The highest point of the dragon mountains. Dragon Mountains (South Africa). Where is Dragon Mountain

DRAGON MOUNTAINS

In the provinces of Natal, Orange and in the Southern Transvaal, in the very southeast of Africa, majestic dragon mountains. They are divided into two parts: the hilly, grassy expanse of Natal and the more elevated part of the Orange Province and the Southern Transvaal. The Basuto mountains are so high and bare that they resemble the mountains of Ethiopia.
Most of this territory is occupied by an endless highland covered with grass. The land is either cultivated by people, or it has been "transformed" in such a way that the original landscapes are almost never preserved. This highland with steep slopes on one side and gentle slopes on the other is called the "roof of Africa". On steep slopes, reaching a thousand meters high, the winds are falling indian ocean that bring here the largest number precipitation. The stormy rivers flowing to the east originate here. They wash away the topsoil and carry it into the Indian Ocean, thereby accelerating erosion. The bulk of the water is concentrated in the Orange River, which flows west into Atlantic Ocean. The huge cliffs of the Basuto plateau have been eroded centuries ago, and today they are bare rocks several hundred meters high, breaking off to the grassy foothills. The Basuto Plateau has a typical alpine climate with severe winters, when the soil freezes for a long time. On clear nights there are bitter frosts, the rivers freeze, but during the day the ice melts again.

Bearded eagles live on the plateau. They build large nests on the rocks, line them with wool, hair, and leftover food. On mountain pastures, the main food for bearded men is dead sheep. Another bird whose last specimens live in this mountainous region is the ibis. This is an amazing, bright green bird with a red bald patch on the top of its head. Unlike other species of ibis that live mainly in swamps (except for the rock ibis), this one builds nests on high cliffs like an eagle. The ibis gets its food in the lowlands and flies north for the winter - to countries with a temperate climate.
In the eastern part of the highlands, almost no pristine nature remains, and only the beautiful reserves at the foot of the Dragon Mountains give an idea of \u200b\u200bwhat this land looked like before people settled it. In former times, the grassy areas of Natal abounded big amount animals that were exterminated before the arrival of Europeans. in reserves and national parks lives white-faced hartebeest, which was completely destroyed, and later brought back here. Bubals need to be fed from time to time, because they were moved from the lowlands, and they have not yet adapted to the conditions of life in the rocky area.

Many birds migrate from the foothills of the Dragon Mountains, where very harsh winters, on the coast. Among them are the demoiselle crane, African bustard and numerous songbirds. The Demoiselle Crane is very handsome, it has a light gray-blue plumage. In South Africa, it is found everywhere. Previously, many large animals moved to the region with a temperate climate for the winter, but today this has become impossible: the numerous wire fences with which people surround their plots block their path. Therefore, only those animals that can survive the winter have survived in the foothills.
The eastern slopes of the Drakensberg Mountains are characterized by grassy cover with small patches of forest in the lower part of the slopes. Due to frequent fires, trees and undergrowth are destroyed. There is no consensus among environmentalists regarding the benefits of fires. Fires, in addition to destroying trees, contribute to soil erosion on steep slopes, with them all the valuable nitrogen and most of the organic matter contained in the grass are lost. If the grass is not burned, it turns into an inedible mixture of dead stems and straws with very low nutritional qualities, almost unsuitable for both livestock and wild animals. Therefore, they try to find a compromise in which the burning of grass would not cause too much harm. But erosion still cannot be avoided.

After the fires that sweep through the grassy areas of Natal in winter and spring, grass grows everywhere. The remaining small forest islands are no longer able to create a microclimate and soon often die, regardless of whether the fire will consume them or not. Hyraxes also contribute to the reduction of forest areas. When leopards, jackals, wild cats and other predators were completely exterminated, hyraxes bred so much that they had to leave their rocky dwellings and settle throughout the region. They began to feed on trees, grass, lilies, bushes and other plants, thereby contributing to the exposure of the soil.
On the slopes of the Drakensberg Mountains, watsonia and blueberry grow in large numbers. In the spring after the fires, they are apparently invisible. If you look at these plants closer, you can see that the bulbs of Watson and blueberries have been gnawed by hyraxes.
In the western part of the plateau in the past, tall, juicy temeda grass grew, which is very fond of animals. As soon as livestock began to graze there, temeda was immediately eaten; she did not have time to grow, and gradually she was replaced by sour herbs. In order to provide the animals with fresh food, the settlers began to burn the grass even more intensively. But they have only achieved vast areas temeda completely disappeared, and other types of herbs began to grow instead, mainly aristida and field grass.

