Amphitheatre (Drakensberg)
Encyclopedia
Drakensberg
The Drakensberg is the highest mountain range in Southern Africa, rising to in height. In Zulu, it is referred to as uKhahlamba , and in Sesotho as Maluti...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, and 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
El Capitan
El Capitan is a vertical rock formation in Yosemite National Park, located on the north side of Yosemite Valley, near its western end. The granite monolith extends about from base to summit along its tallest face, and is one of the world's favorite challenges for rock climbers.The formation was...
, and more than 10 times the size of El Capitan
El Capitan
El Capitan is a vertical rock formation in Yosemite National Park, located on the north side of Yosemite Valley, near its western end. The granite monolith extends about from base to summit along its tallest face, and is one of the world's favorite challenges for rock climbers.The formation was...
's most famous (South Western) face. It is part of the Royal Natal National Park
Royal Natal National Park
The Royal Natal National Park is located in the KwaZulu Natal province of South Africa and forms part of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site...
.
The Amphitheatre is over 5 km (3.107 mi) in length and has precipitous cliffs rising approximately 1220 m (4000 ft) along its entire length . The bottom of the valley floor, from where many photographs of the mountain structure are taken, is over 1830 m (6000 ft) below the highest point of the amphitheatre (the summit being over 3050 m (10000 ft) above sea level - with Mont Aux Sources just over 3254 m (10678 ft) above sea level). The Tugela Falls
Tugela Falls
Tugela Falls is the world's second highest waterfall. The total drop in five free-leaping falls is . They are located in the Drakensberg in the Royal Natal National Park in KwaZulu-Natal Province, Republic of South Africa. They are easily viewed after a heavy rain from the main travel road into...
, the world's second tallest falls, plunge over 948 m (3110 ft) from the Amphitheatre's cliff tops.
The spectacularly beautiful mountain hiking trail to the top of Mount-Aux-Sources starts at the Sentinel car park at Witsieshoek, over 2500 m (8200 ft) above sea level, via Phuthadjhaba from where it is a relatively short climb to the top of the Amphitheatre. Via two chain ladders one can can gain easy access to the summit. The trip takes only 5 hours return, not including time taken on top of the mountain. This is the only day hiking trail which will take one to the top of the Drakensberg escarpment, and the view from the top is reputed to be amongst the most beautiful in the world.
Another trail to the foot of the Tugela Falls starts at Royal Natal National Park. The easy seven kilometre gradient up the Tugela gorge winds though indigenous forests. The last part of the hike to the Tugela Falls is a boulder hop. A little chain ladder takes one over the final stretch from where there is a stunning view of the falls rushing down the Amphitheatre in a series of five spectacular cascades.
The Tugela Falls, which is situated at the top of the Amphitheatre is said to be the highlight of Drakensberg. The start of this mountain hiking trail, which summits to the top of Mount-Aux-Sources begins at the Sentinel car park at Witsieshoek, from where it is a relatively fairly short climb to reach the top of the Aphitheatre. Via two chain ladders one is able to reach the summit, within 5 hours. It is a one day hiking trail to reach the top of the Drakensberg escarpment.
In 1964, film director Cy Endfield
Cy Endfield
Cyril Raker Endfield was an American screenwriter, film director, theatre director, author, magician and inventor, based in Britain from 1953.- Biography :...
shot the exterior locations in the mountainous Drakensberg National Park for the epic war film Zulu
Zulu (film)
Zulu is a 1964 historical war film depicting the Battle of Rorke's Drift between the British Army and the Zulus in January 1879, during the Anglo-Zulu War....
starring Michael Caine
Michael Caine
Sir Michael Caine, CBE is an English actor. He won Academy Awards for best supporting actor in both Hannah and Her Sisters and The Cider House Rules ....
and Stanley Baker
Stanley Baker
Sir Stanley Baker was a Welsh actor and film producer.-Early career:William Stanley Baker was born in Ferndale, Rhondda Valley, Wales. In the mid-1930s his parents moved to London, where Baker spent most of his formative years...
. The set for the British field hospital and supply depot at Rorke's Drift was created by the Tugela River with the Amphitheatre in the background. The real location of the battle was 60 miles (96.6 km) to the north west near the isolated hill at Isandwhana
Battle of Isandlwana
The Battle of Isandlwana on 22 January 1879 was the first major encounter in the Anglo-Zulu War between the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom...
.
See also
- DrakensbergDrakensbergThe Drakensberg is the highest mountain range in Southern Africa, rising to in height. In Zulu, it is referred to as uKhahlamba , and in Sesotho as Maluti...
- Tugela FallsTugela FallsTugela Falls is the world's second highest waterfall. The total drop in five free-leaping falls is . They are located in the Drakensberg in the Royal Natal National Park in KwaZulu-Natal Province, Republic of South Africa. They are easily viewed after a heavy rain from the main travel road into...
- Royal Natal National ParkRoyal Natal National ParkThe Royal Natal National Park is located in the KwaZulu Natal province of South Africa and forms part of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site...