The Drakensbergs

Or Dragon Mountains; holy moly, they are spectacular. We saw signs for "Little Switzerland" (which actually turned out to be a resort), and while the Drakenbergs aren't the Alps, they are easy on the eyes. 

"Hmmmm, pretty, but maybe not Switzerland." 

This area is quite undeveloped, peppered here and there with family resorts. This is Alpine Heath. Alpine, ha! I do love it. We came a quarter way around the world to stay in a place that likens itself to our actual backyard. However, and this is an important distinction, in was winter in the Real Alps, and summer, summer, summer here.

Because we were staying during the Christmas/summer holidays, it was the busy season. The family resort was jam packed with families. And, mostly "local people;" the question I was asked most often was were we from Jo'burg or Durban? People were flabbergasted that we would come to the Drakensbergs, from the Real Alps. Apparently, their dream vacations involved Table Mountain in Cape Town, so why on earth, considering that we had gotten to Cape Town, had we left? It was a little weird. Different strokes, of course. Two weeks in Cape Town and we would have gone stir crazy. 

But, the place was beautiful, peaceful, and other than when the DJ at the Pool started the day off with Calisthenics at 8am, reasonably quiet. We were happy to chill out and enjoy it.

Hope immediately immersed herself in the resort Kidz Klub where they did Treasure Hunts and assorted games designed to allow the grownups to nap during the day. Or hike, in our case. Tom is not a Treasure Hunt kind of guy, so he headed up the hills with Jeff and I to check out the views. 

We hiked up here for the express purpose of being able to see the "Amphitheatre," which is meant to be a pretty spectacular ridge facing.

The Amphitheatre is widely regarded as one of the most impressive cliff faces on earth. The cliff face of the Amphitheatre is roughly three times the size of the total combined area of all the cliff faces in Yosemite's famous El Capitan, and more than 10 times the size of El Capitan's most famous (South Western) face. It is part of the Royal Natal National Park. Amphitheatre Wiki

 This was our view. Gorgeous. 

 But, this is what Wiki thinks the Amphitheatre looks like: 

I don't think we saw it. Bummer. 

Tom and Jeff did get to go fishing in the local ponds. It was blessed hot, and no fish were caught. In fact, Jeff would have put money on their being no fish in the ponds at all. But since you rent the rods from the Alpine Heath store and have to pay out a few bucks for a fishing license, who are we to question a profit center?

Tom was just happy to have a rod in his hand. Fishing is something he first tried when he was quite young and he's always enjoyed it. Life events prevent us having a regular "fishing hole," but that's one of those things moving to the US will solve.

Can you feel the peace? Summer is my favorite season, and there isn't anything nicer than lying about on a hot summer's day feeling the grass between my toes. Summer holidays when your home base is covered in snow are just the cat's meow. 

Next: Meet Kevin
 

 

Comments

[Karen Briggs]

Missing an 's'. Drakensbergs. My uncle has a vacation place there at M'bona, and I haven't been there for way, way, way too long. Sigh.

[Ellen]

Fixed! This would be exactly why I don't even try to be a travel writers. They are supposed to get things right, whereas I can make it all up as I go along (and quote from Wiki). Thanks!