Royal Natal National Park | |
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Location | KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
Nearest city | Harrismith |
Coordinates | 28°41′20″S 28°56′42″E / 28.689°S 28.945°E |
Area | 80.94 km2 (31.25 sq mi) |
Established | 16 september 1916[1] |
Governing body | Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife |
Royal Natal National Park is a 80.94-square-kilometre (31.25 sq mi)[2] park in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa and forms part of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[2] Notwithstanding the name, it is actually not a South African National Park managed by the SANParks, but rather a Provincial Park managed by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. This park is now included in the Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation Area, a Peace Park.
The Drakensberg Mountains 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.[3]
The main features of the park are the Drakensberg Amphitheatre, a rock wall 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) long and up to 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) high, Mont-Aux-Sources peak where the Orange and Tugela rivers have their source,[4] and the 948-metre (3,110 ft) Tugela Falls, the world's tallest waterfall.[5] A distinctive rock feature and popular hiking destination in the park is the so-called "Policeman's Helmet".