Royal Natal National Park

Royal Natal National Park is the main entry point for hiking in the Northern Drakensberg and covers the area around the base of the Amphitheatre and the Tugela Gorge. It is an exceptionally beautiful park, with the cliff wall dominating the view from most trails and the Tugela River running through the valley below.

Day hikes from the main rest camp range from gentle walks through riverine bush to the strenuous full-day circuit to the top of the Amphitheatre via the Gorge Trail and the chain ladders. The Gorge Trail alone, which follows the Tugela River into an increasingly narrow canyon, is worth doing even if you do not go all the way to the top — the views of the cliff face and the sound of the river echoing off the walls are striking.

Wildlife in the park includes eland, mountain reedbuck, baboon, and various smaller mammals. Lammergeier (bearded vulture) and black eagle soar overhead; the birding is excellent on the high slopes. Accommodation is available at the Mahai Campsite and Tendele Eco-Camp; book ahead in peak season (June–August and school holidays).

things to do sight nature reserve hiking wildlife
A story
Royal Natal is named for a visit by the British royal family in 1947 — a tour of South Africa that was one of the last great colonial spectacles, and which included a stay in the mountains. The Zulu name for the range, Ukhahlamba, means "Barrier of Spears," and refers to the sheer escarpment face that the park's trails lead toward. South African Parks has worked to use both names, though the signs still mostly say Royal Natal.