A hidden gem for families visiting South Africa – The Drakensbergs
It is undeniable that South Africa is home to some of the most outstanding travel destinations on the globe. From the dazzling array of cultural and natural wonders found throughout Cape Town to the simple sort of wonder you get from going on safari with kids in Kruger National Park, South Africa is full of remarkable and unforgettable destinations. But with such a huge variety of attractions to choose from, some truly remarkable but lesser-known locations can get overlooked. Let’s take a moment to focus on one such gem; the Drakensberg Mountains.
Maps of the Drakensberg Mountains Region
Much of the Drakensberg Mountains are located within the borders of the Maloti-Drakensberg Transnational Park. This is a sprawling park that contains alpine regions in both South Africa and Lesotho. It is some of the most pristine wilderness on the planet, and the source of much of South Africa’s drinking water.
But more than that, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site perfect for a relaxing and educational visit with kids.
Why are the Drakensberg Mountains a World Heritage Site?
UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites are chosen based on several different criteria, but ultimately it comes down to whether or not a site has “Outstanding Universal Value,” either for cultural or natural reasons. Sites that preserve important moments from human history are classified as Cultural Heritage Sites, while places that are especially important to the natural sciences or which are unusually and spectacularly beautiful end up as Natural Heritage Sites.
However, in some cases, such as the Wadi Rum Desert Valley in Jordan or Machu Picchu and its surrounding lands in Peru, a place will be both naturally beautiful and culturally significant. As of late 2022, there are only 39 of these Mixed Heritage Sites across the entire globe making them some of the most impressive locations on Earth.
The Drakensberg Mountains are one such site.
Natural Beauty in the Drakensberg Mountains
Take a single look at the dramatic landscapes found throughout the Maloti-Drakensberg Park and it will be undeniable that the area is spectacularly beautiful.
Drakensberg means ‘Dragon Mountains,’ and the many peaks of the Drakensberg range could easily be confused with the ridged backside of one of these gargantuan mythological beasts. Geologically, the mountains are composed of massive basalt ridges and stretches of golden-hued sandstone, but much of that stone is hidden behind living curtains of green.
The northern portion of the park is also home to Tugela Falls, one of the world’s tallest waterfalls. (More on that, below)
My family stayed in Cathkin Park during our visit, and we loved the views. The whole area was spectacularly green and the view of Cathkin Peak was beautiful. Many species of plant are endemic to the area and can only be found naturally there. In fact, the mountains make up their own floristic region called the ‘Drakensberg Alpine Region! ’
The Drakensbergs are also a vital haven for animal species such as the Maloti minnow and the Bearded Vulture, both of which call the park home.
Cultural Significance of the Maloti-Drakensberg Park
The area’s soaring mountains and bountiful water supplies are important for much more than creating picturesque vistas. Historically, this area provided shelter for the San people group for more than 4,000 years, making it a significant location for them.
The San people were prolific artists and the caves and rock faces of the Drakensbergs are home to the highest density of prehistoric rock art in Sub-Saharan Africa. As the San were responsible for some of the earliest-known pieces of art on the planet, the huge number of preserved pieces here is especially note-worthy!
These rock art pieces span a huge period of time, as well. While some date back to Stone-age era prehistory, later pieces could have been done as recently as the 1800s, and some even depict horses and firearms!
Also check out…
Pictures in Stone – Petroglyphs in America that you can visit with your family
Regions of the Maloti-Drakensberg Park
The Maloti-Drakensberg UNESCO World Heritage Site covers a huge area of land (over 960 square miles!). That area is further protected and connected by a “buffer zone” of land in the Maloti-Drakensberg Trans Frontier Project that provides protection for not only the Heritage Site itself but also for several other parks and wilderness areas.
That means it is often easier to talk about the smaller divisions of the park when considering what to do during a visit, so you don’t end up staying in Cathkin Park when you were hoping for a chance to see Tugela Falls. (Whoops!)
Because it covers so much area, it’s essentially impossible to see and do everything in one go. Luckily, each region of the park is filled with amazing hikes, wilderness areas, and attractions of its own, so no matter which subdivision you visit there are sure to be wonderful things to do!
Here are some of the most popular for each region.
Sehlabathebe National Park (Lesotho)
Sehlabathebe National Park is the only portion of the Maloti-Drakensberg Transnational Park located in Lesotho and also one of their 2 National Parks. It is their only UNESCO World Heritage Site.
