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The wheels of the car glide along the roads of the South African entrails gently, without too much haste. On the other side of the window the landscape mutates every few kilometers. From green to brown and from brown to red: nature knows what to do to conquer us in this corner where the mountains rise between caves and streams and the vertiginous peaks emerge determined to touch the clouds. Where valleys give rivers and vomit waterfalls.
We are in the mountains of Drakensberg, in the province of KwaZulu Natal, "lands that, although apparently unknown, have been inhabited by man for more than 5,000 years," says Shiny Bright, British based in South Africa since the decade of the 70 and official tourist guide. And to corroborate it, keep an eye on the data: "In them more than 35,000 cave paintings of the San people, the first settlers of the area are preserved." Little more to add.
These summits expand over 200 kilometers in a territory that functions as a natural border with the neighboring kingdom of Lesotho . A space that houses peaks over three thousand meters high and was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 2000 . The name of this mountain range, the highest in all of South Africa, by the way, and whose cliffs are among the most impressive in the world, was awarded by the first Dutch settlers there by the seventeenth century. But it is when translating it when everything begins to make sense: "Dragon Mountain", they called it.
Inspiration for JRR Tolkien
We already said that something magical had this place ... So much, that JRR Tolkien himself ended up marveling at his landscapes to the point of being inspired by them to create his most outstanding work: The Lord of the Rings . To discover the heart of this beautiful enclave we set out in search of its greatest treasures. Starting with the landscape, which cries out for us to tie our trekking boots tightly and explore it on any of its hiking trails.
The mountaineers, who were encouraged to climb their tops for the first time just fifty years ago, found in their breathtaking landscapes of sandstone and basalt one of the largest paradises on the continent. Reaching summits such as Cathedral's Peak , the Giants Castle or the Mount-Aux-Sources are great goals.
The base camp can be established in the small town of Clarens , a refuge between mountains with the backdrop Maluti. It displays a handful of streets full of shops specialized in mountain equipment, the occasional bar where you can enjoy a beer after an intense day of walking and refined art galleries where local artists exhibit their work. It is also the ideal place to encourage us to know the surroundings with any activity of active tourism. Routes in quad, on horseback, rafting or zip line? Choosing what motivates more is already a matter of taste.
A good bowl of hot coffee next to a bonfire is the best way to face the wait before the climax: in this corner of the world, first thing in the morning, the cold is noticeable. "We dared to start the business in 2012, although we have been competing in a balloon for a lifetime," says Dave, in charge of Drakensberg Ballooning, a family business that helps fulfill the dream of flying over the most beautiful landscapes in a hot air balloon.
A FERTILE EARTH
Soon the immense colored fabric begins to take shape and, before we know it, we have taken off. An intense tingling then takes over our stomachs while the balloon begins to gain height. The mist grips the earth fiercely and the world looks before us as it is. Suddenly, the miracle occurs: the Drakensberg are splendid confirming what we already know, this is pure magic.
An hour later, in the middle of a field of cultivation and with a smile that does not fit on the face, it is time to toast with champagne for the success of the experience. Because the Drakensberg are not only contemplated: they are also tasted. And to do so, what better way to visit one of the wineries installed in the area. We stay with Cathedral Peak Wine Estate, where up to four different grape vines ripen in 29 hectares of vineyards : Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Petit Verdot and Sauvignon Blanc give color and flavor to some wines that, perhaps because of the surroundings in the We tried them, but they taste like glory.
The quality of the land, fertile as few, and the climate of the area, with mild summers and cold winters, are perfect for growing these varieties. The rest of the ingredients are put by the winery families, who carefully complete a process of years of maturation that culminates with an explosion of taste on the palate: there is no better way to end this report.
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