Larks and other birds that nest on the ground today no longer have any enemies, since jackals, wild cats, and birds of prey have been exterminated. For some mammals and birds, people have improved conditions by creating numerous small dams that still have water during the dry season. The number of near-water birds has especially increased. Thousands of ducks and geese live today where they never lived before. This is an African duck with an original yellow beak, an Egyptian goose, a clawed goose ... Some of them can also be found in East Africa- in Ethiopia, but not in such numbers. The number of herons, cormorants, ibises and shepherds has increased. Many northern birds spend the winter here.
The reckless intrusion into animal life has created new problems: in some areas, the number of clawed geese has reached such proportions that grain fields are under serious threat. The weaver - the red-billed quelia - has become such a disaster for wheat fields that millions of these birds have to be shot every year. This whole area is an example of the irresponsible actions of a person invading nature.

Height above sea level: 3,482 m;
Highest point: Thabana-Ntlenyana (Lesotho);
Countries: Republic of South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland.

The Dragon Mountains are a mountain range in South Africa famous for their unique origin and unusual shapes with "cut" peaks and sharp rocky peaks. Tourists arrive at this unusual corner world to admire the beauty of pristine nature, plunge into the atmosphere of the Stone Age, studying the culture of ancient peoples, and enjoy the popular view active rest in these places - pony trekking.

Where are the Dragon Mountains located?

The Dragon Mountains are 1100 km long and cover the territory of three countries: South Africa and the Kingdom of Swaziland. Average Height mountains are estimated at 2000 m, and maximum height reaches the summit of Thabana-Ntlenyana at around 3482 m. Most of The territory of the mountains is covered by three nature reserves:

national park Drakensberg is a UNESCO World Heritage Site;
Royal Natal National Park;
natural Park"Golden Gate Highlands", known as the "Golden Gate" because of the unusual glow of the Brandwag rock at sunset.

In the Zulu language, the name of the mountains sounds like “Kwathlamba”, and translates as “rocky place” or “heap of rocks”, “barrier of spears”.

There are several versions of the origin of the name Dragon Mountains:

According to ancient beliefs, an unknown monster lives in these places - a dragon, which was seen by local residents in the 19th century.
At the top of the mountain, at any time of the year, smoke swirls, which is very similar to the steam released from the dragon's nostrils.
The peaks of the mountains, consisting of peaks, outwardly resemble the ridge of a mythical creature, so the ancient peoples, namely the Boers, called these places that way.

What to do and see in the Dragon Mountains?

In these places there is something for tourists with a variety of preferences and everyone will be satisfied. Dragon Mountain attracts with its unique landscape, unusually beautiful landscapes, special flora and fauna with rare endangered species of plants and animals, ancient rock paintings that have been preserved for thousands of years. As entertainment, tourists are offered:

Hiking or equestrian tourism (pony trekking). Duration of hikes - one or more days, including overnight stays in rocky caves.
Exciting helicopter ride or hot-air balloon with an overview beautiful scenery bird's-eye.
Off-road safari.
Group or individual alloys according to mountain rivers(rafting).
Fishing (trout is found here).
Golf game.

Landscapes and views

The dragon mountains are famous great views and landscapes that open to the eye from the peaks. Fascinating pictures paint soft carpets of dense evergreen trees and waterfalls combined with bare cliffs and rocks. Climbing to the top, you can even see the clouds under your feet.

popular tourist place is the "Amphitheater" - a natural rock ledge, which is formed by a high 500-meter wall in the shape of a sickle, 5 km long.

In Royal Natal Park attracts the attention of tourists unique landscape from sheer cliffs 8 km long, which opens when you look at them from the bottom up.

