Maloti-Drakensberg Park
A transfrontier World Heritage Site spanning Lesotho and South Africa, this mountain wilderness preserves Africa’s most extensive rock art gallery alongside pristine alpine ecosystems and exceptional biodiversity.
At a glance
Established in 2001, the Maloti-Drakensberg Park unites the Sehlabathebe National Park in Lesotho with the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The park covers approximately 8,113 square kilometres—64% in Lesotho, 36% in South Africa. Thaba Ntlenyana, the highest peak, rises to 3,482 metres.
History
The park was conceived as a peace park, officially joining two national parks across an international boundary. The region has long been significant to the San people (Bushmen), who created the hundreds of rock art sites now documented throughout the mountains.
What you see
The Drakensberg Mountains form the highest areas in the sub-region, creating dramatic escarpments and alpine landscapes. The park contains the world’s greatest gallery of rock art, with hundreds of sites and thousands of images painted across rock shelters and outcrops. Montane and sub-alpine ecosystems dominate the terrain, supporting distinctive habitats found nowhere else.
Cultural significance
The rock art represents an irreplaceable record of San culture and artistic achievement. The paintings span centuries and offer insights into hunter-gatherer spiritual beliefs, social structures and daily life. The park’s biodiversity is globally significant, with exceptionally high levels of plant and animal endemism—species found nowhere else on Earth.
Key facts
- Location: Lesotho & KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Coordinates: 29.3939°E, 29.4665°S
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: Inscribed 11 June 2001
- Area: 8,113 km²
- Highest peak: Thaba Ntlenyana, 3,482 m
- Designation: Transfrontier Conservation and Development Area
Practical information & getting there
The park straddles two countries; access depends on which section you intend to visit. Sehlabathebe National Park in Lesotho and uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park in South Africa each have their own visitor facilities and entry points. Rock art sites require guided tours in some areas; consult local park management before visiting.
Sources & resources
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