SANI-PASS. Sani is the Drakensberg mountain pass between South Africa and Lesotho; at 2876 metres( 9435 feet) it ranks pretty high as the ultimate off-road experience. If you are not the driving type, there are tours on which you can be elegantly ferried up and down up Sani Pass by an experienced guide.
And to top it all off( excuse the pun) you can staycation at the Sani Mountain Lodge, or simply enjoy a meal or drink with breath-taking views.
This year has seen an early snowfall on Sani Pass, the 12 May saw the beginning of snow-seekers from far and wide descending to the winterwonderland of the Drakensberg. Skiing, sleighing and snowboarding are added to the list of Southern Drakensberg activities, like horse-riding, birdwatching, nature & cultural walks, hiking and camping.
WATER SPORTS. The Umzimkulu River begins in the Drakensberg & ends in the Indians ocean on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast. In the Southern Drakensberg, it plays host to a variety of water sports: leisure boating, canoeing, trout fishing, swimming and summer-only tubing( water levels are too low in other seasons).
The river also boasts famous events like the famous Drak Challenge, a canoe marathon that ends at the Umzimkulu River Lodge. The lodge is a truly unique way to experience the river; Fairy-tale style cottages, a la carte riverside dining, and indoor / outdoor family activities like miniature golf & petting zoo. What’ s more, the owners and staff will readily provide insider tips on current highlights in the Southern Drakensberg.
MEANDERING. While you’ re exploring and adventuring, there are plenty of charming country stops on your Southern Drakensberg route. With the Underberg Cheesery, cafes, restaurants, crafts, curios, historic tours and the Wine Gallery of Africa, there’ s plenty to see and do!
MOUNTAINEERING, BIKING & NA- TURE. The Drakensberg Mountains are well known as a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, with all-year-round Mountain Biking, trail running, and mountaineering. If you are the camping type, you can sign up for a multiday hiking experience and really go off-the-grid. In the central Drakensberg is the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park, a world-famous UNESCO World heritage site. UNESCO describes the site as having‘ exceptional natural beauty in its soaring basaltic buttresses, incisive dramatic cutbacks, and golden sandstone ramparts.’ So, while exploring the Southern Drakensberg, expects to see some of the rare & indigenous flora and fauna, such as the cycad, protea and bearded vulture.
HORSE-BACK RIDING. A romantic getaway, family outing, thrill-seeking group, or multi-day off-the-grid & cross-border( SA & Lesotho) camps – it’ s a fabulous way to see Southern Drakensberg. Khotso Horse Trails is recommended for hosting of such experiences; their cosy log cabins provide a serene holiday location or a base-camp for adventurers. Khotso horses are exquisite creatures and the owner is an experienced outdoor enthusiast( Ultra marathons, trail running etc)- engineering a well-tailored & beautiful experience.
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