For the Tourism Trade and Visitors to the Drakensberg
Winter 2023
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Porcupine - Daniel Schultz
Winter - Drakensberg's period of rest. A time to relax and sleep in a little longer, but to later enjoy the warmth of a Drakensberg mid-day and the spectacle of the ruggedly beautiful and snow-capped peaks that make up this magnificent region. Encounter Jack Frost as the sun sets and sip red wine before a crackling log fire.
“Winter is not a season; it's a celebration." --Anamika Mishra” –
This edition includes overviews of:
Drakensberg Porcupines
Drakensberg Porcupines or Hystrix africaeaustralis are gentle and friendly rodents; however, they won't hesitate to turn and push their dangerous quills into threatening beings. They are southern Africa's largest rodents, reaching lengths of one metre and a weight of some twenty kilograms.
Domingo Trego, Pixabay
They are nocturnal, and visitors to the Drakensberg usually only experience their presence by the odd quill they leave on a hiking trail. Porcupines remind one of the Hippy Era, having long hair on their heads and shoulders. Their tail and back have extremely sharp black and white quills. They live in burrows and forage on plants. Additionally, they gnaw on the odd bone.
Newcastle, doorstep to the Northern Drakensberg
Newcastle is a fascinating gateway to an important portion of the Northern Drakensberg. The peaks are not as high here as in the Central and Royal Natal sections, some 2000 metres. However, the landscape is magnificent, and the range of activities is extensive.
The earliest inhabitants of the area surrounding Newcastle were the San and iron age Nguni, such as the amaZizi and AmaHlubi. King Shaka is rumoured to have visited the mountain on the outskirts of Newcastle and named it Majuba, or the place of doves.
Newcastle was initially a stop for wagons going north and was known as Post Halt II. Slowly but surely, a settlement began to develop at this 'wagon stop'. In 1854, Dr Sutherland surveyed, drew up a township plan and registered it as 'Newcastle'.
Fort Amiel was established in 1876 due to the potential threat of the Zulu Kingdom, and this period followed the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 and the First Boer War of 1880. Three of the most significant battles of the First Boer War were fought close to Newcastle, namely, Laing’s Nek, Schuinshoogte and Majuba.
The increase in traffic to the gold fields of the Transvaal and the demand for improved transport soon brought a railway to Newcastle on the 15th of May 1890. A town hall commemorating the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria was completed in July 1899. The Second Boer War followed this. Newcastle was largely evacuated as a result. The Boers occupied the town and renamed it Viljoensdorp.
Newcastle continued to develop, and after the First World War, developers began to consider this town as an important industrial hub seriously. In 1918, Mr JK Eaton decided to build Steel Works, and the Newcastle Iron and Steel Works Ltd was established. Between 1920 and 1926, the first blast furnace to be erected in South Africa was completed, and the project was acquired by Union Steel Corporation (SA). By 1937, African Metals had purchased the Newcastle Works; by 1945, a second blast furnace was operating. Some 150 000 tons per annum of various pig iron grades were being produced. Durban Falkirk Iron Co. Ltd. was in production by 1948.
The 1950s and 1960s saw slow and steady growth. A third, Iscor Works, was then established. Later, Karbochem established a plant in Newcastle. Newcastle is now KwaZulu-Natal's third most significant urban area and continues to grow due to new investment from funders from areas such as the Far East.
Some core attractions:
- Chelmsford Nature Reserve - one of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife's reserves. Famous for its herds of the rare Oribi antelope;
- Vulintaba - renowned Northern Drakensberg Resort;
- Various battlefield sites such as Laing’s Nek, Schuinshoogte and Majuba and Botha's Pass;
- Fort Amiel - has a wide range of exhibits on the history and heritage of Newcastle. In addition, it has a magnificent view of the Northern Drakensberg;
- The Newcastle Town Hall and monuments;
- Carnegie Art Gallery - houses an extensive collection of African art;
- Albert Luthuli Museum at Blaawbosh Intermediary School. Albert Luthuli was a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and the Eight President of the ANC. He was a principal at this famous school; and
- Haggard's Hilldrop B&B was the home of the famous author H. Rider Haggard.
When Champagne Castle was Cathkin Peak
Champagne Castle, South Africa's third-highest peak, was initially and in the late 1800s known as Cathkin Peak. Only after it was finally summited in the 1880s was it referred to as Champagne Castle.
