Two things sit close together inland of Durban: the uKhahlamba Drakensberg escarpment, a World Heritage Site, and the roadside near Howick where Nelson Mandela was arrested in August 1962, now marked by Marco Cianfanelli’s sculpture of fifty steel columns that resolve into his face from one exact spot.
A day tour pairs them because they are on the same road and because the combination works: an hour of mountains and an hour of the moment that began twenty-seven years in prison. It is a long day of driving for the amount of walking involved, which suits some travellers and not others.
What to check before you book
- How much of the day is driving — the berg is two to three hours from Durban
- Whether entry to the capture site museum is included
- Which part of the Drakensberg: Kamberg, Giant’s Castle and Champagne Valley are very different days
- Walking involved, and whether there is any
- Whether lunch is included
See our Drakensberg accommodation if you would rather stay up there than drive back.
