Tugela River, KwaZulu-Natal

TThe Tugela River, KwaZulu-Natal's largest watercourse, plunges over the Tugela Falls before winding its way from the mighty Drakensberg mountains down to the Indian Ocean. 

At its source the Tugela has carved out a magnificent gorge that can be viewed both from below by hiking up the Tugela River valley and from above by negotiating a chain ladder at the head of the gorge. 

Second only to the Angel Falls in Venezuela, and the highest on the African continent, the Tugela Waterfall cascades 948m over the edge of the Drakensberg mountains, in a series of falls that cut through the Tugela Gorge and valley below en route to the Indian Ocean 502km away. 

The home of the waterfall, in the uKhahlahamba-Drakensberg mountain range, is a World Heritage Site which offers the traveller climbing, hiking, camping, kayaking, paragliding, birding and numerous other activities, apart from the pleasure of appreciating its breathtaking scenery. 

Royal National Park boasts some of the best mountain scenery in Africa, including the world-famous Amphitheatre, a 5km-long, 500m-high rock wall from where the Orange river flows to the Atlantic Ocean. 

The Tugela Waterfall – comprising a series of 5 cascades – was named by local Zulus. ‘Thukela’, the Zulu spelling, means ‘the startling one’, a testament to a truly awesome natural spectacle that’s located at the end of a long, uphill hike through the gorge of the same name. 

To really appreciate the waterfall, try the hike from the Sentinel car park at the base of the Amphitheatre to the summit at Mount-aux-Sources. This will take around 5 hours, but it’s not suitable for the unfit or for small children. 

The second option leads hikers from the Royal National Park grounds up the Tugela Valley following a contour path flanking the river. It gradually ascends to the Tugela Gorge and the waterfall itself. On reaching the gorge, the final part of the hike is carried out by means of a chain ladder to the very top. This extra push is well worth the panoramic view of the surrounding mountains that only the Drakensberg can provide. 

In the 1800s the Tugela River formed a natural border between the Zulu Kingdom to the northeast and the Colony of Natal to the south. 

British forces were responsible for the construction of Fort Pearson and Fort Tenedos about 10 kilometres from the river mouth in 1879. The two forts remain as a testament to a more turbulent past and provide an interesting historical detour. 

As the Tugela River winds its way through the small rural towns of Colenso and Bergville, a number of monuments and memorials mark the sites of bloody battles fought between colonial forces and resident farmers. At Kranskop, on the edge the river valley, you'll encounter the remains of Fort Buckingham, a remnant of the Anglo-Zulu War. 

The dark military memories that are so much part of the largest river in KwaZulu-Natal are more than offset by the peace and tranquillity to be found along its upper reaches. 

On its southern bank lies the Harold Johnson Nature Reserve, where more than 200 bird species have been recorded and game viewing is at its best. Take advantage of a number of hiking trails that take you into the territory of zebra, mongoose, monkey and a variety of antelope roaming freely in their natural habitat. 

The Tugela Private Game Reserve showcases wildlife including elephant, wildebeest, warthog, hyena and buck species. Birders will delight in the presence of ground hornbills and ostrich.