Royal Natal National Park 
Between the Mont-aux-Sources Hotel and the mountain from which it takes its name extends the Royal Natal National Park, which along with the adjoining Rugged Glen National Park has an area of 8,800ha/22,000 ac. This grandiose mountain region was declared a National Park in 1906: the "Royal" was added after a royal visit in 1947. The most striking scenic feature in the Royal Natal National Park is the Amphitheater in the southern part of the park.
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Must-see attractions nearby:
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This is a mountain wall 5km/3mi long which at some points falls vertically down for more than 500m/1,640ft. The best place for a photograph is Tendele camp, and the best time is in the morning: in the afternoon the rock face is in shadow. At its west end is the Sentinel (3165m/10,384ft, at its east end the Eastern Buttress (3047m/9,997ft. The Tugela River plunges down 800m/2,625ft in a series of cascades, forming South Africa's highest waterfall.
The vegetation in the National Park is very varied. Among the commonest species of animals are black wildebeests, mountain reedbucks, rheboks, blesboks, klipspringers and baboons. Over 180 species of birds have been recorded, including crowned eagles, bearded vultures, Cape vultures and jackal falcons.
There are more than 30 waymarked hiking trails in the National Park. An attractive short walk is the 4km/2.5mi long Otto Walk; the longest route is the Mont-aux-Sources Trail, a round trip of 45km/28mi which calls for fitness but not mountaineering skills. This begins in the center of the park, runs through the Tendele camp and past the Mahai Falls and finally climbs to the crest of the Amphitheater on two chain ladders with 100 steps. One of the finest walks, not unduly strenuous (22km/14mi there and back), is to the Tugela Gorge, where the Tugela flows through a narrow tunnel. Detailed information about the various walks can be obtained in the visitor center on the road into the National Park (1km/75mi beyond the entrance), where there is also a small museum.
The vegetation in the National Park is very varied. Among the commonest species of animals are black wildebeests, mountain reedbucks, rheboks, blesboks, klipspringers and baboons. Over 180 species of birds have been recorded, including crowned eagles, bearded vultures, Cape vultures and jackal falcons.
There are more than 30 waymarked hiking trails in the National Park. An attractive short walk is the 4km/2.5mi long Otto Walk; the longest route is the Mont-aux-Sources Trail, a round trip of 45km/28mi which calls for fitness but not mountaineering skills. This begins in the center of the park, runs through the Tendele camp and past the Mahai Falls and finally climbs to the crest of the Amphitheater on two chain ladders with 100 steps. One of the finest walks, not unduly strenuous (22km/14mi there and back), is to the Tugela Gorge, where the Tugela flows through a narrow tunnel. Detailed information about the various walks can be obtained in the visitor center on the road into the National Park (1km/75mi beyond the entrance), where there is also a small museum.
