The best waterfalls in South Africa

Most waterfalls you just look at. Tugela Falls, you earn.

It sits at the northern end of the Drakensberg range, inside Royal Natal National Park in South Africa, dropping about 948 meters down the escarpment in a series of stages. Depending on which measurement you trust, that makes it the second-highest waterfall in the world. But the falls themselves aren't really the point of going — the hike to the top is.

I did this in early April, and it's one of those days I still think about.

Inside Augrabies Falls National Park there is a waterfall called Augrabies Falls. The entrance fee is 293 ZAR (around 120 CNY). At the entrance, security will register your details and give you a form. You take this form to the reception inside the park to pay for your ticket. When you leave, you will receive a receipt which needs to be shown again to security at the exit.

There are three viewing platforms for the waterfall. Inside the park, there are also some wild animals, but you need a 4WD vehicle to explore properly, as the roads are gravel and sandy. Small cars are not suitable for these routes. I saw a few baboons and dassies, and there are also some quiver trees along the roadside.

There is no public transport. It takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes to drive from Upington one way. Accommodation is available inside the park, starting from 1,589 ZAR (around 652 CNY) per night, with higher-priced options as well. Unless you are very interested in the area, it is probably not necessary to stay overnight here. The park is located in the far northwestern part of South Africa, close to the Namibian border.