Royal Natal National Park

Lore & Background

The Drakensberg Mountains within the park were once the hunting ground of the San people (bushmen). Though the San no longer live in the area, they recorded their exploits in the form of remarkable rock paintings. The park's main feature is the Drakensberg Amphitheatre, a rock wall 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) long and up to 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) high.

Reader's Guide

Royal Natal National Park holds significance as a component of the larger uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and as part of the Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation Area, a Peace Park. Its management by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife rather than SANParks distinguishes it administratively. The park preserves the legacy of the San people through their rock paintings, which document their historical presence in the Drakensberg Mountains. The dramatic natural features—the Drakensberg Amphitheatre, Mont-Aux-Sources, and Tugela Falls—make it a notable destination for hiking and nature observation. The inclusion in a transfrontier conservation area underscores its role in cross-border ecological cooperation. The park's relatively small size (80.94 km²) belies its concentrated geological and cultural importance.

Did You Know?

• Royal Natal National Park is not a South African National Park but a Provincial Park managed by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.
• The park contains the Drakensberg Amphitheatre, a rock wall 5 km long and up to 1,200 m high.
• Tugela Falls, within the park, is 948 metres (3,110 ft) high.
• The park is part of the Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation Area, a Peace Park.