There's something magical about standing atop a mountain peak or discovering a hidden waterfall after miles of challenging terrain. But as vivid as these moments feel in the moment, they can fade with time. Last summer, I hiked the Eagle Creek Trail and was so moved by the series of cascading waterfalls that I wanted to preserve that experience forever. That's when I realized the value of transforming trail adventures into tangible keepsakes - it doesn't just preserve memories; it deepens your connection to nature and creates cherished mementos to share with others.

Capturing the Right Moments on the Trail

Great hiking photography isn't about interrupting your journey for the perfect Instagram shot. It's about developing an eye for meaningful moments while staying present in your experience. Beyond the obvious scenic vistas, consider photographing:

When shooting outdoors, early morning and late afternoon offer the best natural lighting. Don't be afraid to capture the challenging parts of your hike too—those steep inclines or muddy paths often make for the most meaningful memories later.

The best trail photos aren't just pretty pictures—they're windows into how the wilderness made you feel.

Organizing Your Hiking Memories

Before diving into creation, develop a simple system for cataloging your adventures. For each hike, record the date, location, trail name, and any standout moments. When selecting photos for your keepsake, choose images that tell a complete story: the trailhead where your journey began, challenging sections that tested your resolve, rewarding views that made it all worthwhile, and personal moments that capture your authentic experience.

Consider including practical elements like trail maps or elevation profiles—these details add context and help you relive the physical journey. Digital folders organized by season or location can make this process much easier when you're ready to create your keepsake.

Designing Your Hiking Keepsake

Your hiking memories can take many forms depending on how you want to enjoy them:

When designing your layout, balance dramatic photos with white space to let your images breathe. Include brief journal entries about how the hike challenged you or what made it special. Nature quotes can add thoughtful context to your visual story—Muir and Thoreau never go out of style for outdoor enthusiasts.

Creating a photo calendar is particularly rewarding, as it allows you to revisit different hikes throughout the year. Platforms like Mixbook offer intuitive tools for creating photo calendars with customizable layouts and high-quality printing. Their templates can be easily adapted to showcase your hiking photography while maintaining a cohesive look.

Adding Personal Touches

What transforms a simple collection of hiking photos into a meaningful keepsake is the personal story you weave throughout. Consider these ways to make your project uniquely yours:

Hand-drawn elements like simple trail maps or nature sketches add charm to digital creations. For physical journals, pressed leaves or flowers (properly dried and protected) create tangible connections to your experiences. Some hikers even include weather data, trail conditions, or QR codes linking to video clips that capture the sounds of rushing water or singing birds.

Remember, your hiking keepsake is as much about documenting your inner journey as the outer landscape.

From Digital to Physical: Printing Your Keepsake

When bringing your project to life, paper quality matters—especially for showcasing outdoor photography. Matte finishes often work better for landscape photos, reducing glare and providing a more professional look. While professional printing offers superior quality, home printing can work for smaller projects like seasonal collections.

Creating a photo calendar through services like Mixbook can be cost-effective while providing a professional finish. Look for sales during off-peak seasons to save on printing costs. For keepsakes you'll use on future adventures, consider waterproof options or protective covers that can withstand the occasional coffee spill or rain shower.

Conclusion

Transforming your hiking experiences into tangible keepsakes does more than preserve memories—it helps you appreciate the journey in new ways. You might notice patterns in your adventures or see how certain trails have changed over time. Start small with a seasonal calendar featuring your favourite hikes if the idea of a comprehensive book feels overwhelming.

These projects become more precious with passing years, documenting not just beautiful landscapes but your personal growth as an explorer. So, before your next adventure, pack your camera alongside your trail map and water bottle—you're not just hiking, you're collecting moments for your next creative project.

What's your favourite way to preserve outdoor memories? Your next trail might be waiting to become page one of your most meaningful keepsake yet.

When you and your family or friends are out on a day hike remember to pack some snacks. During the hike your body exerts a lot of energy and the younger children, and some adults sometimes need encouragement. Thats when the snacks you have packed will come in very handy.

Skip the chocolate bar and choose a healthy snack that will help take you that extra mile. These are our top six snack options that will make for a fun day hike.

Biltong

Our family favorite. Biltong is a delicious alternative to your standard protein bars as it’s both healthy, low in sugar, high in protein and tasty. It will keep you going all day.

When the tail end of your group slows down, stop, open up your backpack and offer everyone some biltong, within no time everyone will have higher energy levels and be ready to start hiking again.

Cheese triangles

Made with milk and cheese, heated and blended into a cheesy triangle. Keep these individually wrapped snacks in the cardboard box they are sold in, this will make it easy to pack them and to enjoy them in the shapes they are made. The Laughing Cow cheese triangles do not require refrigeration until opened, that makes them perfect for a day hike.

Trail mix

You can make your own mix or try the Hoedies & Herholdt Trail Mix which includes rich toasted coconut flakes, and crunchy nuts and seeds. This versatile product is entirely grain-free, and also works really well as muesli, or an on-the-go gluten-free snack.

Nougat

Nougat is loaded with fiber, proteins, and vitamins from natural sources. Nougat bars with fruits such as raisins and cranberries and nuts like almonds may also help lower cholesterol with the healthy natural fats and enzymes in them.

Fruit

Almost all fruits are good to pack for a day hike. Apples and oranges make some of the best hiking snacks as they are not easily squashed, so packed carelessly, they will still survive. Loaded with energy-boosting carbs and natural sugar. Other fruits may require extra packaging considerations, but many fruits can work.

Energade Sports Jellies / Jelly tots

When you are outdoors and hiking, a sugary treat for both young and old in moderation is deserved.

The Energade Sports Jellies contains sucrose and glucose, which have a higher glycemic index that releases energy quickly, making them ideal for endurance athletes to consume when competing. I remember hiking up Beacon Buttress Gully and eating a small packet when at the top. Within a few minutes my energy was restored, and I went on to hike a further 14km that day.

I hope you enjoy your snacks. Pack delicious hiking food to keep you powered up for a day of exploring. I suggest that you pack more food than you think you’re going to need. It's better to have more than not enough, just remember to leave no trace and bring all your wrappers home! Besides snacks always carry the water you will need; this is your most important endurance staple.

View from the top of Beacon Buttress Gully

South Africa’s Drakensberg mountains have a new 6,500-hectare nature reserve. The new Northern Drakensberg Nature Reserve is working with communities and will preserve ancient rock art, vital grasslands and water sources for millions of people. It connects a neighbouring world heritage site to another nature reserve, expanding a huge transnational protected area from South Africa to neighbouring Lesotho.

Most importantly, it will open a new and important wildlife migration corridor. Migratory animal populations will be able to recover as they’ll no longer be isolated and fragmented.

It took six years for landowners and conservationists to get the new park formally declared, much faster than it usually takes to have land declared protected. It was only possible due to a high degree of consensus among landowners that a commitment to conservation was the best way to manage their land for future generations.

I research how land and ecological systems are governed across boundaries. I believe the new reserve takes forward a commitment made by South Africa at the COP15 biodiversity conference in 2022 that it would protect 30% of its land (including mountains) and oceans by 2030.

So far, only 9.2% of South Africa’s land is under protection, and biodiversity loss is increasing. This is why strategic additions to protected areas are particularly important.

Nearly 20% of water in the Vaal River system originates in the Northern Drakensberg – in other words, the Northern Drakensberg supplies water for about four million people. The way water is managed at the source matters for everyone who will eventually use the water.

A remote and magical place

The greater Drakensberg protected areas include a broad mountainous region that stretches all along the eastern border between South Africa and Lesotho, from the northernmost tip near Phuthaditjhaba at the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, to the southern tip near Mount Fletcher.

It also includes wetlands and grasslands, and some of the best rock art in the world, with over 600 sites dating back as far as 3000 BC.

There are many historical sites in the area that are yet to be explored by archaeologists, such as iron smelters, and places where tools have been discovered that date back more than 25,000 years. It’s sparsely populated, with single farms often comprising more than 2,000 hectares.

Much of the Northern Drakensberg is difficult to reach apart from on foot. It is full of dramatic rock formations, and home to wildlife such as endangered vulture colonies, herds of eland and other grassland animals that benefit from expanded migratory corridors. It is an attractive tourism destination for hikers, birders and people who are looking for wildness experiences.

Why has a new nature reserve been declared there?

Water

It is an important high altitude water catchment area. It straddles the border of the Orange River basin – the largest water resource in South Africa – and the smaller catchments that flow into the Indian Ocean. Protecting water sources in the Drakensberg allows people to have clean tap water. Maintaining pristine water quality in this area is tremendously important.

Grasslands

These cover the Drakensberg mountains, and serve many important functions, such as absorbing water during times of heavy rainfall and releasing it slowly throughout the year. Grasslands are also a carbon sink in ecosystems. Only 2% of grasslands are under formal protection in South Africa.

The grasslands in the new nature reserve include some of the country’s most endangered vegetation types, such as the Income Sandy Grassland and the Mabela Sandy Grassland. Nearly half of South Africa’s endemic mammals are found in grasslands. Four are endemic to this landscape alone: the black wildebeest, rough-haired golden mole, Natal red rock rabbit and Sloggett’s rat. The area is also home to a large number of endangered bird species that are found nowhere else.

Communities

The reserve takes a new approach to conservation, by integrating environmental protection with ongoing economic activities. It works with communities, instead of excluding them from the protected area. The hope is that the new park will increase economic activities locally, such as agriculture, tourism and natural resource beneficiation, such as using reeds and grasses to make mats and baskets.

The creation of the new reserve was driven by dedicated, conservation-minded landowners, who shared a vision of conservation and economic development. They witnessed corporations taking over farms and commercialising them with forestry. Most residents in the area were committed to finding a model for more sustainable development.

Transnational protected corridor

The Northern Drakensberg Nature Reserve connects the Maluti Drakensberg Transfrontier Conservation Area to southern grazing lands. Soon, conservationists hope, there will be a continuous protected area across the Drakensberg.

Why it matters

South Africa has so many unique ecological resources that need different kinds of involvement and protection, whether it is urban green spaces, individual critically endangered species that benefit from citizen science and awareness raising, or the governance of our just energy transition.

The new Northern Drakensberg Nature Reserve is a small but important step forward. Landowners, local government and civil society have come together take positive steps towards better land governance.

Written by: Caitlin Blaser Mapitsa

From incredible landscapes unfolding beneath well-worn feet to seeking nature’s solace, hiking has a magnetism all its own. Hiking puts you front and centre in some of the world’s most stunning locations.

Preparation is key to any hiking adventure overseas, learning about the area, checking the route and packing the right gear. Along with a trusty map, it can pay to pack travel insurance to help if an unexpected accident or illness stops you in your tracks.

Look for the following benefits in the travel insurance package you choose:

• Emergency medical: overseas emergency medical expenses at a hospital or medical centre if you suffer an unexpected injury or illness while hiking.
• Evacuation: approved overseas emergency medical evacuation to the most appropriate medical facility for treatment or repatriation back to your country of residence.
• Trip cancellation protection insurance.
• Gear protection to help with replacing belongings swiped from under your nose.
• Lost, stolen or damaged baggage cover.
• Delayed baggage cover.

The Drakensberg Boys Choir School (DBCS, also colloquially known as Drakies) is an internationally acclaimed school where boys are trained in the art of choral singing and performance. This unique, specialised facet of the school’s product-offering runs parallel with the academic curriculum. Through the rigour of maintaining multiple responsibilities as choristers and scholars, boys leave DBCS as confident, well-adjusted young men suitably equipped to face the challenges of their late high school years, and beyond.

The DBCS mission is “To prepare boys for life and leadership through excellence in music, academics, sport and social enrichment in a Christian environment”. In striving to fulfil our mission, it is my firm conviction that no boy will reach his potential unless he feels safe, valued, and encouraged. The physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of every boy is therefore paramount. As boys embrace the trials and thrills of the Drakies journey, my team of staff is committed to upholding that as a priority.

Boys who choose to embark on this challenging, yet richly rewarding journey join a small, elite band of men who exist globally, each member of whom proudly calls himself, “A Drakie”.

History

The Tungay Family Story

Russell Tungay had started on an autobiography which he called “Taming the Dragon” where he describes how he, together with his parents and brothers, came to the Cathkin Valley in the early 1950s. The Tungay family used to holiday in the Cathkin Valley every year and one year Gwen “Ma” Tungay bought part of “old man Erfmann’s” farm when he subdivided it in 1955.

