Winter is just around the corner and, with it, the school holidays most families dread because they struggle to find somewhere to go to make up for the cold – or even a place to escape it.
While places such as the Lowveld and far north of Limpopo offer pleasantly warm days, it is sometimes best to embrace the chilly weather and head for somewhere you know it will be nippy and celebrate snuggling up and hunkering down. The Drakensberg fits this bill.
There’s nothing like fresh mountain air, crystal clear streams and the possibility of snow on the peaks to kindle the desire to throw on layers of clothing, beanies and gloves and brave the great outdoors. Add to this the thought of relaxing at the end of a long day’s hiking, mountain biking or fishing in front of a log fire with a bottle or two of wine and you have the perfect recipe for a winter retreat to remember.
The Drakensberg, or uKhahlamba (the barrier of spears) is a 200km-long mountainous wonderland and world heritage site. The largest proportion falls within KwaZulu-Natal and is split into two regions, the northern and southern Drakensberg, or “Berg”.
From Cathedral Peak in the north to the breathtaking Sani Pass in the south, the Berg area is as big as it is diverse, offering a host of attractions and activities, as well as a range of affordable accommodation options, from camp sites to log cabins, guest houses, farm stays and self-catering chalets, luxury lodges and golf resorts. It also has resorts offering different accommodation options under one roof, as well as outstanding facilities and activities.
One of the most impressive destinations is the Royal Natal National Park in the northern Berg, which encompasses the famous Amphitheatre – a sheer rock wall that rises about 1 000m and stretches for 5km between the Sentinel and the Eastern Buttress. Mont aux-Sources is the highest peak of the plateau at the rear of the Amphitheatre.
This is the source of the Tugela River and eight others. The Tugela tumbles over the edge of the plateau at Tugela Falls, plunging 948m in five sections. In winter it can freeze to form pillars of sparkling ice.
You have to be an outdoor-type to really appreciate the Berg, but you don’t have to be fanatical to enjoy it. Take hiking, for example. Most of the trails cater for casual walkers and don’t involve strenuous climbing. There are secluded, shady valleys, rolling foothills and fern forests. All you need is good, stout footwear (preferably waterproof), suitable clothing, some snacks or chocolate for energy and a bottle or two of water.
There are some great fishing spots too, especially for trout and bass. You don’t have to be an expert angler to enjoy this pastime, and many hotels and guest houses offer rods for hire along with picnic lunches.
Horseriding is a popular pursuit and stables offer guided outrides and horse trails for both novices and experienced riders. Likewise, many hotels and resorts run their own stables.
There’s also a wealth of heritage sites in the Berg, so whether your interest is archaeological, architectural or anthropological there will be something to cater for it. Most notable is the Bushman Cave Museum and Main Caves at Giant’s Castle Game Reserve in the central Berg, which offer an insight into the lives of the San people. The museum is open-air museum and uses models to depict a typical situation in the daily life of a hunter-gatherer family. There are guides to take visitors on a tour of the caves and the museum.
Lovers of arts and crafts won’t be disappointed, as the women of the Berg are skilled artists, especially in the plaiting and weaving of grasses – a Zulu tradition handed down from mother to daughter. Beadwork is another speciality and there is a range of handicrafts available from vendors at the entrance to the national parks and game reserves, resorts and from stalls at the side of most of the major roads, as well as retail outlets in towns such as Colenso, Himeville, Estcourt, Winterton, Underberg and Bergville.
So, prepare to wrap up and head out for the high ground for a winter break in the Berg – you won’t be sorry.