The uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park is a World Heritage Site where you will discover a unique combination of biodiversity and landscape, and the world’s greatest collection of Bushman rock art.

International recognition was granted to uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park as a World Heritage Site because of its unique richness of biological diversity, its endemic and endangered species, its superlative natural beauty as well as its masterpieces of human creative genius in the form of thousands of San – Bushmen rock paintings.

The San people or Bushmen are recognized as the indigenous inhabitants of the sub-continent. In centuries past they inhabited practically the entire sub-continent, and are regarded as "embodying the essence of southern Africa’s deep past."

Yet there is no monument to the San people - Bushmen – other than their own art. Remarkably the Bushmen paintings are better preserved than in any other region south of the Sahara.

The ecological integrity of the area has been preserved intact since the last San people – Bushmen living there, and the climate, vegetation and fauna has not changed.

The uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park is a haven for an incredible variety of fauna and flora. With altitudes varying from 1 280m to 3 500m, the Park has great variety in its topography, which combined with influencing factors such as climate, soil and aspect, results in a fascinating diversity of plants.

A total of 2 153 species of plants have been recorded in the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, but the remarkable feature remains the large number of endemic species.

The uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park is a birding paradise. A total of 299 bird species have been recorded in the Park, with ten species listed as being of global conservation importance – including the white-winged flufftail, Cape parrot, corncrake, lesser kestrel, yellow-breasted pipit and the bearded vulture or lammergeyer.

There are 48 species of mammals to be found in the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, including leopard, baboon, jackal, black wildebeest, eland, zebra and red hartebeest, as well as the largest population of clawless otters in South Africa.

Within the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park may be found the Bushman’s Museum at Giant’s Castle which is the best and most accessible site in the country.

The Drakensberg has long been famous for the wealth of rock paintings that are a legacy of the San people – Bushmen, who inhabited Southern Africa for thousands of years before the arrival of the first settlers.

At the beginning of the 19^th Century fierce competition for land resulted in the Difiquane Wars. As the great chiefs Shaka, Dingaan and Matiwane fought over land and cattle, tribes were fragmented and forced to migrate in an attempt to escape the bloody havoc spiraling across the territories of Zululand and Natal.

By the time the Voortrekker wagons emerged over the Drakensberg escarpment in 1838, most of the local tribes had dispersed northwards and the remaining San people – Bushmen, had fled high up into the mountain passes.

Hunter-gatherers, the nomadic San men – Bushmen, hunted with bone or stone-tipped poisoned arrows, while the women collected wild fruits and roots. They lived in caves and rock overhangs, and with earth colours and primitive tools adorned the walls of their dwellings with scenes of dances and ceremonies, hunts, animals and supernatural creatures.

Their art was pervaded by a profound appreciation of the harmony of nature and all its wonders. Visiting one of these Stone Age galleries is an unforgettable experience. The best and most accessible is in the Giant’s Castle Reserve, where the open-air Bushman Museum at the Main Caves uses life-like models to depict a typical situation in the daily life of a hunter-gatherer family unit.

Uniquely it is possible to turn from the Bushmen paintings of eland (a symbol of power), reedbuck and other animals, to look over pristine valleys and to see these very species feeding, resting or moving about.

There are guides to take visitors on a tour of the cave and museum, which includes a display of recently discovered artifacts. Daily guided tours of the caves and museum are every hour on the hour between 8.00 and 15.00, when an experienced guide will inform you on the history and culture of the San people – Bushmen.

The Zulu call the Drakensberg uKhahlambe – the barrier of spears. The Drakensberg is the legendary abode of Dragons, and one of the most spectacular tourist attractions in Africa.

Midlands Meander

The Midlands Meander is just a short drive away offering a wide range of Arts &Crafts, places of interest including a brewery with strange ales

It is difficult to imagine that the scenic and tranquil landscape of central and northern KwaZulu-Natal was a battlefield - once the focal point of major military clashes; where the Anglo-Boer War, over a time span of 70 years, one historical battle after another unfolded against the backdrop of the African veld and the majestic Drakensberg mountains.

In this region battles and military engagements of the Anglo-Boer War that were to shape the course of South African and world history took place. Every town, historical building, battle site and memorial has a story behind it.

Riet Vlei Country House looks onto the hill where the southern-most battle of the Anglo-Boer War took place – the Battle of Willow Grange.

You may embark on a self-drive tour of the region with informative maps and brochures or you could use the services of an experienced and qualified guide, who will bring an exciting new dimension to your journey. If you wish to use a guide then when making a reservation please include the request with your booking.

The closest town to Rietvlei Country House is Estcourt. This historical town, built on the banks of the Bushman’s River, is the start of the Battlefields Route. The museum in Estcourt - Fort Durnford, was originally built to protect the townspeople against Zulu attack. The main exhibit of Fort Durnford is the fort itself, built in 1874

Battlefield sites to visit in and around Estcourt are:

• Bloukrans – many Voortrekker families were killed here following the murder of Piet Retief and his group of men by the Zulus in February 1838.
• Brynbella-Willow Grange – the site of the southern-most battle of the Anglo-Boer War.
• Rensburg Koppie – In 1838 Marthinus Oosthuizen saved a group of encamped Voortrekkers from Zulu attack.
• Saailaer – site of Gert Maritz’s laager.
• Veghtlaager (Veglaer) – Originally known as Gatrand, it was renamed Veghtlaager after withstanding an attack by Zulus in 1838. The site has been underwater since the commissioning of Wagendrift Dam.
• Weenen – Weenen was laid out on the banks of the Bushman’s River and named Weenen (the place of weeping), in memory of the massacre of the Voortrekkers by Zulus.
• Winston Churchill Capture site – On 15 November 1899 Winston Churchill, as a journalist, joined an armored train reconnaissance towards Colenso where enemy patrols had been spotted. The train was ambushed by the Boers and derailed, Churchill was captured and taken prisoner of war.