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Ben Macdhui - Drakensberg Mountain Range
Ben Macdhui in South Africa is the highest peak in the Eastern Cape Province and is named after a pinnacle of the same name in Scotland. The 3001 m-high mountain near the small, charming historical town of Rhodes forms part of the Drakensberg Mountain Range and is the only place in the country where organised skiing is possible. Snow can fall at any time of the year and the area is known as the Switzerland of South Africa for good reason. It is also home to the country's only ski resort - Tiffindell. The Tiffindell Ski Resort on Ben Macdhui Mountain offers snowboarding and skiing for three months of the year and partly relies on one of the most advanced snowmaking systems in the world to supplement winter snowfall from May to September. The resort offers skiing and snowboarding lessons and can accommodate 130 overnight visitors and an additional 200 day visitors on its 600 m-slope. The Tiffindell Ski Resort also offers wonderful summer activities like grass skiing, mountain biking, fly fishing and high altitude hiking. Those looking for a bit of warmth and entertainment will find it in the highest pub and restaurant in South Africa. But the whole family can find something exciting to do on this Eastern Cape mountain range. The resort is situated about 200 km east of Aliwal North in the and also offers scenic 4x4 trails. Rich plant and animal life makes the area fascinating to explore. Avid hikers can explore the mountain via the Ben Macdhui Hiking Trail, which winds its way along the southern side of the peak. The highest overnight hut in South Africa - the Hooggenoeg ('high enough') overnight hut at 2 535 m - can also be found on South Africa's Ben Macdhui. The hike last for four to five days and is moderately difficult. Hikers must take care to be well prepared and to pack enough warm clothes, even in summer.
uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Mountain Range
For mountain grandeur nothing beats the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg, the largest, longest (1 000 km) and highest mountain range (many peaks are over 3000 m) in South Africa. Meaning "Dragon Mountain" or Barrier of Spears, its mountains form the backbone of the Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation and Development Area between the Kingdom of Lesotho and South Africa. It's a Ramsar site, a World Heritage Site and contains the largest and most concentrated group of San rock paintings in Africa south of the Sahara - some 600 known sites. Rich in biodiversity, 2 153 plant, 299 bird, 48 mammal and reptile species reside here including eland, sacred to the San hunter gatherers, and endangered Cape and bearded vultures. Hike its gorges; climb its peaks and frozen waterfalls; fly over its majestic amphitheatre; hang glide its sheer cliffs; or kloof its ravines (same as canyoning) views this awesome are unequalled anywhere. Here too, some of the country's biggest rivers converge in a mountain wilderness of raptors, waterfalls and breathtaking vistas, that's snow-capped in winter and lusciously green in summer.
Cederberg Mountain Wilderness Of The San People
Discover 162 000 hectares of pristine mountain terrain, stretching from the Pakhuis Pass in the north to Grootrivier in the south, when you visit the Cederberg wilderness. Follow in the footsteps of the ancient San and Khoi to the Stadsaal Caves in the Koue Bokkeveld, on the rock art trail, where some sites date back around 8000 years. The area is a celebrated hiking and climbing destination, loved for its solitude and rugged mountain beauty that's rich with endemic plant life including fynbos, the rooibos tea plant, threatened Clanwilliam Cedar trees and the rare Snow Protea, found only along the snow line of the Sneeuberg. Mountain bike its rocky paths or tackle a challenging 4x4 trail; and if you're fortunate you'll see the rare Cape Leopard and other reserve inhabitants like porcupine, aardvark and Cape fox, along with 100 species of bird. Unforgettable though, are the fantastical rock formations this park boasts - Wolfberg Cracks, Wolfberg Arch and Maltese Cross nature's own sculpture garden on a grand scale. Table Mountain in South Africa reaches 1 086 m at its highest point - Maclear's Beacon - and rises above the coastal city of Cape Town in the Western Cape Province, offering stunning views over both the ocean and the city. The flat-topped sandstone natural attraction is approximately 3 km long and is one of the only mountains in the world that is nearly entirely encompassed by a metropolitan area.
Cape Town's Table Mountain
Cape Town's Table Mountain is an internationally recognised landmark and holds special cultural and recreational allure. Approximately 1 470 species of flora, many endemic and extremely rare, like the Wild Orchid Disa and the Silver Tree, can be seen on the mountain. The Table Mountain National Park includes the Table Mountain Chain, which stretches from Cape Point in the south to Signal Hill in the north, as well as the ocean and coastline of the peninsula. The nature reserve is famous for its biodiversity due to its varied landscape, which includes sandy flats, craggy cliffs and sheer slopes. The Table Mountain National Park has three entrance points - at Boulders, Silvermine and Cape of Good Hope - where conservation fees are payable, but the park mainly offers open access and is free to enjoy. This mountain within Cape Town has about 350 recorded paths, which vary from easy to extremely difficult, meander to Table Mountain in Cape Town's summit. For those who prefer a gentler ascent the Cableway, which carries around 600 000 visitors to the summit each year and was opened in 1929, offers a scenic ride. Visitors are advised to contact the Mountain Club of South Africa before starting any walking trail. Table Mountain in South Africa attracts mountain bikers, abseilers and climbing adventurers - enough to satisfy any adrenalin junkie. Kloof Nek Road, which is connected to Lion's Head, offers a gorgeous panoramic views. Read up more on Table Mountain National Park
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