Also nearby you can see a very beautiful waterfall "Tugela" with a height of 948 m, consisting of 5 cascades. This waterfall is the second highest in the world.

The paradise valley of Ndedema is famous, striking with its unusual beauty. Its peculiarity is that it is divided by a gorge into two parts, one of which is a lush green spot of tropical trees, and the other is completely naked.

It was the landscapes of the Dragon Mountains that inspired John Tolkien to write his trilogy "The Lord of the Rings", which received worldwide recognition and fame.

Flora and fauna

The climate of the Drakensberg Mountains is different in different parts of it, which affects the diversity of flora and fauna. Humid prevails in the east tropical climate, which causes the presence of dense greenery formed by trees and vines. In the west, it is a dry and windy climate, so western slopes represented by savannahs, covered mostly with shrubs. The nature of the mountains at an altitude of more than 2000 meters is represented mainly by meadows and rocky steppes.

On the territory of the Drakensberg National Park, a strip with alpine vegetation has been identified, recognized by the World Center for Endemism. Here you can meet such endangered species of birds as the bearded vulture, bald ibis, yellow-breasted pipit, Cape hyphae. Of the rare mammals, one can distinguish the oribi antelope, white rhinoceros, Burchell's zebra, black wildebeest. In total, more than 250 species of various animals live on the territory of the Dragon Mountains.

Historical Legacy of the Dragon Mountains

These mountain ranges have for many years been the site of battles and battles that have influenced the course of the history of South American lands. Therefore, excursions to places where in ancient times the local Zulus people fought with European colonialists for their freedom are very popular here, and later the famous Anglo-Boer War took place in these places.

The highlights of the Dragon Mountains are cave settlements with rock paintings of the ancient peoples of the Bushmen, who lived 8000 years ago. These places are considered unique, as the images are surprisingly well preserved, and the stories amaze with the richness of the fantasy of the San peoples. Bushmen depicted ritual dances, hunting, battles, fragments Everyday life. There are about 600 such places where the ancient peoples left their mark, in total, more than 40,000 drawings have been found on the territory of the Dragon Mountains.

How to get there?

Dragon Mountains in Lesotho is a very popular tourist facility, almost no trip to the countries of South Africa is complete without an excursion. Tourists are offered the most different types entertainment, recreation campgrounds or cozy small hotels with excellent service and food. About 2 million tourists come here every year.

It is desirable to get to the mountains in the composition organized groups and guided tours experienced tourists. The transfer is usually organized from the cities of Johannesburg, Durban in South Africa. You can get there by car. To do this, follow highway No. 3 to Harrismith, then follow the signs towards Natal Park. Travel time is about 3 hours.

Dragon Mountains (South Africa) - exact location, interesting places, inhabitants, routes.

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Dragon Mountains would be a worthy background for another magical epic about trolls, dwarves and hobbits, because here every stone, waterfall, ledge, rock or mountain peak says that no, it’s not so beautiful in life - you are in a fairy tale! It is no wonder that the name of this mountain system, located on the territory of two countries at once - South Africa and dwarf Lesotho, is correspondingly mystical, romantic. Of course, there were also legends about the fire-breathing snake, which the Bushmen allegedly saw in the 19th century. But in fact, the Dragon Mountains got such an epic name thanks to the eternal haze in which their dizzying peaks are hidden (they say these are puffs of steam that a real dragon releases from its nostrils, hiding from prying prying eyes).

Stretching for 1000 km, the Dragon Mountains are full of minerals (platinum, manganese, gold, coal and tin) and rare representatives of flora and fauna. Moreover, the rarest endemics grow here, which are not found anywhere else in the world. But the main wealth of this place is fabulous views, fantastic panoramas, the enchanting power and beauty of nature. It is no coincidence that part of the Drakensberg National Park, which is part of the Drakensberg National Park, is protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

It's amazing what kind of landscapes are not found on the territory of this mountain system - and tropical "rain" forests that cover the slopes up to a height of 1200 m, and thickets of thorny bushes, acacias and aloe, and mountain meadows with stone placers at altitudes of 1500 m and on to the clouds. It is interesting that this monumental mountain range is covered with snow in winter, and this despite the proximity of the warm Indian Ocean all year round. Such a variety of landscapes will make your head spin.

