Royal Natal National Park Travel Guide

 Eish Says:  This is a fairly hectic hike, with a pretty decent (vertical) uphill including some ladders and then a scramble downhill, also including some ladders. The view from the top of Plowman's Kop is beautiful and very satisfying, and on the way down, we saw a wonderful camel... 

 Eish Says:  A day's walk can get you to the top of the 4km-long Amphitheatre in the Drakensberg. A snakepath up the mountain, past the Sentinel (3165m) and the Eastern Buttress (3047m) takes you to the only vertical section of the walk, the chain ladder (see picture). Actually there are... 

 mtncorg Says:  There are several points along the Drakensberg Escarpment where the adjective ‘magical’ could apply. Here, atop the rim of the Amphitheatre is one such place. Pictures do not do proper justice to the natural majesty. The rim is best seen at sunrise when, if you are lucky,... 

 mtncorg Says:  Coming off the Amphitheatre Rim, Thukela Falls is the second or third highest falls in the World - only Angel and possibly Yosemite are higher. The falls is at its maximum during the summer rains when it can be visible as far away as the Amphitheatre Backpackers Hostel on... 

 mtncorg Says:  The Sentinel stands at the right hand side of the Amphitheatre, dominating the views from approaches from that direction. At 3165 meters high, the Sentinel is the highest free-standing peak in the local vicinity - slightly over 100 meters higher than its bookend on the other... 

 mtncorg Says:  The chain ladder dates back to 1930 when local pioneer, Otto Zunckel (the same man responsible for the construction of the Patrol Cabin), installed the 200 rung ladders which take you to the top of the Escarpment. Two sets of ladders were originally in place covering some 30... 

 mtncorg Says:  Slightly over 6 kilometers takes you from the car park just below the Tendele Hutted Camp to directly to the base of the soaring walls of the Amphitheatre. The hike is fairly easy - you gain about 1600 feet - passing through protea grasslands and small pockets of forest... 

 Beefy_SAFC Says:  Although 'Apartheid' (meaning 'separateness') may be a distant memory, the economics of South Africa still have to catch up with the politics. It is fair to say that much of the money is still in the hands of the white population and many blacks still live in the townships... 

 Beefy_SAFC Says:  Translated from Afrikaans, "Dragon Mountains", these mountains run up the middle of South Africa. They are at their most dramatic along the border with completely landlocked Lesotho (South Africa completely surrounds it).The Zulus call them the "Barrier of Spears" and given... 

 mtncorg Says:  The original thought had been to push a road up over the Escarpment into Lesotho from Phuthaditjhabab on the Free State side. That road ends at the Sentinel Car Park with the last chance for cold beer some 6-7 rough miles lower down at the Witzieschoek Mountain Resort. The... 

 rslyons99 Says:  Nice enough place, with staff a little eager to help. Dorms: R75 per nightDoubles: R200 per nightThey have a nice bar area, and offer a broad range of foods. The dinner (a bit pricey at R60) was good, and the R10 eggs and toast breakfast was fine. Great views of the...