In 1960 the oldest brother, Peter Tungay, was killed in an air crash. This devastated the family as Peter had always expressed his desire to take over the farm and start a dairy. In 1963 the family started a caravan park on the farm to generate much needed money to keep the farm running.

In the meantime, John Tungay, who was a choirmaster at the Trinity Congregational Church, approached his parents to take over the farm and turn it into a choir school. In 1966 John began adding onto the farmhouse a dormitory, dining room, kitchen and a classroom.

Twenty boys enrolled in the first year of the school’s existence (1967). By the second year there were 60 boys enrolled! “The boys were like the Pied Piper, they would attract boys from everywhere they went.”

It became clear to John right in the early days that in order to travel overseas, the choir had to be the best in the country. And in order to achieve this they needed two hours practice every day. His initial idea of trekking the boys to Winterton for their academic tuition had to be re-thought and that was when he asked his mother, “Ma” Tungay, to step in and help teach academics to the boys.

The Tungay family continued to play a pivotal role in the history of the Drakensberg Boys Choir School with Russell taking over the management of the school in 1968. The Tungay family sold the school and the 100 acre estate and buildings to a Board of Directors in 1981.

The entire Tungay family – Ron, Gwen, John, and subsequently Russell – were intimately involved in laying the foundations in one way or another of the Drakensberg Boys Choir School. How little they could have realised how much of a national asset their dreams and hard work, in often the most difficult and challenging circumstances, would become.

57 Years of Excellence

Over the past 57 years the Drakensberg Boys Choir School has faced enormous challenges in order to survive, one of which being the high cost of managing a specialised school with specialised staff in a somewhat isolated area in South Africa. Despite these challenges, DBCS has grown from strength to strength. In partnership with corporate supporters, a strategic plan to upgrade facilities is currently in place and through a phased approach will see the conversion of current infrastructure into modern facilities on par with the best independent schools in the country.

There have been many people, both individuals and families, who have supported the school and enabled it to grow into a world-class institution. Today the Drakensberg Boys Choir School is acknowledged and respected both nationally and internationally for its exceptional work, music, musicians and learners.

Wednesday and Saturday Concerts

The Drakensberg Boys Choir is synonymous with high-energy performances, which have been captivating audiences for over 50 years. The choir embraces the versatility, stamina, and raw talent of boys from across the country and abroad to create a choral spectacular, jam-packed with a variety of musical styles ranging from classical and contemporary choral gems, to billboard pop hits, to authentic indigenous South African music. Join us for an afternoon of guaranteed entertainment at one of our 34 annual Wednesday concerts and let our young stars creep deep into your heart with their sincerity and youthful spirit.

When: Every Wednesday at 15:30 and a few selected Saturdays at 10:30 during the school term.

Where: Ken Mackenzie Auditorium at the Drakensberg Boys Choir School.

Dress Code: You are on holiday so come as you feel comfortable.

Tickets: Adults R220, Pensioners R200, Children R180. Booking is done through: www.webtickets.co.za or phone the school at 036 468 1709

Enrolment

Voice audition

Be a part of the Drakensberg Boys Choir School! If your son is between the ages of 9 and 13 years old, please complete the Enrolment Enquiry Form and one of our dedicated staff members will contact you to set up a voice audition.

Academic Assessments

Once you have completed the above steps the Drakensberg Boys Choir School would like to invite you and your son to a Skype session to meet the Headmaster and Director of Music.

Online Interview

Once you have completed the above steps the Drakensberg Boys Choir School would like to invite you and your son to an online interview to meet the Headmaster and Director of Music.

Click here to enrol now.

There are two recommended hiking clubs you can join. They are the Mountain Backpackers Club and the Mountain Club of SA - KZN

About the Mountain Backpackers Club

Who are we?

The Mountain Backpackers Club was founded by Lawrence Bates in 1987. The club is renowned for its vibrant and friendly atmosphere.  We offer a wide range hikes, that cater for all levels of interest and fitness - So you can pick and choose what you'd like to do.

Enjoy the beauty, and majesty of the African outdoors, and follow your feet to new destinations and experiences - Take a Hike!

What do we do? We hike! But where and when?

The club's hikes primarily take place in the majestic Drakensberg Mountains of Kwa-Zulu Natal and surrounds. 

Hikes are graded according to required fitness level and difficulty and may include:

• Overnight hikes generally on weekends
• Multi-day hikes
• Day or part-day hikes
• Special events
• Socials

We occasionally take trips along our magnificent coastline, as well as areas in and around Durban, Pietermaritzburg, the KZN Midlands, North and South Coast. Your overnight accommodation could be in a cave, tent, hut, campsite or chalet depending on the hike in question. Our adventures have taken us along many mountainous trails as well as places like The Fish River Canyon, Otter Trail, Amatola and the Wild Coast.  Our leaders have, in the past, invited members to join them on expeditions as far afield as France, Mozambique, Madagascar, Reunion, Namibia, Spain, Nepal and Peru.

Please note that personal vehicles are used to get to and from hikes.

You're in safe hands!

All our hikes are led by experienced Hike Leaders, who know the terrain, weather conditions, wildlife and what to look out for in every area they hike in. So, there's no need to stress, wherever our boots take us, we're in safe hands! Don't know what to bring? Ask your hike leader for advice with regard to the hike in question, you will also find good information here.

Please note that you though we endeavour to ensure that everyone is kept as safe as possible, you are ultimately responsible for your own safety, so we ask that you comply with your leaders' instructions and behave responsibly at all times.

Come to our talks, meet the Club!

The Club holds regular talks, slideshows and videos at The Sherwood Bowling Club, King Cetshwayo Highway, Sherwood, Durban. Everyone welcome!

Not a member? Join us!!!

The membership period covers the January to December calendar year. So, take a moment and Join us!

About the Mountain Club of South Africa - KZN Section

The Mountain Club of South Africa (MCSA) is an organisation of people who love mountaineering, rock climbing, bouldering, hiking, international expeditions, search and rescue, training and conservation. A large part of what we do concerns procurement of access for mountaineering. The MCSA national body comprises 15 geographically based sections and owns a multitude of beautiful mountain huts and wilderness properties across South Africa. The Cape Town Section alone organises over 200 meets every year, with something for everyone. The MCSA is a Public Benefit Organisation (PBO No. 930013449).

Sign up to join the MCSA

South Africa – When it comes to sunscreen, everyone has different views and preferences. With so many differing sun protection habits and opinions, how do you know which is the best sunscreen for your skin? Between different lifestyles, plus various skin types, tones, and concerns, there’s a lot to consider when choosing a sunscreen. ISDIN South Africa, a leading brand in dermatology and known for its innovative and exemplary sunscreen range breaks down what makes a dermatologist-recommended sunscreen, to make your choice easier.

Firstly, it is important to note that “Sun damage significantly affects our skin. It can harm cells and proteins, contribute to skin cancer, and accelerate the skin’s natural aging process by up to 80%. So, whatever your age or skin type, there’s one thing that you should always include in your daily skincare routine: sunscreen,” explained Karlo Mitchell from Glenmark Pharmaceuticals.

What do Dermatologists look for in sunscreen?

Skin-boosting ingredients. To get the maximum benefit from your sunscreen, look for one with additional ingredients that boost overall skin health. The most advanced formulations now help care for your skin in other ways, adding peptides to help target signs of premature skin ageing, and antioxidants, for extra protection against oxidative skin damage.

The texture makes you want to wear it. The best kind of sunscreen is one you will want to apply every single day. And that’s where expert insights come into play. Dermatologists are always on top of the latest innovations in product texture — such as 100% mineral sunscreens that don’t leave behind a greasy, white residue and don’t burn your eyes.

The higher the SPF, the better. One of the biggest misconceptions about sunscreen is that if you have dark skin or more melanin, you don’t need to be using a high SPF. Everyone needs to be using a sunscreen that has an SPF of at least 30+. SPF, or sun protection factor, is a measurement of the amount of time that your sunscreen will help protect your skin from solar radiation. When making your choice, it’s best to look for a higher SPF, such as an SPF 50 or SPF 50+ sunscreen, as this increases the time it would take for your skin to burn when in direct sunlight.

Lastly, It’s broad spectrum. Meaning, it protects your skin from both UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays are largely responsible for premature skin ageing, so they provoke changes in the skin, such as the appearance of wrinkles and sun spots. UVB rays are sometimes called burning rays, as they’re the culprit behind sunburn and tanning in your skin. Both types of rays can contribute to the risk of developing skin cancer. So, for the best all-over protection, be sure to choose broad spectrum sunscreens.

ISDIN will soon be releasing their highly sought-after and leading Fusion Water MAGIC SPF50 sunscreen in South Africa. This sunscreen is widely used by dermatologists as it encompasses all of the above key factors and is an ultra-light water-phase facial sunscreen. This new and improved sunscreen formulation melts into your skin without leaving a greasy residue or white cast. Skin boosting ingredients include Mediterranean Alga Extract and Vitamin E which offer antioxidant action, while hyaluronic acid provides intense hydration. It’s comfortable to wear as it’s an oil-free mineral sunscreen which won’t burn your eyes and has wet skin technology meaning you can apply this over wet skin and it will provide the same intense protection from the sun.

“Bottom line: To help protect your skin from sun damage and photoageing, a dermatologist-recommended sunscreen is a great place to start. Remember, the sun doesn’t take a day off! So, whichever type of sunscreen you choose, apply it daily, and apply it well,” concluded Mitchell.

Shop ISDIN® products online at Cosmetology and Dermastore.

This occasional hiker enjoys walks of up to ten kilometres with a total elevation gain of around fifty meters but being married to a nimble mountain goat, I sometimes choose to adventure in the mountains with him. Some of our hikes together have been quite fun. I will endeavour to share those to encourage other short limbed humans, possibly carrying more weight than the average mountain goat, to persevere in their hiking pursuits.

So, before I share my most recent favourable hike for walkers, here is a little background about what has inspired me share a walker’s perspective on hiking.

My beloved mountain man views me favorably, through his rose-tinted spectacles (as he should) and will always suggest we hike saying, ‘I know you can do it’. My danger sensor lights up instantly! Given countless prior experiences of setting out on a 5 km to 6 km hike to discover that it was definitely 6 km to the end destination and at minimum 8kms back out again!!!

I therefore pledge to share the easy hikes with you, and when there are tough sections I will tell you. Everything steep is hard for me, inclines, and declines both. And yet I endure because I love time in nature, getting away from things and the exhilaration of a view from an eyrie I was not sure I would reach.

Recommended Hike – Fairways Resort Walk – Mushroom Rock

A hike which I can recommend is the circular route at Fairways Resort in the Garden Castle Reserve beyond Underberg in KZN.

Looping behind the big dam below the Golf Club House, we began a gentle ascent which was steep for a short section and led us to summit onto the escarpment quite easily. The view was immediately rewarding and at the top we found a lovely expanse of flat areas to explore. Route markers were easy to follow and photo opportunities numerous. The best of these being Mushroom Rock itself.

We spotted a beautiful Eland at the top, standing as though on guard across a grassy plain.

There are little waterfalls which appeared reasonably accessible for the more agile that may be enjoyed during the summer season.

The vistas looking back over Fairways and beyond were especially beautiful.

This is a hike I will return to do again and as I travel more and reminisce; I will share the tracks I have most enjoyed. The ones which I found to be suitable for curvy humans like me, for the regular walkers who tramp around neighborhoods or local forests for 30 minutes to an hour, three or four times a week to guiltlessly enjoy a hearty meal, a glass of wine and the occasional hike.

A much-needed addition to the Southern Drakensberg region, the Mzimkulu Vulture Hide is set to launch to the public on 19 February 2024. Created to support endangered Vulture conservation through a Vulture Safe Feeding Zone, the hide is a hub of activity and a bird-lover’s paradise.

Located in the heart of the southern Drakensberg, the Mzimkulu Vulture Hide is fitted with one-way glass designed for clear photography and allows up to six guests to comfortably view and photograph endangered Vultures, as well other birds, for a good cause. Exquisite mountainous backdrops, comfortable seating, darkened windows and a few electrical plug points for recharging camera batteries and phones, make for an enjoyable experience. The Hide is also equipped with educational material to ensure visitors leave having learnt more about conservation and wildlife in the region.

