Tugela Falls South Africa

Tugela Falls is World’s 2^nd highest Waterfall, but some debate about perhaps the tallest waterfall in the world as compared to Angel Falls. There’s a persuasive argument that the Tugela Falls is the tallest waterfall in the world, rather than the more commonly known Angel Falls. Angel Falls, however, is almost universally regarded as having the tallest single drop of any waterfall in the world. Tugela Falls, even though likely the tallest waterfall on Earth, is multi-tiered. Tugela Falls is located in the Drakensberg in the Royal Natal National Park in KwaZulu-Natal Province South Africa. Its total drop in five free-leaping falls is 3,110 ft and one of the most iconic sights in the Drakensberg.

Tugela Falls can be easily viewed after a heavy rain from the main travel road into the park. The stunning reflection in that late afternoon is best part of this falls. There is an undeveloped camp site and mountain hut immediately above the falls. There’re two trails to the Tugela Falls, one is top of Mount-Aux-Source at the Scentinel Car Park, which is fairly easy climb to the top of Amphitheatre, takes approximately four to five hours, and certainly depends upon fitness level. This is the only day hiking trail which leads to the top of the Drakensberg escarpment. The second trail to the Tugela Falls starts Royal Natal National Park, which is seven kilometers gradient up the Tugela Gorge winds though indigenous forest. The final part of the hike to the Tugela Falls is a boulder hop. A slight chain ladder leads over the final stretch for a view of the falls rushing down the amphitheater in a series of five cascades. So Tugela Falls is falling more than 3,000 feet, displaying a magnificent view from top to bottom. Tugela Falls is definitely an easy one to visit, and the park it is in is more beautiful than anything

Hotel in a Real Train

An old abandoned train, parked on Santos beach in the harbor town of Mossel Bay in the Southern Cape of South Africa has been transformed into a good-looking little hotel. It is called “The Santos Express Train Lodge” or simply “Train”, the lodge sits on a pair of abandoned rails approximately 30 meters from the sea. There’re 7 coaches, of which four are same with sleeper compartments, sharing two toilets and a shower. The fifth coach is transformed into a 16 bed dormitory with a self-catering kitchen. The last two coaches are the “Royal Ladies”, are two vintage coaches dating from the early 1920`s, each containing two very roomy suites. In addition, there is a restaurant that serves a good range of traditional South African dishes, like “bobotie” a dish of spicy ground meat with savory custard topping. Santos Express Train Lodge is not a luxurious stay, because every sleeper coach is separated into single, double and budget accommodation units and lodgers share toilets with others boarders, but the toilets and shower are clean. The rooms are miniature except for the Caboose, which has its own bathroom and a private deck. There’re also no lockers on the compartments, so if you have any valuables items, you could deposit them at the front desk for safe storage.

Lions Head South Africa

Lion's Head is a beautiful distinctive shape mountain in Cape Town, South Africa; it is located between Table Mountain and Signal Hill with the peaks of 2195 ft, above sea level. Lions Head peak forms part of a dramatic backdrop to the city of Cape Town and is part of the Table Mountain National Park. The suburbs of the city surround the peak and Signal Hill on almost all sides. The proud lion overlooks the city and Table Bay on one side, and the scenic Atlantic Ocean coastline on the other side.

It’s a great picnic place with the way it’d be scaled Lion's Head the panoramic views of the Mother City and its surrounding coastline were superb. Lion’s Head was famous with Leeuwen Kop (Lion Head’s) in the 17^th century, and Signal Hill was as Leeuwen Staart (Lion’s Tail). Lion's Head shape resembles a crouching lion or a sphinx, and it is famous for outstanding views over the city. This place is famous for the hour long walk to the top is mainly popular during full moon, and slopes are also famous for launching point for paragliders. Hiking Lion's Head at full moon is something that you have to do at least once.

Moreover; the upper part of the peak consists of flat-lying Table Mountain sandstone and the lower slopes are formed by the Cape Granite and the Malmesbury formation, which are older Precambrian rocks. Lion's Head is covered in fynbos with a remarkably rich biodiversity that supports a diversity of small animals. Lion's Head is covered in endangered Granite Fynbos, which fades into Peninsula Shale Renosterveld on the lower slopes towards Signal Hill in the north. Right on the summit of Lion's Head however, is a tiny patch of endangered Sandstone Fynbos, a different ecosystem that is also found nearby on the top of Table Mountain. Lion’s Head is perfect place for viewing sun rising, and sun setting. On a sunny day the views from Lions peak are spectacular and great opportunity for taking photographs of the Cape Peninsula and Robben Island.  

Source: Charismatic Planet

 

Table Mountains South Africa