uKHAHLAMBA DRAKENSBERG PARK MOUNTAINS - ACTIVITIES
San Art
This park is one of the richest rock painting areas in the world. Many enthusiasts and experts have searched for paintings in the park over the last 40 years. During this time 30 000 individually painted images in 520 different rock shelters have been recorded. There are a number of prime destinations in the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park to see these paintings and have their cultural and spiritual significance interpreted for you. These are the Main Caves Museum at Giant's Castle (an easy half hours walk from the Giant's Castle main camp) and the Battle Cave at Injisuthi. There is a new rock art centre at Kamberg with guided walks to Game Pass shelter and in late 2003 a magnificent San rock art centre is due to be opened at the new Didima Camp at Cathedral Peak.
Hiking and Walking
A hiker's paradise, this high mountain range is a wilderness where body and soul may be renewed through contact with nature. In this 240000ha world of sheer cliffs, deeply incised valleys and crystal clear rivers, the mountain refuge of the bearded vulture, black eagle, grey rhebuck, oribi and eland and last home of the San Bushmen, the hiking experiences are endless. There are hikes to suit most needs. These range from a gentle stroll to an extremely strenuous hike. Popular hikes include the Giant's Cup Trail at Cobham (3,4 or 5 nights - max 59.3 kms) a truly magnificent trail designed to give the hiker as much diversity as possible, the Thukela Gorge hike (2-3hrs, 7kms) at Royal Natal which goes through alternative stretches of protea, grassland and forest with scenary rivalled only by the view from the top of the Thukela Falls and the thrilling Cathedral Peak trail (10kms, 6-7hrs) that affords the experienced hiker a chance to stand on one of the major free-standing peaks in the Drakensberg.
Lammergeyer Hide
(Vulture Restaurant - Giant's Castle - advance booking essential) A visitor has the opportunity to enter into this rare raptor's world. Here visitors might see the rare Bearded Vulture (Lammergeyer), Cape Vulture, Black Eagle, Jackal Buzzard or Lanner Falcon. The hide is open between the 1st of May and the 31st of September each year and visitors are taken up to the hide by vehicle and walk back.
Mountain Biking
At Cathedral Peak mountain bikers can enjoy the awesome views of the Drakensderg as they traverse the existing network of tracks originally put in place for forestry purposes in the sixties. A simple 14km mountain bike trail has been established in the beautiful Lotheni valley in the Southern Drakensberg. Mountain bikers have the opportunity to stop at the historic 'Gelib Tree' site and on a warm day there is the opportunity to swim at the magnificent 'Cool Pools'.
The 75km Giant's Castle Mountain Bike Challenge is a major annual mountain biking event. This event combines the majesty of stunning Drakensberg views with the opportunity for mountain bikers to pit themselves against South Africa's toughest mountain bike challenge.
Flowers
Yellow irises grow in profusion on the alpine meadows of Lesotho within metres of the escarpment edge. The 'suicide lily' clings to its precipitous habitat on the damper basalt cliffs and from uder its leaves to the foot of the little berg is a spectacular variety of flowers making this a superb destination.
Fishing
Kamberg Nature Reserve is the a most popular trout fishing venue for novices and more experienced anglers alike. An added attraction here is the trout hatchery. River fishing is found at Kamberg, Royal Natal, Injisuthi, Cobham, Garden Castle, Giant's Castle and Lotheni. Dam fishing is found at Kamberg, Royal Natal, Highmoor and Lotheni. Dam fishing at Lotheni is reserved for the occupants of Sime's cottage only. Highmoor is reserved primarily for stillwater trophy fishing and is closed intermittently for several months of the year. This is arguably one of the most productive stillwater flyfishing venues in KZN and caters primarily for the more experienced angler in wilderness surroundings.