For the Tourism Trade and Visitors to the Drakensberg
![]() Autumn 2023
Copyright: Cathkin Booking and Management Services
Drakensberg Dwarf Chameleon - Nick Evans Autumn - rendezvous with the Drakensberg’s cathartic energy as it slowly transforms into the period of sleep, which is Winter. Absorb the full spectrum of orange and red as this region’s vegetation changes colour to its winter cloak of various hues of brown. This season is perhaps the best time to visit the Drakensberg. The days are warm, relatively rain-free, and the evenings cool. This period is a perfect time for the many outdoor adventures of the Drakensberg. “Fall has always been my favourite season. The time when everything bursts with its last beauty, as if nature had been saving up all year for the grand finale.” – Lauren DeStefano This edition includes overviews of:
Drakensberg Dwarf ChameleonThe Drakensberg Dwarf Chameleon or Bradypodium dracomontanum is a tiny ‘fellow’ of some 12 to 14 centimetres. Discover this endemic in the Drakensberg at some 1,500 to 2,000 metres. Find it in forests, scrub and tall grass near streams. The diet of this tiny creature is insects. This species is rare and near threatened. The evolution of the shamanistic or neuropsychological model for interpreting San rock artCurrent theorists have labelled the notion that San Rock Art was primarily the result of various stages of shaman trances as being simplistic. The early shamanistic theory explains certain forms of San Rock Art but not all of it. Not all ritual scenes in this art form relate to trances or states of unconsciousness. Salomon has shown that San Rock Art ritual scenes often relate to visual “meanings,” visual diversity, and artistic praxis. Analysis of gendered imagery has highlighted social dynamics and contexts unconnected to trance and healing. Neuropsychological models of rock art of the San have developed to incorporate history, diversity and the temporality of human action into account. Please refer to Salomon’s articles:
Children's Activities in the DrakensbergThe Drakensberg is an ideal destination for children. There is a myriad of activities to keep them busy all day long. Some resorts even provide childminders, and special children's activity programmes, to enable parents to relax and do the activities they want to do. The following are some examples of children's activities in the Drakensberg:
Drakensberg Trees - Natal BottlebrushThe Natal Bottlebrush, also known as Greyia sutherlandii, Glossy Bottlebrush, Mountain Bottlebrush or Beacon Tree. This South African endemic is a small deciduous tree that grows to a height of between three to seven metres. The bright red flowers of the Natal Bottlebrush are perhaps its most prominent feature and resemble a bottlebrush. You can note these in spring and early summer. The leaves of this tree also turn into shades of red in late autumn. The wood of this tree is pink and soft. This tree’s bark is rough, and its leaves are simple. Natal BottlebrushSteilberg HikeThe Steilberg Hike is a challenging hike that starts at either Monks Cowl Camp or Bergview. Please obtain permission to start the hike from Bergview and ensure you have paid the necessary fee and filled in the hiking register at Monks Cowl. The recommended route for this hike is to ascend to the Steilberg via Makhulumane Rock and the Makhulame River Valley. The forest and waterfalls of this Valley are spectacular. Once at the top, follow the route as marked on the map. You can follow the loop via Three Pools Cave or the shorter route, which connects the path for the descent of Steilberg. The descent is steep and slippery in parts. You should carry a short rope to deal with the steeper sections. The hike is a total of some 11 kilometres from Bergview and 15.5 kilometres from Monks Cowl Camp. Expect to be on the trail for some five hours. Source: Komoot 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, 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 a piece of 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. Drakensberg's vegetation beltsThe Drakensberg has three vegetation belts: Montane or Mountain, Sub-Alpine and Alpine. These belts are determined by altitude. The Montane belt occurs roughly below 1,600 metres; the Sub-Alpine belt is between some 1,600 metres and 2,600 metres; and the Alpine Belt at higher altitudes. There is a strong correlation between the geology of the Drakensberg and its vegetation belts. The Alpine belt is found in the basalt band, Sub Alpine above the Cave Sandstone deposits and Montane below the Cave Sandstone deposits. The vegetation belts' vegetation is determined by slope and orientation (aspect) to the sun (north facing or south facing), as illustrated in the following table.
Source: Kilick, 1963 Drakensberg Events in the Central and Northern DrakensbergWinterton 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 21st- 23rd April: The Lynx Ultra 50km and 25km www.thelynxultra.com 27th – 30th April: Music in The Mountains www.dbchoir.com 6th- 7th May: Mweni Mountain Run: www.kzntrailrunning.co.za 6th – 7th May: Yellow-Billed Oxpecker. www.theoxpecker.co.za 13th – 14th May: Red–Billed Oxpecker www.theoxpecker.co.za 20th – 21st May: African Oxpecker www.theoxpecker.co.za 16 – 18th June: Berg and Bush Descent. www.bergandbush.co.za 24 – 25th June: Berg and Bush 2 day www.bergandbush.co.za 24th June: Drakensberg Polar Bear Swim Challenge at Dragon Peaks. Belinda 0837737450 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 MarketThe 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 for 2022 was 5.7 mn vs 2,3 mn in 2021. Tourism picked up a bit more in the Drakensberg and Midlands in January. STR indicates occupancies were 55.5% vs 48.8% in 2021. ADR R1,322 vs R1,167. Revpar was R733 vs R570. Globally, tourism is expected to recover to 2019 levels in 2024.
Drakensberg's Weather Charts
Drakensberg Tourism DirectoryDownload the Drakensberg Experience Map Adventure Operators Active Escape All Out Adventures Berg Adventures Cathkin Trails for Mountain Bikers Drakensberg Ballooning Drakensberg Hikes Drakensberg Mountain Bike Trails Dragon Peaks Resort Four Rivers Adventures Hike The Berg Leap Adventures Scootours The Northern Horse Ushaka Horse Trails Westline Aviation Battlefield Sites Bloukrans Doornkop Laager site Rensburgskop Battlefield Siege of Ladysmith (various) Thukela Heights (Various) 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 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 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 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 To change your subscription, click here.
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