Northern
Drakensberg
-
Royal Natal
- Cathedral Peak
- Bergville
-
Ladysmith
- Oliviershoek
- Van Reenen
Central Drakensberg
- Monks Cowl
- Champagne Valley
- Injasuti
- Giants Castle
- Highmoor
- Kamberg
- Winterton
- Estcourt
- Mooi River
- Weenen
Southern Drakensberg
- Lotheni
- Vergelegen
- Sani Pass
- Cobham
- Bushmans Nek
- Drakensberg Gardens
- Underberg
- Himeville
Natal Midlands
- Rosetta
- Nottingham Road
- Balgowan
- Howick
- Lidgetton
- Currys Post
- Karkloof
- Lions River
- Fort Nottingham
- Hilton
- Dargle
Drakensberg Attractions
- Bushman Rock
Art
- Hiking Trails
- Hot air
ballooning
- Horse trails
- Helicopter & Microlight
flights
- Restaurants
- Arts & Crafts
- Drakensberg
Boys Choir
- Canopy Tours
- Midlands Meander
- Fly Fishing
- Game Viewing
- Golf
- White Water rafting
- Birding
-
Quad Biking
- 4x4 Offroad trails
- Battlefield Tours
- Wine Tasting
- Museums
- Bicycle tours
- Abseiling
- Wellness & Spas
Weddings
Conferences
Drakensberg Links

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Lotheni - Southern Drakensberg
Lotheni is situated in the southern section of the Natal Drakensberg Park
The Lotheni Nature Reserve is situated within a remote section of the Ukhahlamba
Drakensberg Park and is noted for its magnificent scenery and beautiful camp.
Visitors to the Lotheni area are provided with many scenic walking trails,
which are suitable all ages. The Emadundwini Trail is a circular route covering
11.8km, crossing a number of small streams and traveling up a steep incline.
This trail is highly recommended as it allows for spectacular views of the
Drakensberg. Other trails in the Lotheni Nature Reserve include the Eagle,
Falls, Canyon, Jacobs Ladder and the historically interesting Gelib Tree
Trail.
The Gelib tree stands in the reserve as a reminder of an incident which occurred
during the second world war, near the Ethiopian settlement of Gelib. An officer
of the 1st Royal Natal Carbineers named Captain Charles Eustice, who fought
in what was then Italian Somaliland, collected a few seeds of an Acacia tree.
The seed was planted by Eustice many years later on his farm which became
part of the Lotheni Nature Reserve. The seed was planted in memory of thirteen
carbineers who were ambushed during the campaign to capture Gelib, which
was held by Italian forces at the time.
Wildlife to be seen in the park includes such species as common and mountain
reedbuck, grey rhebuck, eland, grey duiker and oribi. There is a diversity
of birds, which includes black storks, black eagles, bearded vultures, lanner
falcons, Cape vultures and giant kingfishers, to name but a few. Birdwatching
in the area is also a popular activity amongst visitors, with a bird list
of 172 species. A Mountain biking trail is also featured in the reserve.
Approximately 14km long and rated as moderate in difficulty, the trail travels
past the historical Gelib Tree site and returns along the tarred road. On
a good warm day it's essential to stop for a swim at the magnificent Cool
Pools. Trout fishing at Lotheni has also gained much popularity, with 16kms
of the Lotheni river stocked with brown trout, and available for fly fishermen
to test their skill. Although somewhat chilly, swimming in the Lotheni River
is safe unless it is in flood , and there is a very good swimming spot approximately
1km below the camp. |