A collaborative conservation partnership

The Mzimkulu Vulture Hide forms part of Wildlife ACT’s Southern Drakensberg Conservation Project and has been made possible by a collaborative effort between Wildlife ACT and Riverlea Farm. The primary objective of this initiative is to provide the Southern Drakensberg with a sustainable safe feeding site for vultures. Important partners include Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Project Vulture, Drakensberg Conservation Initiative, Bearded Vulture Recovery Programme and the Endangered Wildlife Trust. The creation of the hide has been made possible by Invicta Wildlife, CHEP, and European Outdoor Conservation Association. The support of local Underberg farms has also been crucial to making this important Vulture Safe Feeding Site possible.

The importance of Vulture Conservation in the region

Vultures are nature's cleanup crew, scavenging and disposing of animal remains that could otherwise become breeding grounds for disease. By swiftly recycling organic matter, Vultures help prevent the spread of illnesses that could affect both humans and animals.

Despite their importance, Vulture numbers across Africa are in rapid decline and their range numbers have decreased by up to 70%. Of the six Vulture species that occur in South Africa, all are either Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered. Despite being critical to our ecosystems, Vulture numbers are in serious decline, with only 50 to 100 breeding pairs of Bearded Vulture in South Africa and Lesotho and about 4,500 breeding pairs of Cape Vulture left in South Africa.

The importance of Vulture Safe Feeding Sites

Vulture safe feeding sites or vulture restaurants are areas where uncontaminated carcasses are intentionally placed to provide a safe and sustainable supplementary food source for vultures, to help ensure their survival and contribute to the ecological balance.

The Southern Drakensberg is a stronghold location for two of South Africa’s cliff nesting species of vulture, namely the Bearded Vulture and Cape Vulture. As such, it is essential for conservation initiatives to be spearheaded in this region, aimed at preserving and protecting this crucial population of endangered birds.

The implementation of a vulture safe feeding zone is one such initiative that has started strongly with vital support from the Drakensberg Conservation Initiative and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife in collaboration with Wildlife ACT and Riverlea Farm; as the essential input of local farmers and landowners.

Vulture feeding sites may also incorporate hides, allowing photographers and conservation enthusiasts to have a close-up view of these incredible birds and other animals that frequent the sites. In addition to increasing public awareness about the challenges faced by vultures, these hides serve an important role in ecotourism, with the potential to generate revenue to sustain vulture conservation initiatives. This is the hope for the Mzimkulu Vulture Hide.

A crucial stronghold for South Africa’s cliff nesting vultures

The Mzimkulu Vulture Hide is located 8KMs from Underberg, in KwaZulu-Natal’s Southern Drakensberg. The hide location rests on the foot of the Maloti-Drakensberg Park, which is a World Heritage Site is one of the five largest protected areas in South Africa – providing one of the last strongholds for several threatened and endangered species.

The Maloti-Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site is renowned for its spectacular natural landscape, importance as a haven for many threatened and endemic species, and for its wealth of rock paintings made by the San people over a period of 4,000 years. The Heritage Site covers an area of 249,313 ha making it the largest Protected Area complex along the Great Escarpment of Southern Africa. Extending along most of KwaZulu-Natal’s south-western border with Lesotho, the property provides a vital refuge for more than 250 endemic plant species and their associated fauna.

It also holds almost all of the remaining subalpine and alpine vegetation in the KwaZulu-Natal province, including extensive high altitude wetlands. The uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park has been identified as an Important Bird Area, and forms a critical part of the Lesotho Highlands Endemic Bird Area.

How to book

Kindly note it is essential to book at least 48 hours in advance before visiting the Mzimkulu Vulture Hide. Bookings can be made via email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or through the website on www.saveourvultures.com. The entrance fee for four hours is R300 per person, R150 for children 16 and under (*kindly note that children under 6 cannot be accommodated at the hide). It is possible to book the Hide exclusively for the day for R1500.

The Hide can accommodate a maximum of six visitors at a time. Bookings may be limited to reduce disturbance to the Vulture Safe Feeding Site, so bookings should be made well in advance to avoid disappointment. Visitors are asked to be respectful of the space at all times by keeping volumes to a minimum to prevent disturbing the birds.
The funds raised through visitor bookings are used to keep the Vulture Safe Feeding Site and Hide operational.

For more information and bookings enquiries: www.saveourvultures.com / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Who is Wildlife ACT:

Wildlife ACT is a team of experienced conservationists performing critical on-the-ground-work in order to save endangered and threatened species from extinction. Operating predominantly in Zululand, KZN, Wildlife ACT implements professional and strategic monitoring and research to enable and inform effective conservation management of wildlife.

About Wildlife ACT’s Southern Drakensberg Conservation Project

The Southern Drakensberg Conservation Project is Wildlife ACT’s most recent conservation project focusing on the monitoring of endangered and critically endangered vultures, and various other priority species and protected area boundary conservation work.

The vulture conservation work involves nest monitoring and vulture-safe feeding site management and monitoring, management of a long-term camera trap survey and various protected area boundary support, such as alien plant control and emergency response for issues related to vultures and other priority species.

The Zulu cave hike from Monks cowl is quite a well-mixed bag for a two-day hike. My wife, Nellie, and I chose this hike for our new year “event” 2019/2020, and for a memory wake up/tester/equipment re-training for an upcoming 5 day hike we were due to undertake in mid-January 2020.

The Monks-Zulu cave choice was partly due to its accessibility and proximity to infrastructure but also due to it being in the Drakensberg which always promises a nice mix of conditions. On both counts we were not disappointed.

As I said to Nellie, in all the years I hiked with scouts in my youth, it was not as common as one would think to find a scout who had encountered the variety of scenarios and experience building dynamics that we found in our two days on this hike.

From flat beautiful defined trails with stunning views, to adventuring (bundu bashing!!!) till you find the trail, with stunning views. From hot humid weather with stunning views, to chilly misty weather, with NO views. From challenging inclines with stunning views, to grinding declines with, yes, stunning views, this hike is has a lot to offer.

Having said all of that, this hike is relatively easy going on average but there are some quite challenging sections, and, as we later found out, while comfortable for novice hikers, it will be a very good idea to have an experienced hiker lead the pack, especially when trail finding is a not as clear cut as following a defined path.

The leader should research the route on Drakensberg Park map 2 (Cathedral Peak Map), and make note of the landscape and topographical land marks. This helped us greatly on our route, especially after we left the day hiking routes.

1. To start off, for the first 5,5 km one follows the well-defined and well-marked paths, of the day hiking area of Monks Cowl Park, to Bindman’s corner, the edge of the day hiking section. You can take any route you like to get there, but we recommend the Crystal Falls and Sphinx route.
2. At Bindman’s Corner turn right and follow the contour path around towards Hlatikulu Nek for about 2,5 km. At Hlatikulu Nek you will get to an intersection that has the last sign you will see, and off of the path you are on will be a very unused path to “The V” off to your right. Do not use this unused path. Keep going straight past the left of the signage rock.

3. Follow the path for 1km until you are at the foot of a very small “koppie” (hill) to your right very close to the path. At this 1km mark there will be a well-worn path continuing straight on from the path you are on. DO NOT take this path. It becomes a fire break and goes to Keith Bush Camp.

Look at around 45 deg right and you will see a path leading up the small hill over into the next small ravine. Take this path.

4. Once over the top of the hill you will see a ravine and on the other side several paths going up the other side of the ravine. Head in the direction of those paths, you may find several paths heading down to the ravine crossing, depending on how over grown the area is.

Cross the stream and head up to the left hand path on the other side. Alternatively one could possibly take the path to the right as you exit the ravine. It seems to go in a similar overall vector, however we did not take this path and thus will not comment on it.

5. Once on that path up the other side of the ravine you will approach a rough intersection with the previously mentioned well-worn path/fire break. Don't take that path. Look to your right and you will see another grassy path heading in a northerly direction uphill and parallel to the Mhlwazini river at the foothills of the Gatberg range. (this is the river you will need to cross later)

6. At the top of the small hill you pass between some rocks and over the top. The path should be relatively defined, however if not just head north and keep the river on your left.

You will also be going somewhat parallel to a gradually uphill contour path on the foot hills of the Gatberg. You now know you are on the right path. Follow that path North, more or less, keeping the Gatberg and the river on your left.

7. You will be heading for the intersection with the stream you originally crossed in point 4 and the Mhlwazini river. The original stream will intersect from the right with the Mhlwazini river. The going will be relatively easy until you reach the edge of the plateau you are on, where you will go down a steep path that will take you to the river intersection, where the smaller stream will flow from the right down a small waterfall and into the main river. DO NOT cross to the right of the stream over the waterfall top. You want to wind up on the left of the main river after the intersection

8. Head to the main rivers edge from the flat rocks at the paths end.

Cross the river and up the steep, overgrown path on the other side of the river. The path is around 15m downstream from where you crossed.

9, Once at the top of the steep path, you should find only one sandy/grassy path contouring around the foot of the mountain to your left, with the main river to your right. Follow this path over two stream crossings and through a field that is scattered with large boulders.

Not long after the boulder field, the path will turn left away from the river and West up the forested ravine where the Zulu cave is situated. Follow the path up for around 800m and you should start to hear the waterfall that falls over the front of the right side of the cave. The path will take you straight into the left side entrance to the cave.

In the cave there is a dusty floor so a good ground cover will help. There is a short path to access to the waterfall to take a cold shower and get water. It is highly recommended that the water is filtered through a cloth or t-shirt, treated with purifying tablets and boiled. Better be safe.

NOTE: Do not leave anything out before going to sleep. Pack all your food and rubbish into your pack and place all your small belongings into a bag attached to your packs. There are furry nocturnal visitors looking for a snack and you are in their house now.

We were visited by a cheeky, yet beautiful, Large-spotted Genet after lights out. Needless to say us ignorantly leaving our food next to our packs resulted in my old inner JHB city boy surfacing when we were woken up by the food packet being dragged across the floor in the pitch dark. I am not too proud to say that I K&ked myself. Nellie laughed herself back to sleep.

We hope this article is of use to all who are embarking on this wonderful hike

We just love visiting and sleeping in the Drakensberg caves, so why not plan a hike to see as many as possible over three days. Five friends agreed to go with on this adventure knowing we would be spending the majority of this hike on no path.

On the first day starting at Bushman's Nek we walked 10km's with 850m elevation again and were privileged to see three caves, sleeping in Whyte's Cave for the night.

Day two was the day for adventure where getting stuck on top of a mountain if the gully down is not found is a possibility. You hike 10km's with 570m elevation gain and can see five caves, sleeping in Secret cave for the night.

Day three is a longish hike back to Bushman's Nek of 17km's and 520m elevation gain with one cave to view along the way.

Directions

The hikes starts at the Bushman's Nek Office where you fill in the mountain register and pay your overnight camping entrance fee of R140 (R70 per person per night). The caves are booked with Garden Castle on: +27 (0)33 701 1823.

During this hike you may pass near to one or two caves with Bushman Paintings. Please note that No person may access any area within 50 meter of a rock art sties unless he/she adheres to the access and control measures instituted by Amafa KwaZulu-Natal in consultation with the land owner or manager. Visitors may only visit rock art sites that are officially open for public visitation and they must either have a permit or be accompanied by an Amafa accredited custodian or guide depending on the management arrangements at each site. All of the open sites have a management plan and trained guides or custodians that will accompany the guests to the rock art site, relate the code of conduct and that would supervise the visitors’ behaviour. If you are not willing to abide by these rules please do not do this hike.

Day 1: 10km's and 840m elevation gain

Your hike starts from behind the wooden hut where you sign in and you head along the Giant's Cup trail path which is uphill for the next four kilometers and 400m in elevation gain. It's then a gentle uphill for the next 700m with Langalibalele mountain on your right.

At this point is a small cairn on the hill to your left and a vague path you then hike along for the next 2km's mostly uphill and about 200m in elevation gain. The path often disappears and returns now and then, as long as you head in a North West direction you are going the right way.

You then reach a short steep section with a well defined path zigzagging up to the right. Once at the top follow the path along the contour of the hill with the valley to your right. This path brings you near Painters Cave with a stream alongside.

Route when you leave Giant's Cup Trail path towards Painters Cave

Please note that Painters cave has bushman paintings and you are reminded to please be aware of the of the following rules when near such a cave which can be read here.

You now cross over the stream and head up the hill in front of you, in a North to North East direction. There is no path and you can decide how to go up the hill, a zig-zag pattern especially after the crossing the stream is suggested as its very steep. The hill is 600m in length and 100m in elevation gain, take your time to the top.

The steep hill after Painters cave

Once at the top of the hill, walk straight down for about 50m, take off your backpacks (you will come back to this point) and head to your right going down the hill, after 200m's you will reach Sherry Cave (new). This cave in summer should have some water otherwise you carry it up from the hill you climbed a bit earlier if planning to sleep here for the night. The view's of the Drakensberg and valley below from the cave are stunning.

