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Provincial Parks/ Mountains
Royal Natal Game Reserve
Province: Kwazulu Natal
Region: Drakensberg
Main Attractions: Hiking, Birding, Scenery
Royal Natal boasts some of the most splendid mountain scenery in Africa. The main feature is the world famous Amphitheatre, a rock wall approximately five km in length, and 500m high.
Above the amphitheatre is Mont-aux-Sources peak where, as its name implies, the Orange river starts its long journey to the Atlantic ocean and Thukela river cascades down the face of the amphitheatre, in one of the highest waterfalls in the world, on its way to the Indian ocean.
The most popular activity at Royal Natal is undoubtedly hiking.A comprehensive hiking guide is available for purchase at the Visitor Centre, at Thendele camp office and at the main entrance gate. The brochure shows a map of the park and the network of hiking paths which visit every part of the park from the gentle walk to Fairy Glen to the challenging hike up the Crack and down the Mudslide.
Trout fishing at Royal Natal is available in two dams in the park and in the Mahai and Thukela rivers, and picnicking and swimming in the clear mountain streams are popular pastimes.
The award-winning Thendele camp is situated in one of the most picturesque settings in the country, with views of the Amphitheatre from every bungalow. Camping is available at Mahai Campground, catering for 400 campers and caravanners, and at Rugged Glen Campground which accommodates 45 visitors.
The stables at Rugged Glen provide opportunities to ride into the mountains for unique views and sightings of mountain reedbuck and grey rhebuck that seem to have no fear of people on horse back.
ACCOMMODATION
Thendele hutted camp is situated in one of the most picturesque settings in the country with a view of the world famous amphitheatre from every chalet.
The camp nestles below the brooding sandstone cliffs of Dooley among yellowwood forests and protea savannah where visitors can often hear the rumble of boulders in the Thukela river below after a fierce summer thunderstorm.
This beautiful camp has the distinction of being the closest of the KZN Wildlife Berg camps to the main Drakensberg escarpment.
Dominated by the amphitheatre which changes mood with weather and season, often covered in snow in winter or with up to eighteen waterfalls cascading down the vertical cliffs after a storm,
Thendele is a very special place to visit and is KZN Wildlife's most popular camp.Home to the Bearded Vulture(Lammergeyer) and Black Eagle who often disport themselves for visitors in the thermals that rise above the Mont aux Sources plateau, the surounding valleys and ridges offer superb walks through an ever changing landscape with many upland birds and flowers.
The camp, which is split into upper and lower sections, consists of 26 comfortable self contained chalets that accommodate either two or four people each.There are also two delightful 6 bed cottages and the luxurious Thendele Lodge with 3 en-suite bedrooms and other facilities in keeping with 5 star accommodation in its own special space well away from the main camp.
The cottages and the lodge each have their own cook who will prepare delicious meals from the provisions supplied by the visitors.The camp shop has a wide range of curios and sells basic groceries and supplies for visitors convenience.
CAMPING:
Royal Natal has two popular camping grounds which are served by the main Reception Centre which includes a large well stocked curio shop which also sells provisions and alcoholic beverages.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Gate Opening and Closing Times:
Summer ( October to March ) 05h00 to 19h00
Winter (April to September ) 06h00 to 18h00
Office Hours:
The office is open from 08h00 to 12h30 and from 14h00 to 16h30
Distance and Time from Gate to Camp:
3 kms to Mahai campsite and 6 kms to Thendele camp
Camp Telephone Number: (036) 4386310
Campsite Booking Number: (036) 4386303.
Bookings only between 08h00 to 12h30 in the morning and from 14h00 to 15h00 in the afternoon.
Camp Fax: (036) 4386231
Check Out Time: 10h00
Check In Time: 14h00
Shop:
The shop is well stocked with curios and supplies.
Special Precautions:
The weather is subject to change at short notice and hikers should be well equipped and fill in their details in the Mountain Rescue Register.
The nearest town which has a full range of services is Bergville which is 50 kms away.
How to get there:
From the north turn off the N3 just past Ladysmith on to the N11 and proceed to Bergville. The reserve is well signposted from here.
From the south turn off the N3 at the Winterton/Berg Resorts off-ramp and proceed to Bergville.
Pets are not permitted into the reserve.
Concessions:
Education groups from KwaZulu-Natal are admitted free to the reserve.
Facilities for people with disabilities:Limited
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