Such rich lands, of course, could not go unnoticed by a person - the Bushmen tribes inhabited the Dragon Mountains from time immemorial. To be more precise, the rock paintings of up to 35 thousand copies found in the mountains date back no less than 100 thousand years ago. There is especially a lot of such rock art in the Giants Castle reserve, which is in the south of the Dragon Mountains, near the border with Lesotho.

The Dragon Mountains got such an epic name thanks to the eternal haze in which their dizzying peaks are hidden. They say that these are puffs of steam that a mighty dragon releases from its nostrils, hiding from curious prying eyes.

Drakensberg

Popular attractions of the Dragon Mountains are all kinds of wildlife sanctuaries, national parks and reserves, rich in antelopes, baboons, small predators and a host of bird species. At the same time, the most popular place among tourists - the national park with the unpronounceable name Ukashlamba-Drakensberg. It is only a few hours drive from Durban and is famous for its mass picturesque corners, as well as excellent lodges, hostels and campsites, where you can relax in the bosom of nature not without comfort.

Pay attention and the famous waterfall Tugela, which reaches a height of 948 meters and consists of as many as five cascades.

IN wide world The magical Dragon Mountains have a lot of entertainment for tourists - and cozy wooden terraces of the lodges, where you can enjoy birds singing with a glass of excellent brandy, and all kinds of walking or horseback riding with a guide along marked routes, and trout fishing in local lakes, and helicopter flights , and the opportunity to play golf on the emerald fields.

Address: Ukahlamba Drakensberg (Ukashlamba-Drakensberg), Mkhomazi Wilderness area.

How to get there: the easiest way is from Durban by car or as part of an excursion group.

In Royal Natal Park there is the Santa Lucia Nature Reserve from the World Heritage List - this is an area of 275 thousand hectares adjacent to the oldest lake of the same name on the planet.

The Golden Gate Highlands Nature Reserve - Golden Gate - is also located where the Dragon Mountains are, closer to mountain range Maluti. This is a park that got its name for the unusually beautiful golden glow of the Brandwag rock at sunset. The park was created in 1963 in order to protect the sandstones that once served as a refuge for the Bushmen from destruction.

Ukhahlamba Drakensberg National Park is another special place on the UNESCO list. The park, located in the Great Ledge zone, is considered the largest in the Dragon Mountains. Rare representatives of flora and fauna have been preserved here, the total number of which is more than 250 species.

Fauna of the Drakensberg Mountains

The territory of the Dragon Mountains is distinguished by exceptional nature. This is due primarily to the fact that the mountains serve as a natural barrier to those living here and on the inland plateau. The pristine nature has been preserved in the national parks. Ukhahlamba Drakensberg has an untouched strip of alpine and subalpine vegetation - this is a special region that has the status world center endemism and plant diversity. The endemic birds of the Dragon Mountains are the bald ibis and the bearded vulture, nesting only near Cathedral Cave ( natural arch, which was formed under the influence of water on sand during temperature fluctuations). The yellow-breasted pipit is also a rare endangered species. Cape vulture lives only on the rocks of Ukhahlamba Park. Due to the presence of a large number rare birds UNESCO has designated part of the Drakensberg Mountains as an Important Bird Area.

Only in Ukhahlamba Park live such mammals as oribi antelope, Burchell's zebra, black wildebeest. Animals typical of southern Africa also live in the mountains: antelopes (mountain redunka, bush duiker, bushbuck, roe antelope), caracal, jackal, serval, leopard, otter, geneta, mongoose.

Flora of the Drakensberg Mountains

Dragon Mountain is located in the south of the Afromontan botanical-geographical region. Steppes, forests and light forests are widespread here, where the world's only populations of white-tailed wildebeest and white rhinoceros live. Botanists refer to the high-mountain vegetation as analogues of the alpine tundra. The east of the mountains is humid, its slopes (up to a height of 1200 m) are covered with rain tropical forests with creepers, evergreen trees, epiphytes. Prickly shrubs, xerophytes and succulents grow from a height of 1200-1500 m. Above 2000 m there are mountain steppes, green meadows, stone placers. The west of the mountains is covered with savannas and shrubs.