Sherry Cave (new)

Next head back to your backpacks and now head to your left, in a Northerly direction and head down the hill in a gap that will become visible as you proceed down. The hike down from where you left your backpacks is about 500m and 120m drop in elevation. You will eventually come across a path heading to your left, Westerly along the mountain with a valley on your right. Hike along the level path for about 700m and in front of you is your stop of the evening, Whyte's cave.

Route down after Sherry cave (new) leading to the path for Whyte's cave

Whyte's cave with a very high overhang, this cave is unique.

Day 2: 10km's and 570m in elevation gain.

After a healthy breakfast (bacon & egg with rolls for some of us) your hike starts on the path exiting the opposite side of the cave you entered from near the waterfall. Follow the path staying as close to the cliff above you on your left. After a short while you cross a stream and start heading up the hill directly in front of you, about 1km and 150m in elevation gain.

Hill to climb a few hundred meters after leaving Whyte's cave

Once at the top and after enjoying the stunning views from here of the high berg, your goal is to find the gully down to Rob's Cave.

View after climbing hill and before you descend towards Rob's cave

Head to your right (North) for about 400m along and then down in a Westerly direction for about 500m and 130m down. To your right you should see the start of a narrow gully. The GPS point at the top is: -29.783319, 29.176433.

False path, only a viewpoint. If you are here head to your right over the hill alongside to the gully

From here head down this gully entering a small forest which turns left and becomes steeper. There is a path of sorts and hold on to the trees while going down to keep your balance. You drop about 150m down and as the gully becomes flatter, Rob's cave is on your left. Finding this gully from the other direction up the hill from the Mzimudu river towards Rob's cave is easy, it's when going downhill and you can't see the cliffs that a bit or prior knowledge is very helpful.

The gully down to Rob's cave (-29.783319, 29.176433)

Getting closer to Rob's cave heading down the gully

A little climb up to Rob's Cave from the gully

After exploring Rob's cave from where you will see the Mzimude river below and a path on the other side of the river head down to the river for an early lunch. The downhill from here is about 1km and 280m drop, take your time and watch for footing. Hiking poles are very helpful when going down this type of hill.

The view down to Mzimude river from Rob's cave

This detour is optional. After your rest at the stream take the path next to the stream to your left (West) for 1.5km and 150m in elevation gain. Here you will find Curtain and Wave Cave both in close proximity to each other. Next head back in the same direction on the path towards where you had an earlier lunch and continue on the path for 2.1km's and 200m gentle downhill till your reach Sherry Cave (old).

Curtain Cave

 Sherry Cave (old)

Sherry cave (old) is also your marker to leave the path and head into secret valley (North West direction). At times there is a good path to follow which eventually seems to disappear as you get near Secret Cave where you will sleep for the night. The distance from Sherry Cave (old) to Secret cave is 2.5km and 250m uphill, most of the uphill being just before you get to the cave.

 Heading up Secret valley to Secret cave

 Secret cave

View from Secret cave

Day 3: 17km's and 520m in elevation gain.

Another option instead of heading back to Bushman's Nek on day three is to continue up Secret valley for about 1.5km's and 200m up the hill directly in front of you and to the right that then joins a path leading you down to Sleeping Beauty Cave and through to Garden Castle reserve. A total hiking distance of approximately 10km's if you select this option.

The hike back to Bushman's Nek is mostly downhill, 940m of total downhill. Head back down Secret valley towards Sherry Cave (old) and cross the river where you will find the path along Hidden valley. Its 6km's and 200m downhill to the wooden bridge that joins you back onto the Giants cup trail.

After Sherry cave (old) cross the river to find the path

When you cross the Mzimude river about 2.7km's after Sherry Cave (old) you have the option of following the path along the stream of taking the higher path heading up the hill and then round and down to the bridge. Both ways have their benefits, the choice is yours.

The Mizmude river where you select to walk along the river to the wooden bridge or on the higher path.

After a short break at the bridge follow the Giant's Cup trail path up the hill for about 4.5km's and 400m in elevation gain which brings you to Langalibalele Cave. A few faint bushman paintings are visible on the rocks that have fallen down.

 Giant's Cup trail, Mzimude river crossing

Langalibalele Cave

From here its a short uphill and then 4km's downhill with 400m drop back to Bushman's Nek.

Homeward bound - Bushman's Nek Hut in the distance

On Saturday 21 September 2019 one of the shackles that bolts the bottom, right-hand chain ladder to the rocks on the Amphitheatre sheared off at the rockface and has compromised the structure of that ladder. The left-hand ladder has no problems. These ladders are accessed from the Sentinel Peak Car Park by hikers who are hiking to the top of the Amphitheatre and on to Tugela Falls and Mont-aux-Sources.

No-one was injured, and the ladder is still attached to the rockface. Temporary nylon rope has been used to reduce the movement of the ladder, but that ladder is unquestionably not safe for use. The Sentinel Peak Hike is still open and hikers can either use the ladder on the left, which is open, or the Gully.

A meeting was held at Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge on Wednesday 25th September with the Department of Environmental Affairs and their Implementing Agent to determine the next steps.

The Department of Environmental Affairs has confirmed that they have allocated funds for access projects in the area, and are in the process of submitting plans to include the complete replacement of the Chain Ladders in that project. In the interim the lower ladder on the right remains closed to hikers. 

Management of Witsieshoek are currently getting experts to assess repair and stabilization options pending the full replacement of the ladders.

In summray for now the Chain Ladders Hike is still open and hikers can either use the ladder on the left or the Gully.

A family and children-friendly guide to hiking the Drakensberg in South Africa. Experience the adventure of a lifetime with the whole family.

Whether you're a traveller or South African local, hiking the Drakensburg Mountains is one of the top activities to experience when you're in the beautiful country of South Africa. Not only does it feature some of the most grandeur landscapes and dramatic rock formations in the world, but it's also known for some of the best hiking and cycling adventures in South Africa. A must-do, once in a lifetime experience if you're a nature lover and outdoor enthusiasts like ourselves. Yes, being in the remote outdoors isn't always the easiest choice when you have a family with young toddlers, but in this travel guide, we're sharing how you can have your cake and eat it! Yes, you can hike the Drakensberg AND share this experience with the whole family. This is the ultimate non-camping and children-friendly guide to hiking the Drakensberg Mountains.

Read the full article by Chloe & Michael Smulian...

In search of some warmer weather away from the Drakensberg we have just completed a five day, 89 kilometre guided hike (Elevation gain/loss: 1789m / -1778m) from Port Edward to Mbotyi. It was an unforgettable experience!

Each night we stayed in huts in villages along the way. The huts are those of widows and the money generated helps them earn an income. Supper, breakfast and a basic lunch pack for each day's hike is provided. Bathing is in warm water in a washing basin every night. A shuttle (hired taxi) brought us back from Mbotyi.

Day 1 - 27 kilometres (Elevation gain/loss: 595m / -511m)

We started at the Wild Coast Sun just past Port Edward in the Eastern Cape Province and headed towards the golf course and then crossed the Mzamba river on a 153m suspension bridge. From here we walked towards the coastline and crossed over the Mpahlane river at the beach. The first of many river crossings during the next 5 days.

Shoes off and we set out for 11km's of hiking on the beach, crossing the Mnyameni river along the way. It's a lot more difficult than expected when hiking 11km's on sea sand. Next we trekked through the amazing red desert, which is the smallest in the world, for 4km's and then back towards the beach crossing at the Sikhombe river and a short 2.5km walk up to Mtentu village where we stayed on the first night.

Day 2 - 20 kilometres (Elevation gain/loss: 290m / -274m)

Pictures above by Travers Pellow - https://www.instagram.com/travpellew/

We left Mtentu village around 8am and after a short walk down to the beach, crossed the Mtentu river by paddle boat. The next 14km's were in the Mkhambathi nature reserve where we explored the Weolmi shipwreck and viewed Mkhambathi and Strandloper falls. Next was GweGwe beach for lunch followed by a paddle across the Msikaba river and a short uphill walk to Ndengane village for the evening.

Day 3 - 11 kilometres (Elevation gain/loss: 141m / -160m)

An easy hiking day for us which started with a walk down to Kilroe beach and some easy river crossings. We viewed the Mbaxeni pools and falls and after a short swim we hiked to the Grosvenor Shipwreck site (sank in 1782). The sardine run was visible from here, a never-ending silver line chased by birds, whales and over 100 dolphins, a truly amazing experience.

We then had lunch at the beautiful Lambasi bay followed by a few relaxing hours on the beach. Later in the afternoon we hiked up to Rhole village for the night.

Day 4 - 22 kilometres (Elevation gain/loss: 667m / -524m)

The most scenic of all the days walking along the cliffs looking down to the huge ocean waves crashing into the rocks. From the village we took a short hike down and crossed the Mkweni river (no paddle boat so it was a swim across with our backpacks) and got to Luphatana beach. Huge waves hit the ledge and exploded high up into the sky, a remarkable sight.

Next we hiked to Waterfall Bluff (one of only 19 waterfalls in the world that falls directly into the sea) and then onto Mamba pools for lunch and some cliff diving for those brave enough. A short distance further was Cathedral rock and Secret falls, a view that will long stay in our memories. We then took a short walk up to Cutwini village.

Day 5 - 9 kilometres (Elevation gain/loss: 96m / -309m)

We hiked down a steep hill to Shelly beach and on to Mbotyi to meet our taxi to Magwa Falls which is the second highest in South Africa at 144 metres and higher than Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.

The falls are in the middle of the 1800-hectare Magwa tea plantations, the biggest remaining tea plantation in South Africa. After viewing the falls, our taxi drove us about 150km to our vehicles parked at the Wild Coast Sun. 

Our Guide Bongani who grew up in the area was brilliant, he knows the route better than anyone, his knowledge of the shipwrecks over the years and history of the area is superb.

Bongani can be contacted on 083 728 2007 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. when you decide to do this amazing hike yourself. Bongani's Facebook page for more info can be viewed here.

A three day circular hike from Giant's Castle camp to Bannerman Hut on day one; 10km and 690m elevation gain. Day two is a steep hike up Bannerman Pass to Bannerman Cave; 5km and 980m elevation gain and day three is a hike along the escarpment and down Langalibalele Pass back to Giant's Castle camp; 12km and 1400m elevation loss.

Video by Nicola Freitas

A 3 day circular hike starting at Injisuthi. Day 1 is an uphill 8km hike and 590m elevation gain to Lower Injisuhi Cave. Day 2 is a 6km hike with 320m elevation gain and 350 elevation loss to Marble Baths Cave and pools. Day 3 is a mostly downhill 8km hike with 220m elevation gain and 570m elevation loss back to Injisuthi Camp.

Video by Nicola Freitas

This hiking checklist highlights the ten essential items that every hiker should carry. Before you go on any hike, no matter how easy or short make sure your backpack has these ten essentials. When hiking you are responsible for your own safety and any one of these ten items may help to save your life. The total weight of your backpack will vary but should not be more than 20% of your bodyweight, 15% for children.

The items in Blue are the ten essentials. A printable version can be download here.

1. Navigation

• Always carry a detailed map of the area and a compass, even if you use a GPS or smartphone.

2. Hydration

• A minimum of 2 litres water per person per day. A water bottle and a 2 or 3 litre hydration pack which fits snugly into your backpack is suggested. In areas like the Tugela Falls it is a good idea to purify the water with a water filter or purifier, chemical tablets or boiling before drinking.

3. Nutrition

• Always carry at least one extra day's worth of food. It should be something that stores for a long time, requires no preparation and is high in energy. If you're hiking with kids, a few more snacks than usual are recommended.

The ideas below are our personal favourites, you may vary the items to your personal preference.

Breakfast:

• Bacon, eggs and rolls (our favourite and worth the extra weight)
• Future Life or Oat-so-Easy
• Rusks
• Coffee sachets / Milo for children or Tea
• Coconut oil, salt (if having bacon and eggs)

Lunch:

• Crackers or rolls
• Cheese triangles
• Tuna or shredded chicken in the small tins (pull open tab and yes you carry the tin back)
• Cup-a-soup
• Apple or orange (any fruit)

Dinner:

• Coffee sachets / Milo for children or Tea
• Tuna or shredded chicken in the small tins (pull open tab yes you carry the tin back)
• Pasta packet sauce or sachets
• Gnocchi, tagliatelle pasta, egg noodles
• Onion
• Smash
• Couscous
• Smoked chicken, salami or chorizo
• Slab of chocolate
• Salt and pepper

While hiking:

• Peanuts and raisins
• Game sachets
• Nougat
• Biltong
• Ener-Jelly
• Energy/breakfast bars (future life crunch, etc…)
• Super C
• Jelly tots

4. Clothing

• Rain jacket and waterproof pants, a spare pair of socks and a warm jacket (preferably a down jacket which can go under the rain jacket.) Avoid cotton clothing.

