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ROYAL NATAL PARK

At 104 years of age, Royal Natal Park remains a jewel in yellowwoods and tree ferns can be found in the sheltered
South Africa’s rich conservation crown; proclaimed a nature kloofs (wouldn’t one expect deep snow here rather than
reserve in 1916 the most spectacular Drakensberg scenery is forests?) and crystal clear mountain streams rush downhill
to be found here and few vistas on earth can compare to the to join the headwaters of the Tugela River downstream of the
grandeur of the magnificent Amphitheatre formation. Tugela Falls, one of the highest waterfalls on earth. Apart from
the jaw-dropping scenery, the rich and varied birdlife and a
Managed by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, this natural gem offers nice variety of mammal species keep photographers occupied
much for the outdoor enthusiast to get very excited about, for hours. Watch out for the baboons though – they’ve grown
from hiking, horse riding, swimming and trout fishing to very contemptuous of humans and need no invitation to pop
more sedentary pastimes. Apart from the scenic Thendele into any open chalet, campsite or vehicle to relieve you of any
hutted camp set high on a hillside with unobstructed views food items they may find inside.
of the Tugela River and Amphitheatre, two exceptional
camping areas – the larger Mahai and the smaller Rugged Royal Natal Park lies just west of the N3 highway between
Glen, is available to guests who’d like to overnight inside the Johannesburg and Durban, an easy three to four hour drive
Park while a number of privately operated accommodation from either city.
establishments are available outside the park boundaries
within a short driving distance of the entrance gate. Dries de Wet - www.dewetswild.com
Surprisingly dense mountain forest complete with giant “Disappearing into South Africa’s wild places... Again!”

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