Dragon Mountains ... Have you ever heard of this unusual place? Honestly, many people believe that this is not called a real geographical object, but landscape elements in some fantastic book, for example, in The Lord of the Rings or the works of S. Lukyanenko.
Section 1. Dragon Mountains. Description
Such an unusual name is the thousand-kilometer mountain range of southern Africa. The Dragon Mountains, or as they are also called, Drakensberg, are located in the province under the complex name KwaZulu Natal.
The height of some peaks in this mountain range exceeds 3300 m.
The nature of South Africa is amazingly beautiful. In winter, mountains covered with snow look slightly ascetic. It’s even hard to imagine that all this is only two hours away from the ever-warm Indian Ocean!
Many vacationers at first often catch themselves thinking about whether in Africa they really didn’t even leave their fate somewhere in a magical city from old childhood dreams. Trout is found in the transparent mountain lakes, the rocks are decorated with drawings of bushmen, on the horizon there are white caps of high mountain peaks and a stone's throw from the mighty ocean.
Section 2. Dragon Mountains. Local attractions .
Very often, tourists come here just to admire a very peculiar cave painting, once performed by representatives of the San tribe. Simple pictures depict, as one would expect, hunting, battles with enemies and domestic life.
Today in Drakensberg, you can see about 40,000 elements of Bushman art. Nowhere else in the world is there such a large collection. Scientists find it difficult to determine the age of many images. Why? Mainly due to the quality and location of their application. But, according to anthropologists, the first civilization of the Bushmen of this region originated, according to very conservative estimates, more than 40 thousand years ago (sometimes a figure of 100 thousand years is also voiced!).
Another of the most popular attractions are considered to be the Tugela waterfalls located in the Royal Natal National Park . This is a whole complex of five sources that actually create a magnificent sight, transforming into the second highest waterfall on the planet. Water with a deafening roar falls from a height of 947 m. In some, especially cold winters, the waterfall freezes, turning jets into dazzling ice columns.
It is, of course, worth a visit to the so-called "amphitheater", once formed by a crescent mountain wall. The length of this natural structure is about 5 km, and the height is 500 m.
Section 3. Dragon Mountains. Travel tips and tricks.
According to many tourists, it is most convenient to get here by bus as part of a tourist group or by car. Those who want to explore the northern part, it is best to start their journey from Pretoria, and to the south - the nearest road leaves Durban.
It is best to go on a trip from November to March, as It was at this time that a comfortable and favorable air temperature remained here. The probability of precipitation is minimal, and the mountains are able to present their most distinctive colors. It is worth paying attention to the fact that in the winter months it can suddenly become cold in just one day.
In their free time, as a rule, riding lessons are offered, and everyone can also recover on an exciting horse safari.
Hiking will appeal to those who prefer to get to know the local flora and fauna, take wonderful pictures and admire the surrounding landscapes. The most common pastime is considered to be the behavior and life of mountain birds, as well as fishing in local reservoirs and lakes.
Thrill-seekers can reserve a seat in a helicopter, then go on an exciting aerial walk into the mountains.
Those who are tired of outdoor activities are advised to visit the colorful souvenir markets or play measured golf.