• Boots or walking shoes (boots offer protection to your ankles and are recommended if hiking up or down the passes)
• Spare boot laces
• 3 Pairs of socks (some people like to hike with a thin pair of socks under their thick pair of socks)
• 3 pairs of underwear
• 1 quick drying shirt
• 1 long sleeve shirt
• 2 quick drying trousers
• 1 shorts
• Fleece (a thick fleece if hiking in winter)
• Down jacket
• Beanie
• Lightweight full brim hat with chin strap (offers much more sun protection than a normal peak and the chin strap is essential in the wind)
• Gloves (even in summer)
• Tracksuit pants and t-shirt for night time
• Sandals or lightweight flat shoes.
• Thermals (top and bottom)
• Bandana (you will be thankful you can cover your ears and face in the wind)
• Gaiters (for wet grass in summer and snow in winter)

Toiletries:

• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Toilet paper (store in a zip lock bag) and a lightweight trowel
• Biodegradable body/facewash
• Quick drying towel or Microfibre towel

5. Firestarter

• Waterproof matches in a water-tight container. Open fires may not be made in the Maloti-Drakensberg Park but in an emergency to survive a cold winters night it may be necessary.
  

6. First Aid Kit

• Make sure you have the supplies to deal with major injuries, and make sure you have the knowledge. You can purchase a hiking first aid kit at outdoor stores or put together your own. A scratch can be a tough obstacle to kids, pack some fun plasters.

• Painkillers/anti-inflammatories
• Plasters, strapping tape and gauze
• Antiseptic cream
• Burn Shield
• Rehydrate
• Insect repellent
• Blister dressing
• Burn dressing
• Scissors and tweezers
• Safety pins
• Rubber bands
• Anti-histamines
• Anti-diarrhoea
• Eye drops
• Deep Heat rub

7. Tools and Equipment

• A pocket knife or multitool is indispensable as well as duct tape which can fix everything from tent poles to ripped boots and backpacks

• Backpack with rain cover (65l will fit everything and prevent you from over packing)
• Camera
• Power bank to charge your phone and camera.
• Trekking poles (they are very helpful downhill, you won’t regret it)
• 20l collapsible water cannister (useful when camping to be used by everyone, especially when water is far from your campsite/cave)
• 6m of rope (useful if a large boulder section on a pass)
• Whistle
• 2 or 3 Ziplock bags
• Cash (R100 is enough)
• Passport (if hiking to the escarpment top)

Cooking:

• 2 x gas stove (a spare is always recommended)
• 3 x gas canister (one being spare)
• 2 x pots or 1 pot and a small kettle (2 pots so you can make coffee or sauce, etc while cooking the pasta) and a small frying pan is great for the eggs and bacon.
• Plate
• Mug
• Dishcloth
• Biodegradable dish soap
• Cutlery
• Washing sponge
• Wooden spoon and spatula
• Rubbish bags

8. Illumination

• A headlamp with spare batteries, it's dark if you get stuck overnight on a day hike.

9. Sun Protection

• Sunscreen (SPF 30+ or more), lip balm and sunglasses.

10. Shelter

• An emergency bivy bag and space blanket can help protect you in a sudden storm or shelter you through an unexpected night outdoors

• Tent with built in groundsheet and tent pegs
• Sleeping bag (recommend rated at least -5 Celsius)
• Sleeping bag liner (if hiking in winter for the extra warmth)
• Self-inflating mattress
• Pillow (stuff your down jacket into your sleeping bag cover)

Going out there

Going on a mountain trip is always an unforgettable experience. I remember every summit I have stood on, and every multipitch I’ve made in my life. Being in the mountains is something special. To be surrounded by nature, realising how small and fragile we as humans are. Somehow depending on the mountain in order to get down alive.

Of course preparation is an incredibly important factor. I don’t wear flipflops when I want to reach 2.000 meter summit and have to do an 3 hour hike for it.

There are actually a lot of things to think about and to prepare, when going on a mountain trip. Over the years, I’ve learned a lot of things, especially because of stuff that went wrong or needed serious improvement. So here is your exclusive checklist I put together for you, with the things you have to know when you are taking your next mountain trip!

1. Make a timetable, and stick to it!

Make the timetable at least one day in advance. You should know how much time you approximately have on every factor. How many metres do you ascent in an hour? How long are you climbing on one pitch, and how many pitches are there? And how much time do you want to take for a break, and how many breaks do you need?

Be specific, from the time you park your car, to the time you’re at the summit, and from the break at the summit to get back to the car. Know when it gets dark, and calculate it back to the time you would have to start.

For ascending, the easiest way to calculate the time is with the following formula:

• Count one hour for every 400 meter ascent.
• Count one hour for every 4 kilometer distance
• Take the longest time of one of the above plus half of the shortest time.
  Example: 8 km distance horizontal (8:4 is 2 hours) and 1200 altitude metres (1200:4 is 3 hours) will cost 3+1 is 4 hours.

Most importantly, be realistic. Make a point of no return, set a time that you have to at least be at this point, otherwise go down.

2. Check the weather forecast.. And check again!

Before making your timetable, check the weather forecast on the day before your trip. There are many good apps you can check or you can look directly on the website of the country you’re in. Remember that a mountainous area, the weather can be different than predicted. The local conditions can vary greatly.

Before going on your trip, on the accual day, check the weather forecast again. It is possible the conditions have changed.

3. Wear the proper clothes and footwork

When you know the kind of area you’ll be in, what altitude you’re going to, how long you’ll be outdoors and the temperature of the climate, it’s easier to prepare. The most important thing is to wear layers. So when you’ll get hot or cold, you can adjust. The best materials are soft, lightweight and moisture wicking.

You’ll need to make sure your footwear is durable, comfortable, and appropriate for the conditions. This goes for hiking and climbing. If you are climbing more easier routes, you might want to consider buying comfortable climbing shoes instead of your indoor or project climbing shoes.

4. Take the time to navigate

Make sure you are prepared for your trip. Take a map or copy of the climbing topo. Remember that when you have a map on your phone, it’s possible you won’t have reception in the mountains, or your phone could die out. Especially in cold weather conditions, your phone dies out more quickly. Try to figuer out the exact way to approach and descent, study it before your trip.

During the trip, take your time to determine the right way. It’s better to stop and look around carefully instead of just following a path of which you’re not sure is right. Backtracking takes time, and messes up your timetable.

5. Don’t take unnecessary risks

Being in the mountains is not without risk. If the terrain gets too steep or dangerous for walking, make sure you go on a rope and set gear or slings in between. And if you don’t carry a rope, consider going back.

Always consider the things that could go wrong, and anticipate on it. Wear a helmet when there is a possibility of rock fall. Take time to learn how to build a proper belay anchor. And talk to your climbing partner on forehand how you communicate when you cannot hear and see eachother anymore.

Even though you checked the weather conditions and it looked fine, it could happen that bad weather is coming nontheless. Prepare by learning to recognize when bad weather is coming, and decide early enough that it’s time to turn around.

6. Pack your backpack clever

There’s no one right way to pack. Lay out all your gear at home and try out different loading routines until you’ve found what works best for you. It has to feel comfortable on your back. Don’t wear it too low, wear it on your hips, and don’t put the shoulder straps too tight.

Try to pack it like this;

• Bottom zone: Good for lighter, bulky gear and items not needed until later. Like a rain jacket or first aid kit.
• Core zone: Good for your denser, heavier items, like extra water supply, food or climbing stuff.
• Top zone: Good for lighter, bulkier essentials you might need on the trip.

Wear the stuff you need, like water, a map, sunglasses or a quick snack somewhere in an accessory pocket or in a place you can reach easily.

7. Take enough food and water

On a normal day we have to drink more than two litres of water. Because you are so active, it is easily doubled on a day in the mountains, also depending on the weather.

It is incredibly important to carry enough water, but also not too much because it will weigh you down. When you are preparing your trip, try to look for wells or creeks on the map, and bring a waterfilter on your trip. That way you won’t have to carry too much water, and you can fill during your trip.

Try to take food with not only carbs but also protein with you. Your body is in desperate need of protein when you’re active the whole day.

For example, I love to take nuts with me, I put them in my pocket and eat them whenever I feel a little hungry. That way I don’t have to stop to get food and I don’t eat too much at once!

8. Know what to do in emergencies

Know the emergency number from the country you’re in. You can easily find it online. It’s a good idea to know the basic first aid actions.

Always carry a first aid kit with at least the following items;

• Antibacterial ointment (e.g., betadine)
• Compound tincture of benzoin (bandage adhesive)
• Assorted adhesive bandages
• Butterfly bandages / adhesive wound-closure strips
• Gauze pads (various sizes)
• Sterile pads
• Medical adhesive tape (10 yd. roll, min. 1″ width)
• Blister treatment
• Ibuprofen / other pain-relief medication
• Complement with own preferations

And don’t forget to let someone back home know where you are, and when you’ll be back.

9. Take the right people with you

Make sure you know about the experience of the people you take on your trip. Are they experienced in the area? How experienced are they in climbing? And how about their mountain experience? Try to decide your role in the situation too, if you’re going with a person with less experience, you will have to take the lead more. It means more preparation. Make sure these things are clear before your trip.

In my opinion one of the most important qualities of a partner, is to go with someone you feel well with. You want to have a laugh on your way, but when things get serious you will want to be with someone who stays calm and takes the situation serious.

10. Evaluate your trip

Your next mountain trip will only get better if you evaluate your previous trip!

Best is to go over the things with your partner. Discuss the things that went well, but also the stuff that needs improvement. Be critical, but realistic. You will realise that being in the mountains can be challenging, but worth it. And the more experienced you get, the more easy it will become. And the more adventures you can have!

The Cathedral Peak Ridge is probably one of the most iconic ridges in the Drakensberg. With four different summits above 3000m, and a large collection of rock climbing routes – there is no shortage of activities to do on this ridge!

The following photo was taken from South Saddle Pass at Mnweni a few years back, and shows the different summits on the ridge:

I first summitted Cathedral Peak in 2014, and did the Outer and Inner Horn in 2017 – which left me with one of the climbing 3000m peaks: the Mitre. The highest peak on the ridge. While Cathedral Peak is climbed almost daily, and even though the Horns are rarely climbed, there is a lot of information online – finding detailed information on the route up Mitre is tricky.

Luckily AndrewP provided me with lots of topo, and book Drakensberg Select had a route description. I had also eyed out the approach on a hike earlier in the year.

So on Saturday morning, Ross and I set off from the hikers parking below Cathedral Peak Hotel to Twins Cave. Due to the lack of water on the Bell Traverse, we decided to use Mlambonja Pass.

The Inner Horn as seen from below. Most of those chimneys have been climbed – we used one of the easier ones back in 2017.

It was a very hot day, and our packs were heavy. We cooled off in the pool at the bottom of the pass before starting up the pass.

The pass was very slow. It is not the hardest pass around, but when you add roughly 5kg to your pack for climbing gear, plus 1kg extra for the weight of the pack itself – that is a massive difference.

We hit the final water around 350m vertically below Twins Cave. We knew there wouldn’t be water available for a long time, so we both drank as much as we could and then proceeded to collect 3 litres each from the river.

We got to the cave just before sunset, and with some mist coming in.

We agreed to an early start on Sunday morning, so at 4am my alarm went off.

The Mitre – the peak we were about to climb:

By about 4:45 we were walking, meaning that we got to see a spectacular sunrise:

The trick to climbing Mitre is finding the correct gully, which proved easy enough. We walked a bit of the way up, took out our 20 litre packs, stashed the rest of our gear and proceeded up the gully with light packs.

The gully was mostly straightforward. A few short scrambles, but no real exposure – so no problems there.

The climbing route starts from the top of this gully.

The climb starts by heading up on a ledge above a large drop. The rope felt like overkill, it wasn’t even proper scrambling – but the first step is onto a dodgy bit of grass above a large fall, so I guess a rope is necessary. I did this in trail shoes as most of this pitch was on grass, and climbing shoes have no grip on grass.

