Saturday, October 22, 2011

PICTURESQUE DRAKENSBERG

(The cover of the satchel/handbag handy book)

Beautiful photographs trace mountainous sanctuary of towering peaks and deep gorges. (Review by Janet Whelan)

Picturesque Drakensberg by Sue Derwent is a delightful little book describing the 2,428 km2 uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, which was declared a World Heritage Site in 2000, and extends 300 km along the border between Lesotho and South Africa. In a series of beautiful photographs by Shaen Aedy, it traces this mountainous sanctuary of towering peaks and deep gorges from Bergville in the north through Cathedral Peak, Sani Pass, down to Underberg and then to the Midlands Meander, which stretches from Pietermaritzburg to Estcourt.

The photographs cover the rich landscape, ancient San rock art, people of the region, places of interest and flora and fauna found in this spectacular area. Text containing a wealth of information in English, German and French appear alongside the photographs. To guide the reader there is a comprehensive map at the back of the book covering the area from the Sterkfontein Dam and Nature Reserve down to Pietermaritzburg.

Picturesque Drakensberg by Sue Derwent is published in 2011 by Struik Travel & Heritage (an imprint of Random House Struik (Pty) Ltd). ISBN 9781770078826 Recommended retail price R100.00.- Janet Whelan.