Royal Natal National Park South Africa
About the Royal Natal National Park
Royal Natal National Park was proclaimed in 1916, and contains some
of the most spectacular scenery in South Africa. The main feature of the
Royal Natal area of the Drakensberg is
the Amphitheatre, a rock wall about 5km in length, and
approximately 1000m in height between the Sentinel (3 165m) and
Eastern Buttress (3 047m), with a number of domes rising from its relatively
flat summit plateau.
In 1836, the French missionaries Arbousset and Daumas
named the largest of these domes Mont-aux-Sources - a literal
description of this source of five rivers. Of these, the Tugela plummets
948m in five clear leaps, making it the world's second highest waterfall.
The Tugela Falls
in the upper
reaches of Royal Natal National Park occasionally freeze in winter to create dazzling columns of ice. And
just to confound weather experts the Royal Natal National Park a White
Christmas in the middle of our sub-tropical summer! Royal Natal is ideal for hiking, with a superb network of graded walks catering for
all levels of fitness and agility. And while the summit of Mont-aux-Sources
can be reached by walking from the summit plateau and scaling a 100-rung
chain ladder, if this seems like child's play you're always invited to join
the annual Mont-aux- Sources Challenge, when men and women of iron turn the
mountain into a cross-country steeple-chase of epic proportions. A serious
Royal Natal National Park event.
How To Get to
Royal Natal National Park
From the north, turn off just south of Ladysmith and
follow the Bergville road for 55km. The road from Bergville is
clearly signposted, and the park is 46km further along the Bergville/Harrismith road. From the south, turn off the main national road
(N3) at the Winterton/Berg Resorts turn-off, and pass through Winterton and
Bergville. Turn left at the Drakensberg North signboard. It is approximately
16km from there to the Royal Natal National Park entrance gate. Both these
routes are tarred.
The park is also accessible from Harrismith (72km)
via the Oliviershoek Pass. From Harrismith take the Bethlehem Road for 6km,
and turn onto the Witsieshoek/QwaQwa road. Follow the signs to Oliviershoek
Pass, Royal Natal National Park and Bergville. The road is tarred all the way.
What To Do At Royal Natal National Park
An entrance fee is payable at the park’s entrance
gate. Visitors to Rugged Glen Campsite and Mahai Campsite must therefore
arrange to arrive before sunset. Visitors to Tendele must report directly to
the Tendele office, whilst Mahai and Rugged Glen Campsite visitors must
report to the Visitor Centre. Accommodation charges are usually payable in advance.
Accommodation at Royal Natal National Park
There are lots of B&B / Guest Houses in the area.
The most stunning is the Self Catering Natal Parks board Camp Tendele.
royal natal national park Links