It is named after ex-soldier Hendrik Adriaan van Rheede tot Drakenstein, who was Colonial administrator of the Dutch East India Company.

The former located just to the east of Paarl being punctuated by the Huguenot Tunnel on the N1 highway and Du Toitskloof Pass (820 m (2,690 ft)) as the R101 route.

It is traversed by no mountain passes, but contains the Hottentots-Holland Nature Reserve and also holds title of the wettest place in South Africa in the upper reaches of the Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, with over 2,000 millimetres (79 in) of precipitation per annum (precise measurement unverified), the reason for the Wemmershoek Dam to be built in this mountain.

The region falls within the Mediterranean climatic zone, with cool, wet winters, with snow on the higher elevations and warm, dry summers.

British singer and songwriter Lily Allen shot the Air Balloon (song) at the foot of the mountain at an unused castle (perfect for movies, photography, in her case music videos).