… Champagne Castle, Giant’s Castle (3 314 m a.s.l.), Injusuti Dome (3 409 m a.s.l.), Sani Pass and Hodson’s Peak (3 244 m a.s.l.), Rhino Horn (3 051 m a.s.l.) and Wilson’s Peak (3 210 m a.s.l.). Together, they define the characteristic shape of the Drakensberg skyline.

The cliffs forming the escarpment are capped by extensive, horizontally bedded basalt lava slabs that create a high-altitude plateau lying between 1 830 and 2 440 m a.s.l. The basalt is deeply incised by the tributaries of the several major rivers that flow through the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal into the Indian Ocean. These river catchments hold many sheer cliffs, with near-vertical walls more than 500 m high. At lower altitudes, these steep basalt cliffs give way to slopes that form a large grassy terrace of variable width, interspersed with bands of exposed basalt. Lower still, the grassy terrace falls away as cave sandstone cliffs are dissected by rivers and streams to form valleys, gorges and inselbergs. As a whole – the region is dominated by ferriferous soils, which are characteristic of well-drained uplands with high rainfall and relatively low temperatures. Leaching has been severe and fertility is therefore low. Temperatures are extreme and, on the high-altitude slopes, can drop below -15 °C, although the maximum annual average reaches 15–35 °C, depending on altitude. Annual average rainfall is 800 mm, falling mostly in summer (October–April).

The altitudinal zonation of vegetation is characteristic of most mountains of sufficient height. In the Drakensberg, three primary altitudinal zones occur: the montane zone (1 280–1 830 m a.s.l.), the sub-alpine zone (1 830–2 865 m a.s.l.) and the alpine zone (2 865–3 500 m a.s.l.). The montane belt extends from the lowermost basalt cliffs to the valley floors. Grasslands dominate, while protea parkland is found on most spurs and crests. The vegetation of the alpine belt consists of climax heath interspersed with alpine grassland genera. Woody communities flourish in rocky enclaves. Associated karroid shrubs occur in overgrazed areas and in fire-protected gullies. The summits are generally rocky with bare patches of shallow soil and rock sheets near the escarpment. On the lower slopes, scrub develops on the rock and cliffs, including small trees and shrubs. Several woody communities are confined to the sheltered gorges and kloofs in the sub-Alpine zone. The climax community of the montane belt is tall evergreen forest, which occurs on mesic streambanks and in deep kloofs where fire is excluded.

In terms of avian diversity – some 200 species occur throughout the Drakensburg Mountain range, roughly 40 of which are endemic to South Africa and neighbouring Lesotho. Though the neighbouring province of KwaZulu-Natal is perhaps better known as a birding hotspot, all key regional endemics can be found along the Southern Drakensburg route through the Eastern Cape. Top among the list of most-desirable species are the Mountain Pipit, Drakensburg Rockjumper, Bearded and Cape Vultures, and Drakensburg Siskin. Other notable mentions include the critically endangered Rudd’s Lark, Bush Blackcap, Short-tailed and Yellow-breasted Pipits, and Striped Flufftail.

Key species:

Bearded and Cape Vultures, Drakensburg Rockjumper, Drakensburg Siskin, Mountain Pipit, Grey-winged Francolin, Yellow-breasted Pipit, Ground Woodpecker