Sandstone Sentinel Peak sunset, Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa

Sandstone splendor

We're approaching the slopes that steepen to form the Maloti Mountains—home to Southern Africa's highest point, within the tiny kingdom of Lesotho. Just on this side of South Africa's border, dramatic sandstone formations begin to emerge from the green hills, including this one known as Brandwag Buttress. It's the dominant feature here in Golden Gate Highlands National Park, a 130-square-mile area that protects a vast array of not only rock formations and wildlife, but also rock paintings made by the San people.