Royal Natal National Park
Royal Natal was proclaimed
in 1916, and contains some of the most spectacular scenery in Africa. The main
feature of the area 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' upper reaches 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
National Park 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. Only self catering facilities
are available at the Natal Parks board Camp Tendele. We recommend the Antbear
Guest House from where day trips to Royal Natal National Park are easily
undertaken.
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