KwaZulu Natal Landscapes

These pictures were all taken in KwaZulu Natal in January. I just couldn't resist the green landscapes, blue skies and cloud covered mountains.

Drakensberg Rock Art

One of the reasons that the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site is the fact that it has the biggest concentration of rock paintings in Africa south of the Sahara. These rock paintings were left behind by the San people and shows off their way of life and believes. There are a … Continue reading Drakensberg Rock Art →

Tugela Gorge

One of the must do's when you are in the Drakensberg is the day hike up the Tugela Gorge. On my matric (final year at school) tour nearly *mumble mumble* 20 years ago we did part of the hike and it was at the top of my list of things to do while we were in the … Continue reading Tugela Gorge →

Clay animal boys

All over the Drakensberg area where ever the holiday makers go are people selling either traditional Zulu design woven items or little clay animals. These boys were sitting at one of the lookout points and asked if I wanted to buy something from them. I asked them if they made the animal figures and the one … Continue reading Clay animal boys →

Retief (Voortrekker) Pass

Driving up the Olivierhoek Pass over the Drakensberg in comfort only having to dodge the occasional pothole, I was wondering how tough it must have been for the Voortrekkers to get down this mountain during the Great Trek in 1837. On a visit to the Voortrekker Monument outside Pretoria I saw the painting above and I imagine it … Continue reading Retief (Voortrekker) Pass →

Retiefklip (Retief Rock)

One of the things I was quite anxious to see when I was in the Drakensberg area was Retiefklip. I asked at the resort where we were staying how to get there and was told that the road was very badly damaged in the rain that fell in the week or so before. Seeing that … Continue reading Retiefklip (Retief Rock) →

Cattle herder

Another one of those moments in the berg I couldn't resist. A young Zulu man minding his herd of cattle on a rainy day. Pity though you can't see the peaks of the mountains in the background, but it was in a valley so you can just see the hill side.

Drakensberg storm

I have mentioned in earlier posts that we had lots of rain during our visit to the Drakensberg. We headed into the town of Bergville to stock up on food and driving back towards the mountain we could clearly see it raining up there.Looking at the scene above, our campsite was - yes you guessed … Continue reading Drakensberg storm →

Kaalvoet Vrou (Barefoot Woman) Monument

At the top of Voortrekker Passstands a monument to a woman walking barefoot over the Drakensberg. After the Voortrekkers entered Natal, which was a British Colony in those days, in 1847, there was a number of trekkers who wanted to return to the Free State. Susanna Smit, sister of Gert Maritz, one of the Voortrekker leaders, declared that she … Continue reading Kaalvoet Vrou (Barefoot Woman) Monument →

Cascades

As I mentioned in my post about Mahai Campsite in the Royal Natal National Park last week the campsite has no swimming pool and you swim in the Mahai River at the Cascades Waterfalls. Cascades is about 500 meters from the campsite. Its a very easy walk to Cascades along a paved walkway and you get the view above just before … Continue reading Cascades →