While Sehlabathebe makes up a relatively small portion of the total area of the site (around 2%), it contains samples of nearly a quarter of the different endemic plant species found in the mountains, several endemic animal species, and at least 65 identified San rock art sites.
My family didn’t get the chance to see the park on our short excursion into Lesotho, but it is definitely on my list if we return!
Mkhomazi Wilderness area (South Africa)
The Mkhomazi Wilderness area makes up the southernmost portion of the Maloti-Drakensberg park in South Africa. The entire area is preserved as a wilderness area, and if you decide to hike through, you can go for entire days without seeing other people.
Naturally, back-country hiking is one of the more popular activities to do in the area.
Sani Pass
One spot of particular note in the Mkhomazi Wilderness Area is Sani Pass.
The Sani Pass is the only way to get into Lesotho from South Africa in the Drakensberg Mountains. The road up to the pass is rugged and steep, which is actually the main draw of it for many. However, there was an initiative to pave the road and make it more accessible that was started a few years ago. The last I heard, construction was paused in 2020 and has yet to resume.
Giants Castle Game Reserve (South Africa)
A bit farther to the north, the Giants Castle Game Reserve covers most of the central region of the Maloti-Drakensberg World Heritage Site. This is the part of the Drakensbergs that my family explored, and I cannot express how beautiful the area is!
The main draw to the area is definitely the hiking. There are so many wonderful trails here, both for experienced hikers looking to push themselves or for families like ours, with smaller children. And, as with the rest of the Maloti-Drakensberg Park, there are also opportunities to check out San rock art, first-hand.
Main Caves
One of the most popular destinations in the Giants Castle Reserve are the Main Caves. These are a series of overhangs where South Africa has made an exhibit showing what life was like for the San people in the past.
It isn’t a particularly large exhibit, but there are a good number of authentic San cave paintings throughout the Main Caves, which made it worth it for us.
The caves are located about a 30-to-45-minute walk away from the welcome center, and tours begin on the hour, so be sure to arrive with enough time to hike out to the caves! The walk itself wasn’t too strenuous, but the path back is not as well marked. My family managed to get a bit turned around on returning to the center, which added an extra 10-15 minutes of walking to our hike.
Royal Natal National Park (South Africa)
The Royal Natal National Park is the northernmost part of the Maloti-Drakensberg Park, with some of the parkland spilling over into Free State.
The mountain views in this part of the park are stunning, and it contains some of the most popular hiking trails in all of South Africa, including a trail that takes you to the top of one of the two highest waterfalls in the entire world!
Tugela Falls
For years I’ve wanted to visit Venezuela’s Angel Falls, as it is usually considered to be the world’s tallest free-falling waterfall. However, it wasn’t until I visited South Africa that I learned that they had a rival waterfall of their own.
Tugela Falls, located in Royal Natal National Park, is the tallest waterfall in all of Africa, and depending on which measurements you use, it’s also the tallest in the world, surpassing Angel Falls by a mere 4 meters!
Validation of that height is not yet available, as measuring these enormous drops is not a simple thing, but no matter which spot comes out on top, it is undeniable that Tugela Falls is a world-class destination, and much easier to visit than Angel Falls.
Still, the hike is not for beginners, and I decided not to risk it with my own family, as there have been cases of hikers getting stuck on the mountain. It’s not something that we will risk until our kids are significantly older and better prepared.
What should I do on a visit to the Drakensberg Mountains with kids?
Ultimately, my family decided to spend our time in the Drakensbergs in Cathkin Park, a small community just outside Giant’s Castle Game Reserve.
Cathkin Park
The rural, rugged nature of a stay in Cathkin Park is a large part of the allure. As with most locations in the Drakensbergs, camping, hiking, and exploring nature are the big draws. The views in the area are outstanding, and Cathedral Peak is visible from almost anywhere in the area.
We visited in October, and the landscape was beautifully green with weather still cool from the end of winter. The whole vibe of the valley was easy-going and relaxed. All of that came together to make it the perfect getaway!
Things to do near Cathkin Park
Quite honestly, simply existing in Cathkin Park was relaxing enough to be worth it. Still, if you’re wanting things to do during your visit, there are several different activities that are worth a look.
Hiking Trails
The mountains are filled with hiking trails for adventurers of all skill levels. No matter which ones you choose, there’s plenty to see!
Since our kids are younger, we chose to do some of the shorter hikes. One particular favorite was visiting Sterkspruit Waterfall. It was an easy hike and we spent less than 2 hours on the trail in all, including time for admiring the falls and a couple of rest breaks. Apart from seeing the falls, we also dipped our toes in one of the streams and spotted some local wildlife, including some small monkeys.
