Royal Natal National Park

Tucked away along the border of KwaZulu Natal and the Orange Free State lies the Royal Natal National Park and the adjoining Rugged Glen Nature Reserve. This region is one of the most beautiful sections of the Northern Drakensberg.

The Amphitheatre is an imposing wall of rock 5 km across and towering nearly 1,000 m above the Tendele Valley below. This well-known landmark creates a majestic backdrop to the park.

South of the Amphitheatre lies the Mont-aux-Sources. At 3,282 m it is one one the highest peaks in Southern Africa, and forms the watershed between the Atlantic and the Indian Oceans. As it's name suggests, Mont-aux-Sources is the source of several major river systems, including the Vaal River, which flows to the west, and Tugela River, that flows eastward into Kwazulu Natal. The Tugela Falls, which is the 2nd highest waterfall on Earth, drops nearly 950 m over a series of 5 spectacular cascades through the Tugela Gorge.

Dozens of beautiful trails await the adventurous hiker, not least of which is the challenging 45 km circular hike to the Sentinel, which climbs up to the top of the Amphitheatre by way of chain ladders - not for the feint-hearted.

There are also a number of horse trails that criss-cross through the less vertical regions of the park. Rides can be arranged at the stables at Rugged Glen. The avid angler will enjoy fishing along the banks of the mountain streams or in the dam that provide excellent trout fishing.

ATTRACTIONS & ACTIVITIES AT ROYAL NATAL NATIONAL PARK:
- hiking
- trout fishing
- horse trails
- Amphitheatre
- Rugged Glen
- Mont-aux-Sources
- Thukela River

SUMMARY OF WILDLIFE & FLORA:
Mammals: mountain reedbuck, grey rhebuck
Fishing: trout

DIRECTIONS TO ROYAL NATAL:
- 50 km west of Bergville

Accommodation Near Royal Natal National Park:
Bergville Accommodation