Tugela Falls
Tugela is the world’s second highest waterfall after Angel, located in the Royal Natal National Park in South Africa. With a water fall height of 948 meters, Tugela is a beautiful sight from top to bottom. The water falls down in a narrow ribbon from the Dragon Mountains and consists of five cascades. The height of the uninterrupted water fall of the tallest of them is 411 meters. It is a fairly thin waterfall with a width of about 15 meters and an average water volume of about 50 cubic feet per second.
General Information
Tugela Falls are clearly visible after heavy rain or at the end of the day, glistening from the reflection of the sun. In winter, the top of the waterfall is often covered with snow, and sometimes it can turn into ice itself – a very beautiful sight, pleasing to the eye. The river of the same name, which feeds the falls, is the largest river in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. It originates at the top of a mountain called Mont Aux Sources, a few kilometers from where the water falls downhill. The landform of Mont Aux Sources resembles an amphitheater. The river winds its way through the interior of the province of KwaZulu-Natal after the fall and flows into the Indian Ocean. The total length of the river is 512 kilometers.
.Traveling on foot to the falls is the best way to experience Tugela. It is possible to climb it yourself or take an organized guided tour, which can be booked with the Royal Natal National Park, where it is located. Visitors can take advantage of several paved trails to view the falls.
.The two routes most popular with tourists are the one from the Witsieshoek parking lot and the one from the Royal Natal National Park. The journey from the Witsieshoek parking lot takes about 5 hours round trip. There is a relatively short climb up the path first, with two suspended metal ladders at the very top to get to the very top, which provides the most beautiful view.
.The route from Royal Natal National Park is almost eight kilometers long and takes a full day to complete. The trail leads first to the Tugela Gorge, then it winds through the forest and leads to the foot of the waterfall, another beautiful sight. Information on how to get to and from Tugela Falls is available from most hotels in South Africa.
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Beautiful views and interesting graphic images of Bushmen (South African gatherer-hunters) are found along the way to the falls. In addition to organized tours and paved routes to the falls, visitors can find many other additional rewarding activities in the area. The area is home to nature reserves and national parks, so anyone interested in geography, wildlife and history will be completely satisfied.
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