Once you are through the first cliff band, you walk far to the left to find a very easy break in the cliff band. I got up this and belayed from a block that had been used for abseiling (based on the tat on it). Because the line had zig-zagged more than I expected, my gear should have been allocated differently to the two ropes to avoid rope drag.

Looking down from the top of the pitch – the route starts in this gap between the cliffs:

Stance selfie:

Ross topping out on pitch 1:

The next cliff band proved a bit more interesting, with a block that required a bit of effort to get up, so we roped it up.

From the top of the 3rd cliff, you easily scramble through the fourth by going around to the right, and then proceed to traverse to the left around to the main summit.

The final line isn’t obvious until you get far enough around the south side of the peak and find a loose rocky ramp up to the top.

The final scramble feels a bit exposed, as the ridge is very narrow, but in reality it isn’t that bad.

We stood on the summit just after 9am – so it had taken us roughly 4 hours to get up. Not express pace by any means – but we were up. By this point, our possible ascent of Ntonjelana Needle was off the table.

After about 15 minutes on top, I reminded Ross that the summit is only halfway, and that most accidents happen on the way down – and then we began the descent. I always make a point of reminding myself and the people I am with about this when on top of a peak. You can’t get into the “I have done what I came here to do” mindset. The summit is optional, getting home safely isn’t.

We reversed our line. We down-scrambled the top, and abseiled down the upper two cliffs.

There was tat around two different blocks, but I decided that the block right above the gully would be best. We tested it by trying to move it, and it held up perfectly. We connected both ropes together, tied knots in the ends and Ross descended first.

Before I descended, Ross tested the rope by pulling it 1m to see if it would pull through. This was the main reason for my selection of anchor – it was right by the edge, meaning that it would be easier to pull through from below. Nothing is worse than completing an abseil and having to prussik back up the rope to fix your anchor (well, there are worse possibilities, but let’s not go there).

The downside of the anchor being right at the edge of the cliff (not the precarious rock seen in the photo below) is that the abseil becomes slightly more intimidating. But on the bright side, 50m range when the abseil is only about 30m meant that we could descend most of the narrow gully quickly by continuing to abseil down it.

We made fairly good time down the gully.

We reached our packs in the mist.

We proceeded down the gully and found the Bell Traverse trail easily enough.

Heavy packs back on, our progress was slow, and the mist meant that we didn’t get all the views – but at least we got the summit in good weather. The clouds briefly cleared at times to provide some ominous views of the spires above us.

Ross didn’t even seem to notice the notoriously dodgy sections of the trail, walking across them as if they were nothing.

Buggers Gully was in the best condition I have ever seen it in, which helped a lot. But, as always, it was still loose in places.

We walked out via Organ Peel Gap, which was uneventful, aside from it starting to rain around Baker’s Chalet.

We got back to the car around 5:15pm, slightly wet, but otherwise fine. Overall a great weekend out!

The Monk's Cowl Nature Reserve with its breathtaking vistas of sweeping grasslands on the lower reaches, to magnificent towering cliffs and waterfalls cascading for hundreds of metres makes this an area of the Maloti-Drakensberg Park worth visiting.

For very fit and experienced hikers / trail runners Sterkhorn (Mount Memory) can be reached on a day hike and at the top you will find the M.O.T.H memory cross.

Treverton Pupils and Teachers at the top of Sterkhorn (Image Credit: Travers Pellew)

On Sunday 3 Treverton pupils and 2 teachers took on this day hike which will contribute towards the outdoor pursuits awards the pupils can earn. Monks Cowl was reached at 6.15am and the hike started at 6.30am. The pace was fast and Breakfast Stream was reached an hour later, Blind Man's Corner was passed soon thereafter and a short stop to collect some water at the base of Sterkhorn before commencing the final climb up, only 2 hours had passed!

Two hours later and everyone was at the summit (2 973m), a fantastic achievement to be very proud of.

Stunning views from the top of Sterkhorn (Image Credit: Travers Pellew)

This hike is not for everyone. The hike to the top of Sterkhorn is 8.3km's with a total elevation gain of just under 1.5km's and the return via the same route making it a very difficult 16.6km day hike.

Monks Cowl Nature Reserve - the start

The start of the hike is at the Monks Cowl Nature Reserve offices where you sign the mountain register. Your hike starts on the trail heading to Crystal Falls, the Sphinx and Breakfast Stream. By the time you reach breakfast stream you would have already climbed 550m in elevation over 3.4km's. A good spot to refill your water bottles and have a short rest.

Breakfast Stream

Next you head towards Blind Man's Corner, 2.5km's and 120m elevation gain, this section is the flattest of the whole route and is an easy stretch.

At Blind Man's Corner you turn left onto the contour path heading towards Injisuthi. You hike 400m along this path till you find a small path leading up towards Sterkhorn. If lucky you may find some water to refill here, else the water you got back at Breakfast Stream will have been the last opportunity.

The Sterkhorn climb starts in earnest.

Follow the path up to Sterkhorn and your hike now begins in earnest, you have 2.1km's and 720m elevation to go. There are some exposed sections along the hike up where due care needs to be taken and finally some rock scrambling to the top.

Additional info about the hike can be found here.

Ensure a successful hiking trip each and every time be it a day hike or overnight hike by adopting these tried and tested tips and remember to always be prepared. It’s the Boy Scout motto, and it should be yours if you’re heading into the Drakensberg Mountains for a hike.

Forgetting items like rain gear, sunscreen or a fresh pair of socks can ruin a hike and even worse, being caught unprepared on top of the escarpment can be fatal. Follow these tips and stay safe.

1. Hike with at least two other people.

2. Your group should carry a map and a compass and know how to use them! Learn how to read a topographic map so you can identify the landforms you see outdoors in order to find your position on a map.

3. Study the map and hiking route beforehand so you know where you are going. Take note of any intersecting paths where you could potentially make a wrong turn. Identify a potential spot for lunch.

4. Choose a hike that works for all the members of your group. You don’t want to have to stop halfway because one person is not able to continue.

5. Check and watch the weather. Temperatures can easily drop by as much as 20 degrees celsius. 

6. Pack a minimum of two liters of water per person per day.

7. Pack a headlamp and extra batteries.

8. Always be prepared to have to spend the night out.

9. Sunscreen. High altitude and sun are brutal to the skin.

10. Pack a First Aid kit.

11. Pack a whistle or signal mirror in case you need help.

12. Wear the right shoes and make sure you break in your shoes with several short hikes before attempting something challenging.

13. Wear the right clothing. Do not wear cotton, as it retains moisture. Wear synthetic materials that wick water away from your skin and keep you warm.

14. Always pack an extra warm layer beyond what you think you’ll need, preferably something that will block the wind also.

15. Set an estimated safe turnaround time at which you will stop and go back to civilization, no matter what.

16. Take plenty of food and have at least one day's additional supplies.

17. Pace yourself. When you start your hike, you may feel like powering forward like a hero, not a great idea, you’ll be a zero by the end of the day if you don’t pace yourself. Pick a pace you can maintain all day. It might feel a little awkward at first, but after a while, especially uphill, you’ll be glad you saved your energy.

18. Tell someone where you will be. It’s important that someone not on the hike knows the itinerary and when to expect your return. Remind whoever is awaiting your return to allow for slow hiking, time spent taking in amazing views, or a minor injury.

19.Safety first. Emergencies can happen on the trail. Your cellphone should have all the emergency numbers saved and ensure you charge the battery before setting off and keep your phone off to preserve battery life for when you need it.

20. Take a 10-minute break every hour. Resting gives your body the time to get rid of the lactic acids built up in your muscles and to recover from the strains and possible pressure sores.

21. Pack the 10 essentials. The 10 essentials are not a list of items but of systems. These are the systems you should pack to stay safe in the Drakensberg Mountains.

1. Navigation (map & compass)
2. Sun protection (sunglasses & sunscreen)
3. Insulation (extra clothing)
4. Illumination (headlamp/flashlight)
5. First-aid supplies
6. Fire (waterproof matches/lighter/candle)
7. Repair kit and tools
8. Nutrition (extra food)
9. Hydration (extra water)
10. Emergency shelter (tent/plastic tube tent/garbage bag)

I often say that the most beautiful part of the Drakensberg is the part you are in at the time of answering the question. The logic is simple – anything else is just a photo. Sadly, no photo will ever do any justice to a mountain.

The Didima region of the Northern KZN Drakensberg has always been a special area to me. When I recently prepared a list of the top Drakensberg passes, four out of seven were at Didima. So when the forecast included 40cm of snow on Mafadi, and only 12cm on Cathedral Peak – it was an easy choice of where to move the hike.

It was Ross’ first time hiking to the top of the Drakensberg, so there were lots of unknowns. His recent running form had been very good, but road running and hiking are completely different sports with different challenges.

So we set off from Didima Office up Tryme Hill (as in “try me” hill). It is a reasonably steep hill, which means it is over fairly quickly. Unlike most approaches, there is no easy start – you are climbing as soon as you are out of

We made good time up the hill, and were greeted by the sight of 8 eland – 4 of which were babies.

There was a bit of a breeze, and it wasn’t too warm – perfect hiking weather. The air was nice and clear, making for perfect hiking conditions.

Camel Pass is notorious for exposure. But in dry conditions, there is nothing particularly serious about it. I had included this pass on my list of the best passes in the Drakensberg, and I can absolutely stand by this opinion having done it a second time.

We saw a bergadder along the way up the pass. I don’t know why – but I have been seeing far less snakes in the mountains recently. This seems unfortunate to me – these creatures are such an important part of the ecosystem. They are almost always harmless, unless provoked.

We saw two Basotho ladies just below Windy Gap, but otherwise we had the pass to ourselves.

We got to the escarpment fairly early in the day. I wasn’t sure how Ross would do, so we had the option of either staying in one of the many caves around Ndumeni Dome, or pushing on for Twins Cave. He was keen to push on, so after some lunch behind Castle Buttress, we began the slog up Cleft Peak.

Rolands Cave as seen from the slopes of Cleft Peak

Summit selfie – Cleft Peak 3277m

On the way off Cleft Peak, we bumped into some familiar faces (well, familiar to me anyway). It is always great to see friendly faces on top of a mountain!

Chris, Faye, Mavis and team taking summit shots on top of Cleft Peak

The Pyramid and Column as seen from the top of False Tseke Pass

We opted to use Elephant Gully. I rate that area between Elephant, Mahout and Cockade as the most scenic part of the Drakensberg. I have walked through it many times, and every time I am struck by how spectacular it is. Unfortunately it was late in the day, so I only have one average photo of the gully.

We had planned to hit Easter Cave, but seeing as I had accidentally deleted all my GPS waypoints that morning (second time I’ve done that in 5 months), we opted for Twins Cave – which is easier to find in the dark.

We reached the cave at 7PM, only to find that we would be sharing the cave with some more friendly faces! As it turns out, Ian, Riaan, Sanet and Nico were also sleeping in the cave. Luckily there is plenty of space.

That night was very cold – one of the coldest nights I’ve ever had in the mountains. The ambient temperature was below zero, as evidenced by my frozen water bottle – but the kicker was the wind that howled through the cave all night.

I got a few sunrise shots (without getting out of my sleeping bag, naturally).

Some icicles had formed overnight. I proceeded to convert these into a cup of coffee! We set off from Twins Cave around 8:30, into a rather strong wind.

We crossed over the saddle to be greeted with a large amount of snow just south of us. We had placed our route so perfectly that we just missed being in the snow, but were close enough to get some amazing views.

It was nice to finally do Mlambonja Pass in clear weather. I had done it twice before, once in mist and once at night.

There was a lot of snow around the Organ Pipes. Chris and his team slept in Rolands Cave that night, and had to wait till midday before being able to safely leave the cave.

We decided to take the scenic route to walk out – following the contour path to where it starts on the ridge below Orange Peel Gap. I had never done the section between the start of the contour path and One Tree Hill – it could very easily be the most scenic section of the entire contour path.

After walking out the final road section, we reached the car around 3:30PM. Our final distance was approximately 45km, with roughly 2.6km in altitude gain and loss in a time of roughly 32 hours. Overall one of the most scenic hikes I have ever done.

A four day circular hike from Injisuthi camp to Centenary hut on day one. Then up Corner pass and overnight in Upper Injisuthi Cave on day two. Summit Mafadi on day three and hike down Leslie's pass to camp at the base in tents. Day four is an easy hike to Marble baths and Injesuthi camp. Total distance is 42km and 2615m elevation gain and loss..

