South Africa Information / General Tourist Information / Drakensberg Tips / Languages / Safety /
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Lets start with an overview of what the Drakensberg and Bush & Battlefields region is:

It is an area in the province of KwaZulu Natal which lies on the eastern seaboard (the Indian Ocean) of SouthAfrica. The uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park is a magnificent mountain range which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. This encompasses some 243 000 hectares of dazzling cliffs faces, proud-standing peaks and forests in its foothills that can melt away the days. It is the highest range south of Kilimanjaro and has an average altitude of 3000 metres. It is important to realise that there is no 'other side' to the mountain - it leads straight up to Lesotho, the mountain kingdom in the sky.

The Bush & Battlefields region is the home of a number of game parks where animals (such as Rhinos, Giraffes and the mystical eland) and birds (such as the bearded vulture and lammergeyer) roam in their natural habitat. The battlefields are memorials to numerous conflicts that have shaped and moulded South Africa into the country it is today. These include the Anglo-Zulu and Anglo-Boer Wars in the late 1800s.

These areas are a tourists paradise combining beautiful and wild landscapes, and friendly and world class service with the essence or soul of Africa.

For travelling advice, the best you can possibly do is to talk to the locals; South Africans are generally a warm and hospitable nation who take pride in the beautiful country that is South Africa. Also use the large network of registered guides (some of whom operate from the larger resorts and hotels in the area) as they are a valuable source of information for anyone wanting to learn more about this vibrant country, its heritage and its history.

The following are some general tips for traveling in the Drakensberg region:
Christmas (from approximately mid December through to early January) and Eater (from approximately the beginning to the middle of April) are the busiest periods in the Drakensberg and tourists should make their reservations well in advance. Finding accommodation on the spur of the moment during these 2 months is risky. Furthermore, the long weekend over public holidays can also be booked out so phone ahead. Out of season you can safely book accommodation on your arrival in the area.
Other public holidays: Human Right's Day - 21st March, Freedom Day - 27th April, Workers' Day - 1st May, Youth Day - 16th June, National Women's Day - 9th August, Heritage Day - 24th September, Day of Reconciliation - 16th December.

The South African dress code is generally casual although we have been acknowledged as having the best up and coming urban streetware. The Drakensberg, as a holiday destination, remains casual. However, some resorts have a smart-casual dress code in their dining rooms in the evenings. We suggest that you do not forget the following when packing: good walking shoes, a wide-brimmed hat and sun block (the UV count can be high throughout the year), camera and binoculars. During summer you should also consider a mosquito repellent (such as Tabard available locally), more for comfort as there is no malaria in this area.

South Africa Information / General Tourist Information / Drakensberg Tips / Languages / Safety /
Medical Information / South African Map (opens in a new window)

Tel:  +27 (0)36 488 1207   Fax: +27 (0)36 488 1846   Email: cdta@futurenet.co.za