Drakensberg
Eastern Great Escarpment forming the highest mountains in southern Africa.
The Drakensberg is the eastern portion of the Great Escarpment, which encloses the central Southern African plateau. It stretches for more than 1,000 kilometers from the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa, forming borders between Lesotho and several South African provinces, and extending north through Mpumalanga into Limpopo.
- Length
- More than 1,000 km (600 miles)
- Location
- Eastern portion of the Great Escarpment, South Africa and Lesotho
- Names
- Zulu: uKhahlamba; Sotho: Maloti; Afrikaans: Drakensberge
- Geological composition
- Varies: quartzite (Transvaal Supergroup), Ecca shales, Beaufort rocks, basalt, Clarens sandstone
Lore & Background
The Drakensberg escarpment stretches for more than 1,000 kilometers from the Eastern Cape Province in the south, starting at the Baziya mountains and just outside Tsolo. It successively forms the border between Lesotho and the Eastern Cape, then between Lesotho and KwaZulu-Natal, then between KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State, and finally between KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. The escarpment winds north through Mpumalanga, including features such as the Blyde River Canyon, Three Rondavels, and God's Window, then extends to Hoedspruit in Limpopo (known as 'Klein Drakensberg'), and west to Tzaneen, where it is known as the Wolkberg Mountains and Iron Crown Mountain.
Reader's Guide
The Drakensberg is significant as the highest portion of the Great Escarpment, which encloses the central Southern African plateau. The rivers that run from the Drakensberg are an essential resource for South Africa's economy, providing water for the industrial provinces of Mpumalanga and Gauteng. The high treeless peaks (from 2,500 meters upward) form the Drakensberg alti-montane grasslands and woodlands ecoregion, while the grassy lower slopes (1,800 to 2,500 meters) constitute the Drakensberg montane grasslands, woodlands, and forests ecoregion. The escarpment's geology varies considerably along its length, with different rock types including quartzite, Ecca shales, Beaufort rocks, basalt, and Clarens sandstone.
Did You Know?
- The Afrikaans name Drakensberge comes from the name the earliest Dutch settlers gave to the escarpment, meaning 'Dragons' Mountains'.
- The highest portion of the Great Escarpment is known in Zulu as uKhahlamba and in Sotho as Maloti, meaning 'Barrier of up-pointed spears'.
- The Drakensberg escarpment stretches for more than 1,000 kilometers from the Eastern Cape Province to Limpopo Province.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Drakensberg?
Drakensberg is the eastern segment of the Great Escarpment that encircles the central Southern African plateau. It stretches over 1,000 kilometers, serving as the natural border between Lesotho and several South African provinces from the Eastern Cape northward into Limpopo.
How long is the Drakensberg range?
The range extends for more than 1,000 kilometers (roughly 600 miles) along the eastern rim of the Southern African plateau. It covers territory across multiple South African provinces and the full eastern edge of Lesotho.
What are the local names for Drakensberg?
In Zulu the range is called uKhahlamba, while Sotho speakers refer to it as Maloti. The Afrikaans name is Drakensberge, and all three names are used interchangeably depending on the region.
More in Mountains And Mountain Ranges 1-24
Elsewhere in the Mountains And Mountain Ranges universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record