The Royal Natal National Park is located in the KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa, and part of the UNESCO uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site which is shared with the Sehlabathebe National Park in neighbouring Lesotho. This mountainous region is home to the world famous Amphitheatre, a rock wall and cliff face approximately 5km long and 500m high.
Mont-aux-Sources peak on top of the Amphitheatre is one of the highest peaks in South Africa, reachable only by the famous chain ladder in order to explore the mountain top. This mountain peak is where the Orange River starts its journey making its way through the country to flow into the Atlantic Ocean on the border of South Africa and Namibia. The Tugela River cascades down the mountainside resulting in one of the highest waterfalls in the world the Tugela Falls.
The most popular activity in the Royal Natal National Park is hiking, with numerous hiking trails throughout the park ranging from easy nature walks to multi-day hikes. Hiking guides and brochures are available for purchase at the visitors center at the Thendele Camp, which will give you a map of the area and outline the routes of the various hiking trails. There are thousands of rock paintings in caves and overhang sites to explore ranging from 40 000 to 100 000 years old.
Fishing is allowed in the rivers and dams throughout the park, with fly fishing the Mahai and Thukela rivers for rainbow and brown trout a favourite among fishermen. Please note that a fishing license will be required which can be obtained from any post office or from the information center in the park. Horse riding is another popular activity and excursions are available from the Rugged Glen Camp.
The best time to visit the Royal Natal National Park is usually during the late summer months after the seasonal rain. This is when the vegetation is lush and green and dams, rivers and mountain streams crystal clear and great for swimming. Self catering chalets and camping facilities are available at the Thendele Camp and Mahai Campsite, which is a great base from which to explore the park and take on the many spectacular hiking trails the area has to offer.