CENTRAL DRAK - TUGELA & BATTLEFIELDS

mountain biking & rafting adventures

With the Drakensberg Mountains lying in stark contrast to the thorny bush veld of the Tugela Valley, this central KwaZulu-Natal landscape is a fascinating mix of Anglo-Boer history, wide open spaces and deep-gorged rivers.

The legacy of the violent struggles fought between the English, Boers and Zulus, is very apparent in the area, with dozens of war memorials, museums and battle sites paying homage to these bloody battles. But aside from the turbulent memories that lie quietly in the KZN dust, the Tugela Valley is an exciting and some what under-utilised active holiday destination.

Mountain biking in the Tugela Valley is a unique experience, being that much of the terrain traverses private game reserve. Zapping down red earth trails with paper bark trees edging the view, one feels like an early pioneer in "the heart of Africa". With Active Escape's Tugela River Mountain Bike Tours, guests are able to test themselves with trails ranging from 40 to 60km a day of jeep, farm and single-track riding. Staying in bush-lodge accommodation, the vibe is relaxed with enough time to float on a tube down the river, or kick-back under an Acacia, beer in hand, reminiscing about the single-track of the day.

Of course, carving the Tugela Valley ever-deeper is the mighty Tugela River. After plummeting from the top of the Drakensberg Mountains down into the lower Berg, the Tugela River winds its way into central KwaZulu-Natal and becomes the life-source of the fertile land that surrounds it.

Active Escapes offer close up and personal interaction with this formidable river, in the form of white river rafting adventure getaways.