Kamberg nestles in the foothills of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park, its central position ideal for visits to many other well known Berg areas from Lotheni to Giants Castle. Kamberg is a delightful spot in it's own right with three attractive picnic sites near the river and trout dams which provide a relaxing alternative to the scenic attractions of the many well maintained walks in the area.
There are a number of self guided trails from the camp, one of which is suitable for handicapped visitors. As well as in the Mooi River, trout fishing can also be enjoyed in several dams which are open to anglers, all year round. Close to Kamberg are the trophy trout fishing dams of Highmoor, which must be booked in advance. Kamberg's trout hatchery is well worth a visit and is open to the public on a daily basis There iare magnificent rock art shelters in Game Pass and there is a guided walk up to the caves to view the rich legacy of San Rock Art..
AT A GLANCE
- Accommodation - one six-bed chalet, one five-bed and five two-bed chalets
- San Rock Art walks
- Trails though the local foothills
- Fly-fishing
- Kamberg Rock Art Centre
- Game Pass Shelter
Accommodation: - Kamberg Camp is an attractive midlands resort nestled in the southern foothills of the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, surrounded by trout dams, streams and open grassland.
Kamberg camp provides guests with the accommodation option of one six-bed chalet, one five-bed and five two-bed chalets. The self-catering Stillerus cottage provides accommodation for eight guests, this for those who require or prefer peace and solitude. The five two-bed chalets have been extensively renovated and now boast en-suite bathroom facilities and kitchenettes. A communal lounge is also available for the convenience of guests.
Activities: -Fly-fishing is enjoyed year round in the dams and in the Mooi River, apart from the winter breeding season, with trophy fishing available at nearby Highmoor reserve.
Local community guides accompany guests to the magnificent rock art shelter in Game Pass, which has some of the most outstanding examples of rock art in the world and is known as the "Rosetta Stone of South African rock art". A San rock art interpretation centre of international standards has been established at Kamberg Camp, together with a restaurant and take-away facility.
SAN ART
The uKhahlamba Drakensberg region of KwaZulu-Natal is rich in rock art left behind by the San people. These exquisite paintings tell stories of yesteryear and teach us more about the mythology, ritual, and beliefs of the San.
Paintings were made using mostly black, white, red and orange pigments gathered from the surrounding natural environment.
Long thought to be merely pictorial journals of hunting trips and everyday life, researchers have now uncovered some of the deeper meaning of the art. The most frequently depicted animal is the eland, the largest antelope of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg and vital to the well being of the San, providing meat, fat and skins.
The eland became an important symbol to the San and was viewed as an animal of power, with supernatural potency and great religious significance. Some paintings show mysterious figures with combined antelope and human features that relate to the San spirit realm.
More recent paintings depict friendly interaction between the San and African and European migrant groups, as well as scenes of conflict. Today the descendants of these artists live among and have integrated with local African communities. Although they have changed their hunter-gatherer lifestyle, they still strongly associate with the rock art of their ancestors.
The densely painted uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park, a World Heritage Site, contains some 550 known sites amounting for over 40 000 recorded individual images.
The paintings in KwaZulu-Natal are estimated to be between 120 and 3000 years old.
Some sites may be visited in the company of a custodian and interpretive displays at some of the reserves provide unique multimedia insights into the history and significance of the paintings and painters. They serve as a monument to the ancient people who roamed freely between the mountains and the coast of KwaZulu-Natal for thousands of years.
Pathways to the art sites take visitors on the same routes once taken by the San up to their rock shelters. Visitors are asked to respect this outstanding legacy by observing the well-known wilderness motto - of taking only photographs and leaving only footprints. Touching the pictures not only hastens their decay, but contaminates them, affecting dating procedures and chemical analysis; even stirring up the dust around them causes harm. Touching these paintings would also be regarded by many, who revere them and the shelters for their spiritual significance, as interfering with the inherent power or spirit they contain. Any damage to these paintings should be reported immediately, as they are protected by law.
KAMBERG ROCK ART CENTRE AND GAME PASS SHELTER
The Game Pass Shelter is commonly referred to as the "Rosetta Stone" of southern African rock art, for it was here that archaeologists first uncovered a vital key to understanding the symbolism of San rock art.
This site is special for so many reasons. It was one of the first sites ever to be seen by Europeans and appeared in the Scientific American in 1915. It was the first South African rock art site to be known in other parts of the world, and revealed the meaning of San rock art, it, in a sense, "cracked the code". The trail to Game Pass Shelter is a two-and-a-half, to three hour guided walk, via the spiritually moving Waterfall Shelter. It is nothing short of a world-class experience in Khoisan rock art and living Zulu and San culture. The walk is preceded by a spectacular DVD presentation at the state-of-the-art Interpretive Centre that caters for a maximum of ten people at a time.
Kamberg camp provides guests with the option of one six-bed, one five-bed and five two-bed chalets. The self-catering Stillerus cottage accommodates eight guests for those who require peace and solitude. The five two-bed chalets have been extensively renovated and boast en-suite bathrooms and kitchenettes. A communal lounge is also available for the convenience of guests.
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