South Africa's Kwazulu-Natal
Drakensberg
To Afrikaners they are the Dragon Mountains. To Zulus they are the uKhahlamba, or Barrier of Spears. No matter what you choose to call them, the Drakensberg Mountains are nothing short of spectacular. A wall of rock that rises from the Natal grasslands, the Drakensberg Mountains form a natural fortress protecting the mountain kingdom of Lesotho. The highest range in the country, the Drakensberg boast scenery unsurpassed.
Hike through the proclaimed World Heritage Site, the Drakensberg Park, the first site in South Africa to be recognized for its combination of natural and cultural attractions, and breathe the cooling champagne air deep into your lungs. With names such as Giant’s Castle, Cathedral Peak and the Sentinel, the Drakensberg seem to possess a magical air and a visit will easily explain why they inspired the phantasmagorical settings of Middle Earth in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.