Falcon Ridge Birds of Prey Center
Our kids love checking out cool animals, and the birds at the Falcon Ridge Birds of Prey Center in Cathkin Park definitely fit the bill! Entrance to the park is free, but you should definitely pay for one of the bird shows they put on daily, weather permitting.
Shows cost R150 for adults, and the center does not take credit cards, so be sure to bring enough cash for tickets and a small snack or two from the concessions.
I mentioned the Main Caves above, but it’s worth mentioning a second time! Not only are the caves an amazing archeological experience, but the hike to get there was worth it on its own! I cannot state enough how beautiful the scenery in this area is.
It’s about a 2-hour drive, one-way, to get to the Main Caves from Cathkin Park, so be sure to have an audiobook ready for the kids, as well!
It should be noted that if this is your main reason for coming to the Drakensbergs, there is both a resort and camping spots available within the Giant’s Castle Camp. Staying there would make an excellent weekend trip, but there are relatively few other things to do in the area.
You can check out the Giant’s Castle Resort here, for pricing and availability.
Dragon Rock Reptile and Nature Park
We didn’t get the chance to visit the Reptile Center here, but if you’re looking for a chance to get up close to some unusual creatures, it is definitely an option!
The reptile center hosts a wide variety of reptiles, as well as plants, and a few interesting non-reptiles like hedgehogs.
Guided tours are required for all visitors and advanced bookings are essential since there is limited space, which is why we missed out. Also, it should be noted that they do not allow children under age 5.
If you have experience with the center, let me know what you thought!
Drakensberg El Mirador Hot Air Balooning
We completely missed that this was an option on our trip!
However, we loved our hot air ballooning in Egypt, and I imagine that this would be an equally amazing adventure! This company has been ballooning in the area for over 15 years, making them an excellent choice for families that want an amazing (and safe) experience.
Looking down at the world from a hot air balloon gives you an entirely different perspective on the world. It’s an amazing experience that I would definitely encourage you to check out if you get the chance!
Vertical Rush Adventure Centre
If your family is looking for something a bit more adventurous, be sure to check out Vertical Rush. They have a variety of adventures designed to challenge and excite their guests, including white water tubing, off-road scooter adventures, and cable trails for those who love heights.
This is another one that we decided to skip due to our kids’ ages, but the pictures from their different tours look amazing!
Places to Stay near Cathkin Park
My family prefers having our own space, so we ended up renting out a house in the Champagne Valley area, but there are several great places to stay in the area for those looking for a more Resort or B&B feel to their stay.
Our stay was actually located on this resort’s property, and we rather enjoyed the grounds. They have suites for families as well as campsites for those who want to go that route. The food in the onsite restaurant was good, and the staff was friendly. Definitely a good choice!
We tried showing up here for dinner one night, without a reservation, and were turned away with apologies. So, all I can say is that their security is doing its job! With beautiful grounds and great reviews, this one is definitely worth checking out.
Looking for the autonomy of a private home? There are several beautiful homestays in the area, any of which would make an excellent choice!
Food
While there are plenty of amazing views to be had in the valley, there are surprisingly few places where you can get a quick bite to eat! In fact, while there are a few cafes and restaurants that are open during the daylight, they mostly close once the sun goes down, except for the individual restaurants in the different resort areas.
The house we rented was owned by a local resort, and we ended up eating at their restaurant most evenings, but when we tried to drive to one of the other resorts in the area, we were turned back because we weren’t guests.
So, I highly recommend either renting from a resort that has a restaurant, like the places I listed above, or making sure you have groceries in hand for any food you want to eat after dark.
The Valley Bakery was one of our favorite lunch spots during our visit. They have beautiful grounds with a shaded play area for kids, and their food was delicious. Be sure to check out their selection of delectable baked goods after your meal!
Mac’s Cafe is another great choice for lunches near Cathkin Park. I loved the very South African decor, and the food was fast, filling, and tasty. It’s also conveniently located near one of the only supermarkets in the area, so be sure to use your visit as an opportunity to stock up on some biltong and other trail snacks before any afternoon hikes you might have.
Drakensberg Chocolate Memories
Chocolate Memories probably isn’t the best lunch spot for those wanting a nutritious meal, but they do offer an amazing chocolate fondue that’s worth a visit all on its own. If you absolutely must have some “real” food with your chocolate, the Champagne Bistro Cafe is also located in the same area, though it should be noted that the cafe is not open at all on Mondays and Tuesdays.
