General information

Climate

Summer is our rainy season and we often have thunderstorms in the afternoons. The days are hot but by nightfall it cools off. However please be prepared for the occasional cold snap. Our winters are generally mild and dry with warm days and chilly mornings and evenings – a wonderful time for visiting KwaZulu-Natal. This is a malaria free area.

What to bring

The dress code at the lodge is casual.  For the tours you will need comfortable walking shoes, a sun hat, sunblock, binoculars, sunglasses and a light jersey/jacket for the summer and in winter a warm jacket/fleece. A light rain/wind proof jacket is recommended.

Road condition

There are approximately 8kms of dirt road. This is a good gravel road and 4×4 vehicles are not necessary.

Map

More on the Drakensberg

The average height of the KwaZulu Natal Drakensberg Mountains or uKhahlamba (onomatopoeic Zulu for a Barrier of Shields and Spears) is about 2900 metres (9800 ft) with numerous peaks, domes and buttresses exceeding 3000 metres. Although they don’t challenge other famous ranges for altitude, the visual spectacle of sheer rock walls of 500 m (1600 ft) or more places them in the top league (the Thukela Falls plunge 850 metres making it one of the highest waterfalls in the world).

Jaynee Levy says in her Complete Guide to Walks and Trails in Southern Africa: "The Drakensberg, the highest mountain range in southern Africa, is noted for its magnificent buttresses and peaks. The numerous trails which traverse the Little ‘Berg, with its enchanting waterfalls and pools and lush, forested gorges, have a magnetic attraction for mountaineers and hikers, while the magnificent views from the escarpment lure those with an adventurous spirit. Here, the summer heat is tempered by altitude and the occasional spectacular afternoon thunderstorm; the very cold winters cap the peaks in snow".

UNESCO World Heritage Site

The KZN Ukhahlamba-Drakensberg was proclaimed South Africa’s fourth UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of only 30 sites in the world that will be preserved for both its natural (mountain scenery) and cultural value (over 35% of all San rock art in Southern Africa is found in this area). The other World Heritage Sites in South Africa are the Sterkfontein Caves (Cradle of Humankind), Cape Floral Region, Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape, Richtersveld Cultural & Botanical Landscape, Vredefort Dome,  Robben Island and isiMangaliso Wetland Park.