There are three stories as to how it was renamed. The first is an account of Grantham and David Gray, who decided to climb Cathkin Peak with a bottle of champagne to celebrate their ascent. When they reached the top, they noticed that it was half full. They proceeded to accuse one another of sneaking a drink. However, they later compromised by agreeing to rename Cathkin Peak 'Champagne Castle'. The second, probably true, was that David Gray did not climb Cathkin Peak. Instead, it was Grantham and his servant that climbed the peak. They, too, carried a bottle of champagne to celebrate their ascent. Unfortunately, the servant broke the bottle on the ascent. Grantham felt this was an appropriate Christening and renamed Cathkin Peak 'Champagne Castle'. David Gray was upset about this, as he wanted this peak to remain Cathkin Peak, the name of his farm. As a result, for many years, this peak was known as Champagne Castle or Cathkin Peak. This is illustrated in the map below.
From Map of the Colony of Natal By Alexander Mair Land Surveyor Natal 1875
The third is that Champagne Castle owes its name to a bet between two Natal government authorities. However, not much information exists to verify this account. The peak, now named Cathkin Peak, was initially regarded as the highest peak in the Drakensberg. It is a particularly difficult climb to the top of Cathkin Peak. Amplett, West and Kelly were the first to summit it on 12 September 1912. When they reached the top, they noticed that some peaks in Lesotho were much higher than Cathkin's.
Tree Fuchsia
Tree Fuchsia is usually a small tree of two metres and is common in the Montane vegetation belt of the Drakensberg. However, these trees can reach up to twelve metres and sometimes more.
Its tubular flowers, of up to 40 mm, are spectacular. The colour of the flowers ranges from brick red to orange and yellow. You can note these beautiful blooms from May until December. The nectar of these flowers attracts Sugar and various insects.
Prevalent along the stony fringes that run along Drakensberg's many hiking trails and the edges of its forests. Tree Fuchsia is evergreen, often multi-stemmed, with bright green pinnate or, once compound, opposite leaves. Furthermore, the leaves have a finely serrated edge. The bark is pale grey and brown. Moreover, it is grooved longitudinally. The flowers produce clusters of spherical green berries that transform into juicy black fruit.
Tree Fuchia (Source: Wikimedia Commons)
Carter Trail
Carter Trail is a moderate hike that starts at the Champagne Castle Hotel. Please ensure you have paid the necessary fee and filled in the hiking register at Monks Cowl. This trail is some 11 kilometres, and the duration is some 150 minutes.
Source: Wikilot
The trail follows the contour of the Matterhorn and eventually slightly into Wonder Valley. Return the same way. You can view or download a plot of this map on Wikiloc.
Hiking Tips
Sign the mountain rescue register;
Wear sturdy hiking boots and carry a walking pole;
Wear a light rucksack even for a walk;
Ensure it contains food items for at least one day, warm clothing and a poncho (the weather in the Berg can change suddenly), sufficient water, a small medical aid kit, a cell phone, map, compass, torch, whistle and a box of matches; and ideally a bivvy bag;
If you encounter a bushfire, try to get to a small grove of trees as quickly as possible or light a fire break around you. At worst, run directly through the fire and roll;
If caught in a lightning storm, urgently head for a forest. At worst, squat over insulating material and ideally cover yourself with a poncho or raincoat. Discard any metal items and leave your backpack a distance from you. Do not lie down or stand under an isolated tree; and
Walk in a group of at least three people.
The San's Marauding Bandits
There is a romantic and commonly held notion that Drakensberg's San was a peaceful and egalitarian community. Bands of this community are believed to have had the view that the cattle of the Iron Age Nguni communities in the Drakensberg, and later the settlers, were owned by all and thus could be hunted as ordinary wildlife. This may have initially been true, leading to misunderstandings and skirmishes between these parties.
However, some groups of San learnt that stealing large numbers of stock was a commercially viable venture. These bandits brought havoc to the Natal colony and almost ruined many early settler farmers. Unfortunately, the reaction of the colonialists was not just; they often regarded the Drakensberg San as vermin and shot them on sight. These actions decimated the Drakensberg San. Interesting stories of these initial encounters can be read in early historical accounts of the Natal Colony, such as the classic of Bulpin, 'Natal and Zulu Country'.
Bulpin, for example, highlights that San bandits often stole whole herds of cattle and managed to drive them into Lesotho for a reward. Matters got so out of hand that Natal colonial authorities even established Fort Nottingham, specifically, by the 45 Regiment of Foot, the Sherwood Foresters, in 1856 to counter this threat.
Drakensberg Events in the Central and Northern Drakensberg
Winterton Parkrun takes place every Saturday morning from the Waffle Hut starting at 08.00
Cathkin Park Community Projects Run takes place on the last Friday of the month at 17.00 in Summer and 16.30 in Winter at Drakensberg Brewery at Berg Air Complex.
