If you want to plan a long weekend in the central Drakensberg Mountains, you will be delighted to discover so many things to do! Learn more about the central Drakensberg Mountains, where they are located, and the best things to do in the central Drakensberg Mountains.
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Where Are the Central Drakensberg Mountains?
The Drakensberg Mountain Range is probably one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in South Africa and a UNESCO world heritage site. It is an extensive mountain range with sections of it in multiple South African provinces, including the Free State Province, the Eastern Cape Province and the KwaZulu Natal Province. It also borders Lesotho, a landlocked country located in South Africa.
Learn more about where South Africa is located.
The mountain range consists of different regions, including:
- The Northern Drakensberg Mountains: The northern regions of the Drakensberg Mountains have their highest peaks, some exceeding 3000 meters. The mountains here form the border between South Africa and Lesotho. Areas of the Northern Drakensberg Mountains are the Mont-aux-Sources, Royal National Park, the Amphitheatre, and Singati Valley. Further areas are the Rugged Glen Nature Reserve, the Ifidi Mnweni, and the Ntonjelana valleys.
- The Central Drakensberg region: The Central Drakensberg area is a large section of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park. The main destinations in this region are Cathedral Peak, Monks Cowl Reserve, the Giants Castle Game Reserve, the Highmoor and the Kamberg.
- The Southern Drakensberg: The Southern areas are the Mkhomazi Wilderness Area, Kamberg, Vergelegen, Sani Pass, Garden Castle, Highmoor, Devil’s Knuckles, Bushman’s Nek, and the Sehlabathebe National Park.
13 Best Things to Do in The Central Drakensberg Mountains
You and your whole family can participate in a wide range of activities when visiting the central Drakensberg. We tried some tourist attractions during a recent visit but needed more time to explore all the offerings. Here, you can learn the best things to do in the central Drakensberg area.
Visit the Falcon Ridge Bird of Prey Centre
Visiting the Falcon Ridge Birds of Prey Centre is a must-do for anyone interested in birds of prey. The Centre rehabilitates injured birds. They also have daily shows, which include informative talks and bird displays.
For me, a highlight of our visit to the Centre was seeing a bearded vulture.
Spend Time Outdoors
If you love spending time in the great outdoors, the best way to explore the natural beauty of the mountains is through outdoor activities. You can do one of the many mountain bike trails or go for a horse ride on one of the region’s many trails. There are also several hiking trails in the mountains to explore.
Some of the hiking trails in the central Drakensberg include:
- The Sphinx Hike: This is a short trail, taking one hour from start to finish. The trail starts at Monk’s Cowl and finishes at The Sphinx, a unique rock formation. You pass the Crystal Falls along the way.
- The Sterkspruit Falls: This is an easy and short hike, starting at Monks Cowl and ending at the Sterkspruit Falls. You can complete the hike in less than 2 hours.
- World’s View: This hike takes 3-hours to complete. It covers the Bannerman Bridge and Sugarloaf Kop sights. Once you reach the peak, you have beautiful views of the surrounding areas.
Visit the Dragon Rock Centre
If you or your family are interested in reptiles, plan a visit to the Dragon Rock Centre. The Centre has limited opening hours; visit their website to see if they are open and what visiting entails.
Gauteng also has attractions for those who have an interest in reptiles – you can view reptiles at the Johannesburg Zoo, Montecasino’s Bird Park and Croc City.
Go on A Hot Air Balloon Ride or Helicopter Flight Over the Mountains
Hot air ballooning always gives you panoramic views of the spectacular scenery in a destination. Drakensberg Ballooning is no different! Taking a hot air balloon ride in the Drakensberg Mountains gives you a unique view of this beautiful place and all its natural beauty. Another option for spectacular views is helicopter flights over the Drakensberg Mountain Range.
Do a Drakensberg Canopy Tour
An adrenaline-pumping activity in the Drakensberg is doing a Drakensberg Canopy Tour through the indigenous forests in the Drakensberg. From above, you can get beautiful views of the region.
The experience involves you moving along steel cables between platforms. Don’t worry; you wear safety gear and complete a safety briefing, including how to brake while whizzing through the air.
See a Performance of The Drakensberg Boys Choir
The Drakensberg Boys Choir School is in the Drakensberg and offers performances throughout the year. Visit their website to learn more.
Visit the Didima San Rock Art Centre
The Khoi San, once known as Bushmen, inhabited South Africa many years ago. The Didima Centre contains the remnants of utensils and implements used by the San people. You can also see the rock art of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park.
Getting to the Centre takes some planning as it is remote. It is a short drive from the central Drakensberg region and is perfect for families. A good reason to visit the Centre is to learn more about the ways of life, beliefs and customs.
Have a bit to eat at the Ndumeni Craft Centre and Coffee Shop afterwards. Here, you can also purchase handmade craft goods.
Visit the Royal Natal National Park
To learn more about the San people, take a one-hour guided tour at the Royal Natal National Park to see Sigubudu Bushmen paintings.
Read more about South Africa’s other national parks!
Play a Round of Golf
There are a few golf courses in central Drakensberg where you can play golf while enjoying the fresh mountain air. Where we stayed, Monks Cowl Golf & Spa Resort had a golf course. There are other golf courses, namely, the Amphitheatre Golf Course, the Underberg Country Club, and the Cathedral Peak Golf Club.
Visit the Berg Air Lifestyle Centre
There are several cute shops at the Bergsig Air Lifestyle Centre. We visited Chocolate Memories and had a chocolate fondue with fruit here.
At the Centre, you can also try craft beer at the Drakensberg Brewery, which has a variety of beers on tap. You can also buy some homemade treats at the Farm Friends Farm Stall.
Taste Wine at The Cathedral Peak Wine Estate
To unwind after a day of exploring the beautiful mountains and all their offerings, go to the Cathedral Peak Wine Estate for a wine tasting.
The Western Cape Province offers a number of wine-tasting experiences. Visit Franschhoek’s wine tram for a unique experience, or try any of these food and wine tours in the region.
Visit the Highmoor Nature Reserve
The Highmoor Nature Reserve has several trout dams and beautiful scenery. You can camp there, hike or have a picnic. You can also spend the night in one of the two caves at the Reserve. You can see the Cape clawless otters, baboons and mongoose here.
Visit the Negosie Museum
The Negosie Museum, also known as Sandra se Winkel, is not a traditional museum. It looks like a shop from the 1960s with an extensive range of products from the 1960s onwards. Many of the products are in original packaging but not for sale. You can find vintage ceramics, clothing and kitchen items here. It was so interesting to see many products from my childhood here, many I have forgotten about!
How Many Days Should You Spend Exploring the Best Things to Do in The Central Drakensberg Mountains?
We spent 3 days in central Drakensberg. We needed more time to do everything we were interested in, so we recommend spending between 4 and 5 days in the region to fully enjoy all the best things to do in the central Drakensberg Mountains. This will give you enough time to do at least one hiking or mountain biking trail and visit the attractions listed in this article.
Where to Stay when Exploring The Best Things to Do in The Central Drakensberg Mountains?
We stayed at the Monks Cowl Golf & Spa Resort in central Drakensberg. We loved staying there, and it offered us everything we needed. You can read more about our stay at Monks Cowl here.
Other options for accommodation in the Central Drakensberg include:
- Champagne Castle Hotel
- Ardmore Guest Farm
- Cathedral Peak Hotel
- The Nest Drakensberg Mountain Resort Hotel
The following map shows you more accommodation options in the central Drakensberg region to explore the best things to do in the Central Drakensberg Mountains: