By Samkelo Biyela
When many think of KwaZulu-Natal, they seldom move away from coastal areas that include Durban, but this Tourism Month – we are urged to also visit inland areas which include the Drakensberg and other places that provide eco-tourism.
KZN Wildlife Ezemvelo runs a number of establishments such as Royal Natal National Parks. “Hiking is the main activity here. The Drakensberg Mountains in KZN are part of the great escarpment. They’re part of a great geological history. This park alone is over 100 km in length along the escarpment,” says KZN Ezemvelo Wildlife ecologist, Sonja Krueger.
If you happen to enter some of the caves, you could even see ancient rock art painted by the first inhabitants of the area, the San. During our time in the Berg, we experienced the most beautiful sunsets.
This is a nature lover’s paradise with rare animals and unique plants. “It has some of the wide range of animals, threatened species that only occur in this area. We also have a few proclaimed areas. The mountains are about as the most pristine as you will get in this country,” explains Krueger.
Those in charge of some of the holiday destinations in KwaZulu-Natal say locals must play their part in preserving these areas so they benefit from the tourists that visit. “Without the community buy-in, eco-tourism will not win. We pride ourselves with ensuring that the tourism fund that we collect comes back and is ploughed in those communities. It’s very important for communities to know the value of saving and preserving our nature,” says KZN Ezemvelo Wildlife Senior Marketing Manager, Siphelele Luthuli.
Holidaymaker, Natasha Singh says her visit to the area has been filled with love. “I’m here with my husband and we are celebrating our one-year anniversary. We did a 4×4 ride up Mike’s Pass,” she says.
You can also picnic here, go up on a hot air balloon and take those Insta-perfect memories to share with friends online.