Drakensberg Boys' Choir School has a concert on Wednesday afternoons during term times www.dbchoir.com
Mountain Music Club occurs on the last Saturday of every month from 5 pm at Mac's Café, Cedarwood Shopping Centre. Dave: 0822527768
2023
24 – 25th June: Berg and Bush 2 day www.bergandbush.co.za
24th June: Drakensberg Polar Bear Swim Challenge at Dragon Peaks. Belinda 0837737450
29 July Berg Air Festival
1st – 2nd Sept: The Berg Show at Winterton Country Club. Joanine 0828564368
30th Sept: Run the Berg. www.runtheberg.co.za
8th -12th Dec: Christmas in the Berg at the Drakensberg Boys’ Choir School www.dbchoir.com
Source: Ann Gray
Drakensberg's Tourism Market
The Central and Northern Drakensberg has several major resorts that accommodate over 100 guests and a significant concentration of smaller self-catering, B&Bs, lodges and Guest Houses—easily accessed from this region's core markets, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. This area is about a four-hour drive from Gauteng and two-and-a-half hours from Durban. It is possible to fly into Pietermaritzburg and reduce the driving time to this destination.
The Drakensberg is positioned at the consolidation or mature stage of Butler's Tourism Area Lifecycle model in domestic tourism and the exploration phase concerning the foreign market. The domestic market mainly comprises leisure holiday tourists who self-drive to the area. They tend to be couples or family groups. Occasionally conference and incentive groups visit the area, particularly resorts such as Champagne Sports Resort, Alpine Heath and Drakensberg Sun. These are the 'Well-to-do Mzansi Families', 'Spontaneous Budget Explorers' and 'Seasoned Leisure Seekers'.
Foreign tourists are predominantly self-drive young and middle-aged adventure seekers (Next Stop South Africa's and Wanderlusters from the Millennial and Generation X groupings). Attracted to the area for hiking and other adventure opportunities, such as zip-lining, hot-air ballooning, and helicopter flips.
According to South African Tourism, some 65,000 foreign tourists visit the Drakensberg annually. This segment is approximately 8% of the foreign tourists visiting KwaZulu-Natal and 1% of all foreign tourists visiting South Africa. This portion seems to be a growing market, as an estimated 47,000 visited this area in 2016.
The nature of this market can be assumed to be in line with the foreign makeup of the KwaZulu-Natal overseas tourism market that predominantly comes from the UK, Germany, USA and France.
Tourism KwaZulu-Natal has determined that some 186,000 domestic tourists visit the Drakensberg annually. The key markets are the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
The overall Drakensberg tourism market is worth in the order of two billion Rand per annum.
This market is beginning to recover from the ravages of COVID. The Smith Travel Research (STR Statistics for the Drakensberg Midlands and as supplied by Tourism KwaZulu- Natal have revealed that:
South Africa's occupancy rate for hotels, lodges, etc., for January to December 2022 was 55% versus 36% for the same period in 2021. South Africa's Average Daily Rate or ADR was R1316.00 as opposed to R1108.00 in 2021. The Revenue per Available Room or REVPAR was R720 versus R398 in 2021.
In the case of the Drakensberg & Midlands, the occupancy rate was 67% vs 47%. ADR R1146 vs R1083 in 2021 and Revpar R771 vs R505.
South Africa's foreign tourism arrivals were up 153% for January to December 2022 as opposed to the corresponding period in 2021. The number of foreign tourists in 2022 was 5.7 mn vs 2,3 mn in 2021.
Tourism growth for the Drakensberg and Midlands seems to be slowing down. The year-to-end April occupancy figure was 55.3% vs 55.8 in 2022. This growth has been stifled due to South Africa's poor economic performance and a Global economy that is also struggling.
Globally, tourism is expected to recover to 2019 levels in 2024.
