South Africa

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Drakensberg

Africa's highest mountain wall

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Best time to visit: Apr, May, Aug, Sep, Oct
Currency: ZAR
Time zone: UTC+2
Country: South Africa

Photo: User:Bothar, Public domain

The Drakensberg is the eastern rim of South Africa's Great Escarpment, a 1,000 km wall of basalt and sandstone peaks rising to 3,482 m on the Lesotho border. People come for multi-day hikes, San rock art caves, waterfalls such as Tugela Falls, and cool mountain air.

Largest cities

Johannesburg
Cape Town
Durban
Pretoria
Port Elizabeth

Quick facts

Figures are rounded recent official estimates.

Country: South Africa
Capital: Bloemfontein
Region population: 3,482
Population of South Africa: 62M
Country area: 1,221,037 km²
Official language: South Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Tsonga, and Tswana
Currency: South African Rand (ZAR) · 1 USD ≈ 16.54 ZAR
Time zone: UTC+2
Calling code: +27
Drives on the: Left
Elevation: 2,561 m
Plugs: C / M / N · 230V
Emergency numbers: 10111 (police) · 10177 (ambulance) · 112 (mobile emergency)
Best time to visit: Apr, May, Aug, Sep, Oct

Temperatures through the year

Average daily high and low for each month in °C. Months marked with a drop are often rainy.

Temperatures through the year

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High	17°	17°	16°	14°	12°	9°	9°	12°	15°	15°	16°	17°
Low	8°	9°	7°	4°	1°	-2°	-2°	0°	3°	5°	6°	8°

Best time to visitOther months

Approximate daily cost

Per adult per day: food, local transport and half a double room, without activities or flights.

ConservativeSimple stays, free and low-cost sights first.$56
HighComfortable hotels, a balanced mix of sights and trips.$125
LuxuryLuxury hotels, more paid experiences and day trips.$280

Plan a trip to Drakensberg

Top things to do

≈ $12
Tugela Falls and Amphitheatre hike
A long day walk or guided chain-ladder route to the 947 m Tugela Falls, the world's highest waterfall; start early, as afternoon mist and storms close the plateau.
- Full day
- Northern Berg (Royal Natal and Amphitheatre)
≈ $35
Sani Pass 4x4 day trip to Lesotho
A steep 4x4 climb up the pass to the highest pub in Africa at over 2,800 m; passports are needed at the top and only 4x4 vehicles may drive the pass.
- Full day
- Southern Berg (Sani Pass and Bushman's Nek)
- Good for kids
≈ $10
San rock art at Giant's Castle
A guided walk to sandstone caves with hundreds of San paintings, one of the reasons the park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; access is only with a registered rock art guide.
- Half day
- Giant's Castle and Kamberg
- Good for kids
- Indoors
Free
Champagne Castle viewpoint walk
An easy valley walk with views of Champagne Castle (3,377 m) and the Little Berg; the trailhead is near the Champagne Valley resorts.
- Half day
- Central Berg (Champagne Valley and Cathedral Peak)
- Good for kids
≈ $8
Cathedral Peak day trails
Short marked trails from the Cathedral Peak area through protea and grassland with views of the peaks; carry water, as streams are not always safe to drink.
- Half day
- Central Berg (Champagne Valley and Cathedral Peak)
- Good for kids
≈ $6
Kamberg Nature Reserve and Gladstone's Nose
An 8 km trail through grassland and indigenous forest, considered one of the most beautiful in the Drakensberg; the Mooi River loop has sections planned for disabled access.
- Half day
- Giant's Castle and Kamberg
- Good for kids
≈ $15
Giant's Cup Trail
A moderate 68 km, 2–5 day hut-to-hut hike below the escarpment from near Sani Pass to Bushman's Nek; bookings are essential and transport must be arranged for the end.
- Full day
- Southern Berg (Sani Pass and Bushman's Nek)
≈ $5
Jacobs Ladder Waterfall, Loteni
A short 2 km walk along the Lotheni River to a spectacular waterfall; a good low-effort option on a travel day.
- Half day
- Loteni and Vergelegen
- Good for kids

Before you go

Entry and visas

Many visitors, including British citizens, can enter South Africa without a visa for up to 90 days for tourism or business, while other nationalities may need a visa or must apply in advance; rules depend on nationality, so check before booking. Your passport must be valid for at least 30 days beyond your departure date and have at least two blank pages, and travellers with children aged 17 and under face extra documentation requirements. From 1 July 2026 all travellers entering or leaving South Africa must submit an online traveller declaration before travelling, and yellow fever vaccination

Official website

From the airport

Most visitors fly into Durban's King Shaka International Airport (about 3 hours' drive to the central Berg) or Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo (about 4 hours to the northern Berg), then drive or take a shuttle. There is no rail or scheduled bus service into the mountain resorts, so a car or pre-booked transfer is the practical option.

Getting around

Distances between valleys are long and public transport is minimal, so a rental car is the normal way to move between trailheads, reserves and resorts; local guides are hired for rock art sites and passes.

Local tips

Mountain weather changes fast: carry a waterproof shell, warm layer and sun protection even on short walks, and check the forecast before setting out.
San rock art sites are protected by law and may only be visited with a registered rock art guide.
There are 24 snake species in these mountains, two highly venomous; wear boots, watch where you put hands and feet, and carry a basic first-aid kit.
Book caves, huts and popular trails well ahead, especially in the December–January school holidays, and carry cash for park and gate fees where card machines are unreliable.