Tugela Falls — South Africa

About this spectacle

Tugela Falls plunges in a dramatic series of cascades down the sheer basalt cliffs of the Drakensberg Amphitheatre, widely regarded as the world's second-tallest waterfall. The falls are most spectacular during and after the summer rainy season, when meltwater and rainfall send white ribbons of water tumbling over the escarpment into the valley far below. Hikers ascending the Royal Natal National Park trails are rewarded with increasingly dramatic vantage points as they climb toward the rim of the Amphitheatre. The surrounding landscape is vast and raw — towering orange and grey cliffs sweep across the horizon, while the valley below stretches into blue haze. Wind and mist from the falls can be felt at close approach points, and the sound of rushing water echoes off the stone walls. Early morning light catches the spray and turns it golden, making the descent particularly photogenic.

When to go

Jan — Dec, peak Dec — Mar

Getting there

Nearest airport: DUR. Nearest city: Ladysmith.

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