Drakensberg's Weather Charts
Drakensberg Tourism Directory
Download the Drakensberg Experience Map
Adventure Operators
Active Escape
All Out Adventures
Berg Adventures
Cathkin Trails for Mountain Bikers
Drakensberg Ballooning
Drakensberg Canopy Tours
Drakensberg Hikes
Drakensberg Mountain Bike Trails
Dragon Peaks Resort
Four Rivers Adventures
Hike The Berg
Hot Air Ballooning SA
Leap Adventures
Scootours
The Northern Horse
Ushaka Horse Trails
Westline Aviation
Battlefield Sites
Bloukrans
Colenso
Doornkop Laager site
Elandslaagte
Fort Durnford
Rensburgskop Battlefield
Siege of Ladysmith (various)
Spioenkop
Thukela Heights (Various)
Vaalkrans
Weenen
Willow Grange
Winston Churchill Capture Site
Zaailaager / Saailaager
B&Bs
Alkamia B&B
At Home
Bell Park B&B and S/C
Bingelela Restaurant / Pizzeria & B&B
Cathkin Cottage B&B
Easby B&B
Itumeleng B&B Bergville
Nzima B&B
Tugela Fall B&B
Backpackers
Amphitheatre Backpackers
Drakensberg Bush Lodge
Inkosana Lodge
Booking Agencies & Tour Operators
Africa Ignite
Berg Adventures
Cathkin Booking & Management Services
Cathkin Park Reservations
Golf got you
Ron Gold Historical Tours
Camping & Caravanning
Mountain Splendour Eco-Resort
Dragon Peaks Mountain Resort
Monks Cowl Camp
Royal Natal Camp
Injisuthi Camp
Coffee Shops & Restaurants
Bingelela Restaurant / Pizzeria & B&B
Canaan Coffee & Gifts
Champagne Bistro
Chocolate Memories
Drakensberg Brewery
Farmers Fork
Four Rivers
Kabbo Burger Factory
Mac's Coffee Shop
Pig & Plough
Scrumpy Jack Farmstall
The Coffee Patch
The Griller Restaurant
The Salesyard
The Tower of Pizza
Thokozisa Restaurant
Valley Bakery
Waffle Hut
Conference Venues
Alpine Heath
Alpine Heath
ATKV Drakensville Resort
ATKV Drakensville Resort
Cathedral Peak Hotel
Champagne Castle Hotel
Champagne Sport Resort
Dragon Peaks Mountain Resort
Little Switzerland Hotel
Sandford Park Country Hotel
The Nest Hotel
Wits End Mountain Resort
Craft Shops
BergAir
Cedarwood Village Shopping Centre
Chocolate Memories
Farm Friends Farmstall
KwaZulu-Natal Weavers
Sandra's se Winke;
The Oaks Supermarket
The Outspan
Thokozisa
Estate Agents
Chas Everitt - Pierre de Wet 0645120809
Game Reserves/ Conservation Areas
Kwaggashoek Game Ranch
Slievyre Game Farm
Spionkop Nature Reserve
Weenen Nature Reserve
Zulu Waters Game Reserve
The Drakensberg World Heritage Site
Golf
Hlalanathi Berg Resort
Champagne Sports Resort
Cathedral Peak Hotel
Monks Cowl Golf Resort
Guest Houses
Ashtonville Terraces Guesthouse
Monte Vista
The Riverhouse
Lodges, Hotels & Resorts
Alpine Heath
Ardmore Guest Farm
Blue Haze Country Lodge
Cathedral Peak Hotel
Champagne Castle Hotel
Champagne Sports Resort
Cheetah Ridge Lodge
Dragon Peaks Mountain Resort
Dragons View Lodge
Esiweni Lodge
Ezulwini Berg Resort
Hlalanathi Berg Resort
Inkungu Lodge
Kwaggashoek Game Ranch
Little Switzerland Hotel
Mackaya Bella Lodge
Monks Cowl Golf Resort
Montusi Mountain Lodge
Sandford Park Country Hotel
Spionkop Lodge
The Cavern Resort & Spa
The Nest Hotel
Museums
Ladysmith
Sandra se Winkel
Winterton
Other Attractions
Cathedral Peak Wine Estate
Dragon Rock Reptile Centre
Drakensberg Boys Choir School
Drakensberg Brewery
Falcon Ridge Raptor Centre
H and D Honey Products
Public San Rock Art Sites
Injisuti Camp, guided tour to Battle Cave
Main Cave, Giants Castle Camp
Road Side Assistance
Tyre Roadside Assistance 0617821591
Self-Catering
Accommodation at Trek Trips & Trails
Alpine Heath
Alpine Heath
Ama Casa Self-catering Cottages
Amphitheatre Backpackers
ATKV Drakensville Resort
Bell Park B&B and S/C
Birdsong Cottages
Celtis cottage
Champagne Cottages
Champagne Lane Resort
Champagne Valley Resort
Dalmore Guest Farm
Didima Camp
Drakensberg Dream Cottages
Drakensberg Hikes
Drakensview S/C
Fernwood Shareblock (Pty) Ltd
Giants Castle Camp
Glenside Farmhouse
Goodhope Country Escape
Graceland Self-Catering Cottages
Highbourne Cottages
Hill Billy Cottages
Ihophe(Turtle Dove)
Ihophe(Turtle Dove)
iKhaya Lodge
Ikhayamalafu Mountain Hideaway
Ikhunzi Cave
Ledges Retreat
Little Acres
Linglela Lodge
Nambiti House
Oak Cottage
Ondini Guest House
Ouma se Opstal
Peak View Cottage
Pumeleni
River Crossing
Rockwood Earth Lodge
Slievyre Game Farm
Sungubala Eco Camp
Swallowfield Rondavels
Tendele/ Royal Natal
Vultures View
Wits End
Spas
Alpine Heath
Champagne Castle Hotel
Champagne Sports Resort
Monks Cowl Golf Resort
Spoilt Green Eco-Spa
The Nest Hotel
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