Tugela Falls

Slender Tugela Falls gracefully bisecting the mountainside, Royal Natal National Park, South Africa
Slender Tugela Falls gracefully bisecting the mountainside, Royal Natal National Park, South Africa

NEED TO KNOW

LOCATION Tugela Falls is found in Royal Natal National Park, in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa

MAXIMUM HEIGHT 3,107 ft (947 m)

DAYTIME TEMPERATURES Jan: 73°F (23°C); Apr: 61°F (16°C); Jul: 48°F (9°C); Oct: 64°F (18°C)

The highest falls in Africa and the second highest in the world (outdone only by Venezuela’s Angel Falls), Tugela plunges in a single fine cascade from the topmost escarpment of the awesome Drakensberg Mountains. Surrounded by a great bowl of rocky red cliff faces known as the Amphitheatre, the falls boast one of the most memorable locations on the planet.

Tugela can be seen from the road, but there are also two trails that lead right to the cascades. The first of these is the spectacular Mont-aux-Sources path, which climbs to the very top of the falls and the Drakensberg escarpment, while the second, less- strenuous trail heads to the base of the falls.

Practical Information

Getting There The best way to access Tugela Falls is to fly to Johannesburg and then drive to Royal Natal National Park.

When to Go Visit in the cool, dry months (Jun–Sep). Water volumes aren’t part of the appeal of these falls, so it makes sense to avoid the wet season.

Leave a Comment