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A place of Myths and Legend, its clouded cliffs and deep gorges hold many stories of battles and victories, of secret hiding places and mystic paintings. This is the Drakensberg, land of the Dragon, as the Voortrekkers called it – possibly due to the frequent fires caused by lightning which leave the mountain top smoldering in smoke during the summer months. Some scientists estimate that people lived here anywhere from 40 000 to 100 000 years ago (evidence used to determine this includes items found such as hunting implements).

Evidence of habitation has also been found in the numerous cave paintings discovered (35 000 – 40 000) left as maps of daily life and ritual by the original inhabitants of Southern Africa, the San or Bushmen people. Consequently, this region holds the greatest concentration of Bushmen paintings anywhere in Africa, indicating their strong ties to this place. It has subsequently been declared a World Heritage Site.

In terms of Geological history, this area is quite young in Southern Africa, being around 150 million years old (the Barberton area holds ancient rock dating back some 3,1 Billion years. To give you an idea of how old that is, the Earth is estimated to be about 4,5 Billion years old). Vast areas of Southern Africa were covered in volcanic lava as a result of activity in this region, with subsequent periods seeing sedimentary deposits occurring. Then great earth movements (plate activity) caused large magma flows to create massive Basalt caps (1400m high) on top of the sedimentary layers, leaving it to be slowly eroded into the shapes we know today.

Stretching for 1000km (up to the Blyde River Canyon in Mpumalanga), and reaching heights of around 3,482m (11,424ft) in places this is the biggest mountain range in Southern Africa. Boasting its own winter ski resort, this place comes with everything. And its one place not to miss when you venture into southern Africa. Reminiscent of the big spaces and high places of the Colorado Mountains or the Pyrenees in France, this is truly a destination worthy of exploring. And where better to start than in the National Park, called Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park. Its quite easy to get to using the main roads (following the N3 from Pietermaritzburg). When you arrive at the Park, you can choose to visit Giants Castle, the Amphitheatre or take the road up Sani pass into the Kingdom of Lesotho. There really is a lot to choose from, and depending on time constraints, you can tailor your visit accordingly. Just a word of caution, Sani pass can only be driven in a four wheel drive vehicle, as the road is both steep and graveled/dirt – not for the inexperienced.

Many hikers find more than enough to do in Giants Castle or the Amphitheatre locations. The grassy plains which lie just beneath the Giants Castle plateau make for a picturesque start to your hike, whilst the overnight huts (which sleep up to eight) are more than adequate for tired walkers. Cave paintings are accessible on most of the walks, but ask for more info when you arrive in the Park. As with any mountaineering or hiking activity, all hikers need to register themselves with the mountain rescue services, which should be available on entering the Park. And don’t forget, the weather in mountain country can change rapidly as dew point temperature drops to below the summits. It can then get very misty and very cold – make sure you are well-prepared.

The Amphitheatre in the northern Drakensberg is also a must see – considered to be among the most impressive cliff faces on Earth. Standing at the bottom looking up 1220m it is not hard to see why, stretching for 5km, its cliff face is roughly three times the size of the total combined area of all the cliff faces in Yosemite’s famous ‘El Capitan’. And holding the title of the world’s second tallest waterfall (at 948m or 3,110ft), the Tugela Falls spills over the amphitheatre cliff tops in grand style. And it is among these cliffs that the Bearded Vulture is to be found, floating on the afternoon thermals in search of its next meal.

uKhahlamba or the ‘Barrier of Spears’ runs for about 200km, and it is within this  243 000 hectare mountainous region that the National Park is at its best. If the mountains are a place you find solace in, if they call to you every time you venture near one, and if they bring you peace whenever you find yourself in its bosom, this place will speak your language.