Video by Rookie Adventures

Rather than being about a specific adventure, it is about a place that we hold very close to our hearts: South Africa's Drakensberg mountains. It’s possibly our favourite place in South Africa.

Looking into Lesotho from the top of Giant's Castle Pass

There are two sides to the Drakensberg, the Midlands and the high Drakensberg. In this two-part series, we will describe exploring this mountainous world in Kwa-Zulu Natal, between Johannesburg and Durban. Part 1 will look at how to plan your own hiking adventure into the high Drakensberg and part 2 will look at exploring the Midlands and little Berg in a car and on foot.

Planning a multi-day hike into the Drakensberg can feel intimidating at first. It feels like you need loads of kit, need to be super fit and have lots of hiking experience. We hope this post will show you that it’s more manageable than you think and inspire you.

To reach the high Drakensberg (which are passes that lead up to the Lesotho border) typically requires a day of strenuous hiking. So, before you start planning you need to be fit. Not superhuman, Ironman fit but able to carry a pack and walk uphill for 8 hours (and then sleep in a cave or tent).

When first exploring the idea of hiking in the Berg the first thing that overwhelmed me was the seemingly endless route options. In time, I learnt to embrace this as part of the beauty of the Berg. Because it is such a vast wilderness and there are so many different routes it is unlikely that you will see more than a couple of people while you are out hiking.

The first overnight hike I did was with my dad up the infamous chain ladders, to the top of the Amphitheatre in the Royal Natal National Park and then across to the Ifidi Cave. We drove down from Johannesburg on a Friday after work and stayed at the Witieshoek Mountain Lodge before setting off on our hike early Saturday morning. I learnt a lot on this first hike, mainly about navigation and water.

Buy hiking maps

Above the clouds

The best way to start planning your route is to buy the hiking maps for the Berg. They are available at Maps4Africa in Johannesburg and Takealot. In London, you can buy them at Stanfords. We also use the forum comments on Vertical Endeavour to give us an idea of route conditions and hiking times.

If you can get your hands on a copy of David Bristow’s book, Best Walks of the Drakensberg, that will also help you understand the different routes. There is a fair degree of poetic license in the book (especially around distances and travel times). So, take everything in it with a pinch of salt.

Don’t over commit

Be careful of planning too much driving and hiking in one day. Driving to the Berg from Joburg takes about 4 hours, depending on where you are going. Planning to hike 6 to 8 hours on the same day can be very hard.

The same goes for the way back. If you are Joburg based, the best thing to do is take a half day on a Friday and drive down to the Berg. Stay at the Parks Board accommodation or hike for an hour into the mountains (if you are brave this can be done in the dark). Hike all day on Saturday and then aim to be back at your car by latest 3 pm on Sunday.

Book your cave & pack your tent

When hiking in the Berg you will either sleep in a cave or in a hiking tent on the mountain. Good caves offer fantastic shelter and often mind-blowing views. Detailed information on the condition and shelter offered by the numerous caves can be found on Vertical Endeavor and caves are all marked on the maps. Some caves need to be booked in advanced through Ezemvelo Wildlife.

My advice is to find a cave that you would like to sleep in and then plan your trip around getting to that cave. Always bring a tent - even if you don’t plan on using it – as things may not go to plan. Hikes often take longer than you anticipate or the weather could close in. Caves are few and far between at the top of the escarpment and this is where tents can save you.

Download Gaia GPS

Injisuthi

Hiking in the Berg is not like hiking in Europe or North America, where there are typically well-marked trails and often sign posted. Most hikes in the Berg start on a well-marked trail from an Ezemvelo Parks Board Office, and then as you get deeper into the mountains the paths normally disappear or often lead in multiple different directions, which are not marked on the map.

It’s easy to get lost. Download the Gaia GPS app on your phone. It’s a peer-sourced hiking map. Most of the main routes in the Berg are marked on it. Then visit Vertical Endeavour, a forum with invaluable information on hiking in the Berg or visit Drakensberg Hikes suggested hikes page with tracks and info of just under 100 hikes. It has GPS routes and waypoints you can download onto the Gaia app. So, you simply have to follow the line marked on the GPS.

Despite the best technology things can go wrong. While doing the Bell Traverse in April this year with two friends I accidentally knelt on my iPhone whilst rummaging around my hiking tent trying to find a head torch. The screen broke and we had no GPS. Fortunately, we had paper maps and a rough idea of where to go. We eventually managed to download the app on one of my hiking partner’s phone when we found cell phone reception. (The friend was from the UK and we used his work phone. He was told he was only allowed to turn data roaming on for emergencies – we thought this counted as one.)

Water, water, water

Giant's castle

Water can often be an issue when hiking in the Berg towards the end of the year, after a long dry winter. On the Ifidi Cave hike, we had to ration our water carefully and still ended up very dehydrated by the end. We went in November, which is at the end of the dry season.

During the Bell Traverse hike, the campsite (marked by a couple of stones in the ground) had no water source. With tents up, I went with one of my hiking partners up the valley in search of water. In the dark, we eventually located a spring in the mountain by listening for water. I have also done hikes in the Berg where there are waterfalls around every corner and you never have to worry about water at all.

Collect water whenever you find it. If you are sleeping in a cave research where the nearest water source is. Make sure you fill up with more than you need and drink what you can when you are at the water source. I don’t purify water in the Berg, as surely it must be some of the cleanest water in the world. I have never had a problem. A Life Straw is a good option if you’re squeamish.

Pack lightly

Indigenous forest at Injisuthi

In terms of kit, there is lots and lots of stuff you can buy for hiking. But travelling as light as possible is one of the most crucial factors for a successful hike. Good hiking boots, a warm jacket and the weather are other important factors. Hiking poles help a great deal also. We use the Outdoor Warehouse hiking checklist when packing for a hike. You can decide what you think is important or not (see the end of this post for a list of resources).

Packing enough food can be a challenge. I try to avoid freeze-dried hiking food - it is lightweight but doesn’t taste great or have that many calories. Pre-made frozen stews are ideal for the first night and then a pasta and sauce for night two works nicely for me.

Take care of yourself

Sadly, there are very infrequent security incidents in the Berg between hikers and semi-nomadic Basotho herdsmen, who live in Lesotho but occasionally they venture down mountain passes into South Africa. This is frequently associated with smuggling.

We have never had any security incidents in the Berg. I have encountered Basotho and they have all been incredibly friendly. The best advice is to check the Vertical Endeavour security incident page and read the Drakensberg Hikes guide. Don’t pitch your tent next to major paths at the top of the escarpment or in the middle of mountain passes.

It is essential that you sign in and out of the mountain register at the Parks Board office before and after every hike. Also, tell a family member or friend where you plan to hike and when you expect to return. If you don’t they can raise the alarm.

The raw wilderness, epic views and peace of the Berg make it an extra special place that will forever be in our hearts. I hope you can enjoy it too. Good luck and take lots of photos.

Useful links

• Gaia GPS: https://www.gaiagps.com
• Info on Berg, hiking routes & security: https://www.drakensberghikes.com/
• SA's Online Hiking Community‎ http://www.hikingsouthafrica.co.za/
• Info on Berg, hiking routes & security: https://www.vertical-endeavour.com/
• Hiking checklist: https://www.outdoorwarehouse.co.za/expert-advice/article/hiking-checklist
• Buy maps in the UK: http://www.stanfords.co.uk
• Order maps: https://www.maps4africa.net/
• Book caves: http://www.kznwildlife.com/
• Slackpacking & Hiking Trails: http://www.drakensberghikes.co.za/

Article supplied by Kate + Ben, visit their website here: http://www.kateandben.org

For many years Didima Nature Reserve has been my personal favourite region of the Drakensberg. With the Cathedral Peak ridge, the Column and the Pyramid, the Organ Pipes and the Didima Cutback - it is truly a special area. I could list many reasons why Didima is my first choice in terms of beauty, but one small area stands head and shoulders above the rest - the cutback between Cockade Peak and the Elephant.

Having made three different trips that included Cockade Pass, its northern neighbour continued to elude me. Seeing as it stood as the only pass marked on the Geoseries Maps that I had not completed; I knew I needed to head out and bag the notorious Xeni Pass.

Xeni Pass is definitely not suitable for everyone, there are a few scrambles where you have to be careful not to bring a lot of rock down on yourself.

Marco capturing the sunrise from Neptune Hill. Mlambonja Buttress and Pass in the background.

Marco and I left Cathedral Peak Hotel at 5:30am. After briefly having a bit of difficulty finding the correct road to walk on, we found ourselves slogging up the route to Neptune Pools in the dark. We reached the point where the trail starts winding up the hill around sunrise.

We continued up the hill, reaching the contour path around 7:15.

The Pyramid and the Column with Cleft Peak in the background.

We stopped for a break on the contour path. Weather was perfect, but there was a lot of smoke in the air due to fires throughout the region.

As we completed the contour path section and dropped to the Xeni River, we were surprised to see some snow left on the vegetation as low as 2000m.

The approach to Cockade and Xeni Pass is well known for being overgrown, although I am not entirely sure why - any number of pass approaches that are considerably worse come to mind.

Xeni Pass as seen from the turn off from the contour path

The riverbed was very iced up, which made the approach a bit trickier than normal.

Ice on the rocks

Marco on one of the waterfall scrambles on the approach to the pass

After reaching the Xeni/Cockade split, it was new ground for both of us. The pass starts with a series of waterfalls which are bypassed by a steep grass side slope.

Marco scrambling up a steep grass slope

Looking up the pass

Eventually an easy traverse back into the gully is reached, and you can return into the gully.

Looking down the pass from the traverse into the gully

The gully includes various scrambles - some of which are fairly loose.

Marco deciding the best route up this obstacle. We bypassed it to the left in the end.

Marco scrambling up a grassy bypass around an obstacle

The gradient of the pass is definitely rather substantial!

As you get higher, the views become more and more impressive. The cliffs of Elephant and Cockade are visible in the distance, while the mighty Leopard towers above you.

Cockade Peak from Xeni Pass

Higher up, the gully narrows, making for some dramatic views.

Pyramid and Column come into view behind Cockade as you get higher.

Marco on yet another scramble

Almost at the famous worm hole.

The famous chockstone/wormhole. It is easily bypassed by walking under, around inside and then over the top.

Pyramid and Column as seen from near the top of the pass

From the wormhole the gully gets considerably easier and is over before you know it. We took a summit selfie before dropping down to the river for some lunch. We reached the river by 1:30, so roughly 7 hours from hotel to summit.

Summit selfie

Marco with a shepherd that came to chat to us during lunch

We had made good time up, but may have overcooked it a bit - the walk to the top of the Bell Traverse took longer than expected.

Top of the Bell Traverse

Twins Cave

The Mitre

The exposed corner to the Twins/Mitre saddle

The route started off about as simply as normal.The smoke in the valleys below obscured a lot of the view, but it was still its normal dramatic self. There had been a rock fall near the infamous ledge on the east slopes of the Mitre, which made the step across considerably more difficult.

Looking towards Easter Cave Peak

The Outer and Inner Horn

A dassie on the slopes of Outer Horn

Once the trail crossed over to the Bell, there was a significant amount of ice. Seeing as we had carried them all this way, we both put our crampons on.

Ice on the trail

The Bell

Marco on the iced up sketchy traverse near Bell Cave.

Sunset from Buggers Gully

Bell Traverse took considerably longer than planned, and we had our headlamps on shortly before Orange Peel Gap.

We were back at the hotel by 8:30, meaning that we took 15 hours to complete our 31km hike. Not express pace by any means, but also notably not the easiest route around.

Overall I rate Xeni Pass as one of the toughest passes I have done, but also one of the most worthwhile. I must stress that it should only be attempted by experienced hikers who are comfortable with heights and scrambling.

Also a big thanks to the staff of Albert's Bar at Cathedral Peak Hotel for arranging food for us after the hike!

Christeen and I have been taking South Africans and overseas visitors on day and multi-day trips to Lesotho as professional mountain guides since 2006, sometimes two or three times a week.

These notes are an attempt to help hikers, when hiking over and along the top of the Drakensberg Escarpment, and overland travellers, understand some of the basic differences between their own and Basotho culture, and understand some of the ‘way things work’ in The Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho.

We trust these notes will go some way to fostering more positive and tolerant attitudes, and avoid potential confrontation from misunderstandings and suspicion, caused by a difficulty in language communication and possible innocent ignorance.

Experienced hikers and frequent visitors to Lesotho will possibly find that many of the points have become ‘second nature’ to them. Please accept that these notes have been written with the inexperienced or first time hiker and visitor in mind, but we hope that regular visitors to Lesotho will still find them useful.

