, prepared with fresh produce from our farm. The Fordoun Spa offers a new kind of experience - pampering, relaxation, and 'serious' treatments combined with an African flavour that we expect to prove popular with both local and international visitors.

Of course this list could go on and on with more attractions like the Tugela Falls the 2nd highest waterfall in the world, The walk to the top of the Amphitheatre via the chain ladders, the assent of the rhino horn, the rock formations of Sehlabatebe, dinosaur footprints near Estcourt, a ton of arts and crafts, cheese makers, golfing, helicopter flips, mountain bike trails, microlighting and paragliding, resturants, quad bikes, Zulu and Basutho culteral experiences, waterfalls and game reserves. If you only have a few days you have to make choices and this list is here to help you make them.