A Guide to the Drakensberg

This natural history guide and travellers' companion presents the many faces of South Africa's eastern escarpment. It covers the Drakensberg's historical significance and geological make-up, and has maps, lists of walks, recommended routes, descriptions of towns, accommodation and contact details.

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Both natural history guide and travellers' companion, this book presents the many faces of South Africa's mighty eastern escarpment. It showcases the Drakensberg's pristine wilderness areas and its rich wildlife heritage, its historical significance - preserved in rock art - and its geological make-up. At the same time, it facilitates travel in the vast "playground" by providing maps, lists of walks and hikes (graded for their degree of difficulty) in the main reserves, recommended routes and sites, brief descriptions of towns and villages in the area and what they offer from a natural history and cultural standpoint, accommodation, contact details and numerous practical tips. The book is divided into three regions - KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg (northern, central and southern), North-eastern Cape Drakensberg and North-eastern Free State. The main region is the KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg, popularly known as "the Berg", where the extensive uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park (both a cultural and a natural World Heritage Site) extends across the subdivisions, incorporating most of the region's mountain reserves and wilderness areas.
Included in the volume is an information A-Z containing practical tips and pointers, and comprehensive lists of the wildlife in the region - mammals, reptiles, frogs and toads, insects, birds and plants - including a guide to flowering seasons of the region's wildflower species.