Thukela Waterfall, KwaZulu-Natal

Hike up the stunningly beautiful Thukela Gorge to the waterfall at its head and take in some of the most stunning panoramic views from the plateau of KwaZulu-Natal's Drakensberg mountains, looking down into the hinterland – this is prime photography material.



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



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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 and the Thukela River cascades down towards the Indian Ocean.



The Thukela Waterfall – comprising a series of 5 cascades – was named by local Zulus. "Thukela" or "tugela" 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 truly 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.



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The second option leads hikers from the Royal National Park grounds up the Thukela Valley following a contour path flanking the river. It gradually ascends to the Thukela 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.