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WINTER | 2014
RCI.co.za
a vast meteor crater where avid walkers can
stretch their legs, is also in the Free State.
KWAZULU-NATAL
he
Drakensberg
– also a World Heritage
Site – is considered to be the largest
outdoor art gallery in the world. Not
in the usual way, but for its vast collection of
ancient Bushman rock art on the walls of caves
and overhangs. The sacred eland and human
figures are most often depicted in their art.
Beautiful examples can be seen at the open-
air Bushman Cave Museum at Giant’s Castle,
which has about 500 rock art paintings believed
to be over 800 years old. The Cathedral Peak
area has over 8 800 paintings across about
130 sites, and the Sigubudu Valley near Royal
Natal National Park boasts some of the rarest
rock art to be seen. This is just the beginning of
over 35 000 known rock art images in the Berg.
Possibly the best known amble route of all in
South Africa, the
Midlands Meander
truly
has something for every interest. Nature lovers
can wonder at the 95m high Howick Falls
or go fly fishing near the picturesque little
town of Nottingham Road. Foodies can
taste delectable goat’s cheese at the family
run Swissland Cheesery, while adrenaline
junkies can do daring zip-line rides through
the forest canopy and under a waterfall at
Karkloof Forest Reserve near Howick. History
lovers may be interested to visit the Nelson
Mandela capture site, along the R301 road just
outside Howick. This site, where Mandela was
arrested in 1962, is marked with a massive
sculpture of steel columns which when
viewed together depict Mandela’s face. There’s
a small museum nearby too, with additional
information on the event.
St Lucia, or Isimangaliso Wetland Park,
is
another World Heritage Site that attracts both
wildlife and humans to enjoy its offerings.
There’s gameviewing by boat from waterlevel
on the lake, plentiful hikes and walks to
enjoy too. Or there is also boat-based whale
watching with licensed operators.
Wide open spaces and soaring mountains: the Drakensberg is a world heritage site.
T
Photo: Thinkstock
