Drakensberg (Dragon) Mountains
Into the dragon's lair
South Africa's Drakensberg region includes hills with incredible sandstone formations.
© WWF-Canon / Chris Marais
© WWF-Canon / Chris Marais
Bearded vulture, Drakensberg Range, South Africa.
© Martin Harvey / WWF-Canon
© Martin Harvey / WWF-Canon
The Natal Drakensberg Park was designated a Ramsar Site of International Importance in 1997. The high-altitude wetlands found in the park play an important role in supporting numerous endemic and endangered plant and animal species.
There is nothing scarier than walking straight into a dragon's mountain den. And there is nothing more challenging than hiking in southern Africa's highest mountain range.
The Drakensberg Mountains (Dragon's Mountain in Afrikaans) rise above 3000m in eastern South Africa. The Zulu call it Ukhahlamba or "the barrier of spears". The massive 200km-long range, with its awe-inspiring cliffs, lush forets and cascading waterfalls, separates KwaZulu-Natal Province from the Kingdom of Lesotho.Rolling high-altitude grasslands, pristine steep-sided river valleys and rocky gorges contribute to the beauty of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Also included in the protected area are thousands of rock paintings left behind by the San people, who lived in the Drakensberg area for more than 4,000 years.
Dragon prey
Competing with dragons for food are Drakensberg's main predators, including leopards, black-backed jackals, caracals and servals. Troops of chacma baboons, porcupines and colonies of rock hyrax are also found throughout the mountain park, as well as over 300 bird species; 32 which are endemic to southern Africa.
Beware the Giant
Located within Drakensberg Park is the Giant's Castle Nature Reserve, which gets its name from the silhouette of the peaks and escarpment that resemble the profile of a sleeping giant. It is also home to some giant animals like the eland, the world's largest antelope, and the bearded vulture, a huge raptor.
