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National park · Bergville, KwaZulu-Natal
Royal Natal e o Anfiteatro
Northern Drakensberg park with the Amphitheatre, a cliff about 5 km wide, and the Tugela Falls, which drop about 948 metres in several stages.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Royal Natal e o Anfiteatro
Royal Natal National Park lies in the northern Drakensberg, about 45 km from Bergville, and is part of the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park. Its name comes from a visit by the British royal family in 1947. The landscape is dominated by the Amphitheatre, a basalt cliff about 5 km wide and over a thousand metres high, between the Sentinel and Eastern Buttress peaks.
From the top of the Amphitheatre plunges the Tugela Falls, with about 948 metres of total drop in five stages, considered among the highest in the world. The Tugela River rises nearby on the Mont-aux-Sources plateau and flows to the Indian Ocean.
The park’s best-known trail is the Tugela Gorge route, about 7 km one way, which follows the river through forest and fields to a stone tunnel at the foot of the Amphitheatre, with views of the falls. There are shorter trails too, like Fairy Glen and Otto's Walk, which pass shelters with San rock art.
In summer the falls usually carry more water; in winter they sometimes freeze at the top.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
From half a day to a full day.
Best time
Early in the morning, before summer storms. Spring and autumn usually have clearer skies.
How to get there
From Bergville, follow about 45 km via the R74 and the Royal Natal road to the gate. Pay the conservation fee at the entrance.
Tip
For the gorge trail, bring shoes that can get wet: at the end you need to cross the river on rocks.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Royal Natal e o Anfiteatro
What is the height of the Tugela Falls?
About 948 metres of total drop, in five stages.
What is Royal Natal's best-known trail?
The Tugela Gorge trail, about 7 km one way, to a stone tunnel at the foot of the Amphitheatre.
What is the Amphitheatre?
A basalt cliff about 5 km wide in the northern Drakensberg, from which the Tugela Falls drop.