Maloti Drakensberg Route

The Maloti Drakensberg Route is a region that stretches from the Eastern Cape Highlands and the south-eastern Freestate via the independent Kingdom of Lesotho to the Drakensberg mountains of the KwaZulu-Natal. The mighty mountain ranges are a paradise for all outdoor and mountain lovers. Hikers, mountain bikers, horse riders, anglers and all other adventurers get their money's worth here. From June to August, you can even go skiing in Lesotho. To experience the beauty of this unique mountain world, you should spend at least two nights in one place. However, depending on your interests, more nights are also a good idea.

Drakensberg Mountains

The Drakensberg in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal is certainly the best-known section of the region. The highlight of the southern Drakensberg is the Sani Pass, the only southern connecting road to Lesotho. The pass can only be accessed by four-wheel drive vehicles, but there are guided day tours from Himeville and Underberg. The central Drakensberg offers great hiking opportunities, for example in the Giants Castle Game Reserve. The northern Drakensberg is much more impressive and is therefore preferable for a short stay. The Royal Natal National Park with its famous amphitheater is the highlight of this region. The Tugela River plunges almost 950m into the depths here, making it the second highest waterfall in the world.

Big Five & Battlefields

There are a number of other attractions nearby that no longer belong to the Maloti Drakensberg region. In the Spioenkop Dam Nature Reserve between Winterton and Ladysmith, the mighty Tugela River dams up over 15 square meters. Various antelope species, zebras, giraffes and even rhinos can be spotted in the reserve. Various battlefields from the Boer, British and Zulu wars can be visited in the region, which are usually of little interest to German tourists. Near Ladysmith is the malaria-free Nambiti Game Reserve, a private Big Five game reserve with a good selection of upmarket lodges, all of which offer good value for money.

Maloti Route

The highlands of the two South African provinces of Eastern Cape and Freestate are very interesting in terms of scenery. The drive passes through no villages and along endless cotton plantations and cattle farms. There are also a few interesting smaller nature reserves and private game reserves. A highlight of the Freestate is the Golden Gate National Park with countless short and long hikes. The orange-colored sandstone formations, which glow golden in the evening light, gave the park its name. Several antelope species and even wildebeest and zebras can be spotted in the park. Nearby is the small artists' town of Clarens with its many cafés, galleries and boutiques.

Lesotho

The Kingdom of Lesotho, which is completely surrounded by South Africa, is one of the highest countries in the world and is also known as the "Roof of Africa". The individual parts of the country lie at an altitude of between 1400 and 2000 meters, with some mountain peaks even exceeding 3000 meters. The high plateaus are criss-crossed by river valleys and inselbergs. Lesotho is a sovereign state with its own entry requirements. The infrastructure is quite rudimentary. Only a few roads can be used by normal cars. The tourist offer is also manageable. However, those who embark on the Lesotho adventure will be rewarded with magnificent nature and plenty of unspoiled nature. In the South African winter from June to August, it can sometimes snow heavily. Lesotho therefore has the largest ski area in southern Africa with cross-country ski trails, pistes, lifts and ski lodges.