Dragon Mountains Tourism

Unique nature, unique landscape, original culture local residents make the Dragon Mountains attractive for tourists. Drakensberg is interesting because it contains three national parks and many reserves where rare species of flora and fauna are found. There are ancient lakes in the mountains, beautiful waterfalls, varied terrain. People who are fond of history visit the rocks in Ukhahlamba Park, where the paintings of the San people who lived in the Stone Age have been preserved.

There are about 600 such places in the Dragon Mountains. The drawings tell about the way of life of people of that time. Active and extreme recreation have the opportunity to ride the slopes of the Drakensberg Mountains on a Land Rover or on horseback. The mountains can be viewed from a helicopter window. IN hard-to-reach places organized hiking. Dragon Mountains attract tourists from all over the world, those who are a true connoisseur of true beauty.

Sandstone, covered with dark-colored strata of basalt, forms the basis of the Dragon Mountains, and their completely unique plane is also due to this. Peaks of the Dragon Mountains - the highest mountain range South Africa - divided by erosion into stepped plateaus with steep slopes.
The Dragon Mountains - with their flat tops - are incredibly beautiful, they are not like any other mountain systems peace. The Dragon Mountains have evergreen forests. The climate and vegetation in different mountainous regions differ sharply - on the eastern, windward slopes, heavy precipitation falls (rains up to 2000 mm per year), and the western, leeward slopes of the mountains are dry and have a sharply continental climate. In winter, snow falls on the peaks of the Drakensberg Mountains. Humid, tropical "rain" forests with evergreen deciduous and coniferous trees and lianas cover the eastern slopes with an even high carpet, giving way to savannahs and bushes to the west.
At an altitude of more than 2000 meters, mountain meadows and stone placers spread.
Even when the bright sun shines in the mountains, the slopes of the mountains are blown by strong, piercing winds. However, the wind is not able to stop numerous romantic travelers who rise here to explore the ancient mountain secrets.
They say that getting into the Dragon Mountains, you feel like at the origins of human civilization. Long before the white man came here, people from the San tribe (Bushmen) left traces of their stay here in the form of rock paintings. Ritual hunting scenes, fragments from peaceful life - this ancient painting is found in abundance in these mysterious mountains. The last group of Bushmen, the original inhabitants of the Dragon Mountains, were seen in these places in 1878, since then no traces of Bushmen life have been found here. However, thousands rock paintings in numerous mountain caves will not let you forget about the former owners of the Dragon Mountains. rock painting of these places is recognized as unique not only because of its preservation, but also because of the variety of subjects.
For many kilometers of ascent in the mountains there is complete silence - the civilized world has remained far below, and only the cries of antelopes from the valley, and the hoarse, threatening voice of a baboon, will remind you that you are not alone here. And also the constant rustle of the wind. And above the mountains, spreading their almost two-meter wings, vultures and mountain eagles soar.
As you ascend, the landscape will constantly change - either a basalt amphitheater will appear before travelers, or a breathtaking view of a mountain valley will open from the cliff. Mysterious gorges, waterfalls, canyons and fields covered with unknown colorful flowers - all this makes the landscapes of the Dragon Mountains unique.
The goal of many travelers in ""these mountains is the paradise valley - Ndedema. The view of the Ndedema Gorge surpasses everything seen before - the mighty mountain seems to be cut in half by a deep neck. One part of it is completely covered with forest, while the other is completely bare.
These places are said to have inspired Tolkien, who was born in South Africa, to write his famous Lord of the Rings.
This mountainous area actively develops tourism. Numerous hotels and campsites full service and provided by guides and conductors, are very handy. Passive tourists have the opportunity to enjoy mountain slopes from a helicopter or from a car window. The restless ones will go along the picturesque passes and mountain valleys accompanied local guides; and their luggage will be carried on the backs of smart and unpretentious ponies.
There are unique opportunities for traveling, horseback riding, bird watching. Even golf and fishing are provided.
Dragon Mountains Recognized world heritage UNESCO.