• The country is called Le-Sotho (the place of the Ba-Sotho). The people are called Ba-Sotho (plural). One Basotho is a Mo-Sotho (singular). The language they speak is called Se-Sotho (or Southern Sotho).
• Lesotho is not a province of South Africa! The independent country of Lesotho (formally Basutoland) has a very different history, and works very differently to most of South Africa. Because the country is so isolated by its mountainous terrain, its traditional Bantu and African culture is still strong, more especially in the ‘highlands’ which comprise about 70% of the country. This attribute is a tourist ‘draw card’ and many overseas visitors pay a lot of money to experience and interact with this age old culture and lifestyle, long gone in developed countries.
• No agricultural land, including the high altitude grazing areas, is owned privately in Lesotho. Although the perception of visitors to the country is that nobody owns the land, because there are no fences to be seen, the reality is that everyone owns the land, and when travelling off-road, or hiking, you are still crossing someone’s land.
• For Basotho people, the eastern border of Lesotho is the escarpment edge, or ‘Dilomo sa Natala’ or the ‘The Cliffs of Natal’. Although the South African KwaZulu-Natal / Eastern Lesotho border is technically drawn along the watershed or continental divide of Southern Africa, this is a detail lost on the average Mosotho. So when you climb to the top of the Drakensberg, our advice is to regard yourself as having entered Lesotho territory. For a poorly educated Basotho shepherd (or herder), the border is where his sheep or goats start falling over the edge of the ‘Cliffs of Natal’ (or Drakensberg) into South Africa!
• When you cross into Lesotho you are no longer in the Drakensberg. The top of the Drakensberg in Lesotho are called the Maluti (sometimes spelt Maloti) Mountains. The Eastern part of the Malutis is often shown on South African maps as the ‘Drakensberg Range’, but they are not the Drakensberg! Ask any Mosotho. They even look different!
• You will see and come into contact with people on top of the Drakensberg and the Maluti Mountains. Do not expect it to be deserted! Particularly in the summer months, there will be numerous shepherds (herders) tending their family’s or 2 extended family’s domestic animals in the form of sheep (wool) goats (mohair) cattle (tractors) horses (cars) and donkeys (trucks).
• Shepherds (or herders) are almost without exception young boys. Their ages will range from as young as 9 or 10 years old to about 17 or 18 years old. Being a shepherd is an integral part of Basotho culture. But there are also adult shepherds as well, because options to gather wealth are very limited in Lesotho.
• Shepherds (or herders) live in small temporary dwellings called Metibo. These are basic rondavels with enclosures for their animals nearby. Two or three shepherds share one Motibo. The youngest one will have to do all the hardest work, just like what happens in an all-boys boarding school!
• When you are hiking in the high Malutis (or on the top of the Drakensberg) in Lesotho, you are in their space. They are not in yours!
• A friendly greeting, broad smile and a wave work well! This usually relieves any tension and suspicion from their side as to your intentions.
• The shepherds will probably have dogs with them. They have dogs primarily for their own protection and to protect their young animals from predators such as the Black Backed Jackal.
• When in Lesotho you will have company! People will sit close to you when you stop for a rest or to have something to eat. Even though it may be considered impolite in their culture, they will tend to approach you out of curiosity, or in an attempt to see what they can get from you. If you can greet them in Sesotho and convince them that you know something about their ways, it will help to establish some respectful ‘distance’. Remember that their sense of personal space is different from yours, and they will tend to sit or stand closer to you than what you are comfortable with in your western culture.
• Basotho shepherds are hungry! They have to survive on very little food by our standards, and learning to live with hunger is part of their upbringing as shepherds. In years gone by young men would have been drafted into warrior regiments after completing their initiation school at around 16 or 17 years old. Being a shepherd (or herder) is part of the toughening up process or ‘rite of passage’ to manhood. But they are not ‘starving’.
• It is rude to give something to a Mosotho with your left hand. It is also considered rude and demeaning to throw rather than give something to them. The respectful way to give something is with your right hand, supporting your right elbow with your left hand. Receive something by clapping and cupping both hands.
• If you hand a food item to anyone in the mountains, remove the wrapper first. Shepherds (or herders) have little or no concept of littering as we understand it. Take the wrapper back with your rubbish. If you are travelling through Lesotho, try to leave as little of your rubbish there as possible. Lesotho does not have the same sophisticated rubbish removal services and facilities for dealing with waste, as in most parts of South Africa. Should you as a visitor, add to their problem?
• When in Lesotho you will have an audience! Especially in the remote mountain areas, you are an object of intense curiosity. Your appearance, clothes and equipment are strange. You look to them, like a person from outer space would look to us! Many younger shepherds will probably never have seen a tent before. A ‘house’ and sleeping bag that you carry in a rucksack on your back is a completely alien idea to them! A camping stove is equally foreign, as is the way you cook your food.
• Being a shepherd is mind-blowingly boring for most of the time. You will be helping to relieve their boredom while you are up there with them!
• Shepherds (or herders) are teenagers. Testosterone levels are running high, just as with all male teenagers. This can lead to excessive bravado, posturing, role playing, and ‘showing off’ in front of visitors to their areas.
• Shepherds (or herders) wear grey blankets and carry short heavy sticks. The sticks are called Mulamu and are often carefully decorated with brightly coloured wire. A Mulamo is a ‘traditional weapon’ and it is a sign of being a ‘young man’ to carry one. Young boys learn traditional stick fighting as they grow up, as a ‘martial art’. It is a sign of respect from Shepherds to put their Mulamu on the ground when they talk to you. (But if they continue to hold it in their hand it does not necessarily mean they are about to attack you!). Shepherds may also carry a knobkerrie (or stick with a lump on one end), or a whip, especially if they are hunting with their dogs.
• Shepherds wear Balaclavas. From years of conditioning in picture books, advertising and the media, the image of a strange person approaching you wearing a balaclava when you are already out of your ‘comfort zone’ awakes the image in your mind of a criminal or burglar. In Basotho culture a shepherd should uncover his face when speaking to you, but he has probably been wearing the balaclava for so long that he has forgotten that he has it on! You can request him to remove it before speaking to him.
• Shepherds herd their animals by throwing stones. With sheep and goats, the stones are directed either side of, or ahead of the herd to direct them, and keep them together. They control their dogs by throwing stones at them. If the dog is barking at you, and the shepherd is behind the dog, it might appear as though they are throwing the stone at you instead of the dog. This could lead to unfortunate misunderstandings!
• Shepherds (as with most Basotho people living in the mountains) are able to communicate well with each other over long distances. They learn to project their voices, and this combined with the silence and lack of trees to deflect sound, enables them to hold a full conversation with others at up to a kilometre apart. Shepherds will try to communicate with visitors moving through their grazing areas, and will be surprised that we don’t (or can’t) reply! In addition, this can sound as though we are being ‘aggressively’ shouted at! Show that you have heard them by waving back.
• Let the shepherds approach you first, rather than you approach them. They usually have large dogs with them. The dogs can be unpredictable and provoked if you move too quickly towards them. This could give you the unfortunate impression that their dogs are being ‘set’ on you.
• Shepherds and even most adult Basotho in the highland villages have little or no understanding of why you are there! Going hiking for ‘fun’ is a completely foreign concept for them. Climbing up the Drakensberg to see the views and vistas they see every day makes no sense to them. Equally strange to most Basotho people is the idea that anyone from a developed country would want to come to their country to ride a horse, stay in their villages, eat their food, and pay for the experience! Riding a bicycle up and down their mountains, when they have perfectly good horses also makes no sense. Paddling a boat or kayak down a river seems very strange to them!
• Do not give ‘handouts’. Anything you give to people should be part of a friendly two way interaction. If people sit with you and interact in a friendly way, it would be appropriate to share some of what you have. Shepherds love cigarettes, and this can be a good medium of exchange in the right circumstances. If you are hiking, cycling or kayaking they are not heavy, and do not use up your carefully prepared food rations. Basotho shepherds and many men usually smoke anyway so you are not teaching them any new bad habits!
• Expect to ‘pay’ ‘something’ in exchange for photographs of people, and always ask permission first. In many African cultures, people consider that you are taking something from them when you take a photograph. It has a lot to do with their traditional belief systems. What you exchange with them for that privilege would depend on their age and the actual circumstances. It could be a cigarette, food item, R2.00 or even R5.00, if the subject is an adult. If you are not prepared to be part of such an exchange, rather put your camera away! If your interactions have been very friendly up to then, they may not ask for anything. Generally, Basotho people really enjoy seeing their picture on the camera’s screen. Do not tell people that you will send copies of the pictures to them, unless you mean it! It is considered disrespectful to take photos of government buildings, the house of a Chief or the King’s house.
• Many Basotho shepherds smoke Cannabis (or Dagga). It is cheaper than tobacco, relieves boredom and the pangs of hunger, helps pass the time, and helps them to feel warmer when it is cold. But it could possibly cause them to behave ‘out of character’ at times.
• Children ask for sweets (and money) because they have been given handouts of sweets (and money) in the past. You are paying for the thoughtless past actions of previous visitors. Handing out sweets for no reason promotes a culture of begging and expectation. That child will grow up to be a shepherd, and then an adult, who will expect something from you for nothing, later. We have witnessed visitors throwing sweets at children along the road as they drive past in their 4x4’s. There are very few dentists in Lesotho, and their parents would probably not be able to afford their services anyway. Before giving anything to a child you should consult their parents first. (Just as you would like a stranger to do before giving anything to your children!).
• Respect for elders is an integral part of Basotho culture. Demand this respect from younger Basotho by not showing any signs of being intimidated, and by demonstrating that you have some knowledge of their culture.
• Learn some basic Sesotho greetings and pleasantries. Just as when you would visit any foreign country where the residents speak little English, some time spent on this beforehand will pay handsome dividends.
• Ask people their names and the name of their home village. Give them your names. Just like you, they also want to be recognised as people.
• Ask the shepherds to point out where their Motibo (small shepherd’s house) is situated. Do not approach a Motibo before being invited to come closer because there are often large dogs there. Even if a Motibo appears deserted, shepherds often leave dogs there to protect it and their food supply. The dogs sometimes lie around camouflaged amongst the rocks, waiting to give you a nasty surprise! There are often tall cairns of stones around or close to a Motibo, which can provide prior warning of where they are situated.
• Take an interest in their lifestyle. Basotho people have a fascinating, unique and harsh existence which is a story on its own. They learn independence and self sufficiency from an early age. Most of our young people no longer have the privilege of learning these lessons! Recommended reading; ‘Shepherd Boy of the Maloti’ by Thabo Makoa. Morija Museum and Archives. ISBN 99911-632-3-9.
• When in Basotho villages make a fuss of, and admire the children! As with us all, but even more so in Basotho culture, their families are very important to them. It is a very good way of ‘breaking the ice’ and establishing common ground.
• Basotho children are often only trying to communicate. They learn some basic English at school, and questions such as ‘what is the time?’, and statements such as ‘give me sweets’, ‘give me money’, and even ‘give me your camera’ (!), although harsh to our ears, are mostly an attempt to get a reaction!
• You display immense wealth to the average Mosotho. Even the kit carried by an overnight hiker represents much more than the average shepherd is likely to own. Overland travellers with a 4x4 vehicle and off-road trailer, loaded with all the things needed for their journey through ‘Darkest Africa’, represents more that the average Mosotho family will own in their whole life! Generally, Basotho people cannot understand why we need it all!
• Wearing military style clothing tends to needlessly raise levels of suspicion. Would you consider crossing into, or hiking along the border of Namibia, Angola or Tanzania (for example) wearing items of military clothing?
• The growing and selling of Marijuana / Cannabis (or Dagga) is not generally considered to be a crime by the average person in the Lesotho Highlands. No matter what our views on the subject may be, this activity is part of life in Lesotho. Smugglers taking huge risks to carry this product over the border to supply the strong demand from South Africa, are just average young men trying to make some money where there are few, if any, other options.
• Of course there are criminals in Lesotho! But in the rural villages petty crime is almost unheard of. The average Basotho hates criminals as much as you do (especially stock thieves!). So there is no reason to believe that the proportion of criminals to non-criminals in Lesotho is any higher than in any other country.
• If you have any crime problems, and you have an idea where the perpetrator lives, the first recourse would be the nearest Chief or Headman, if possible. If the ‘problem’ comes from a child, then the first recourse would be the child’s parents. Locating the parents of a child can be time consuming and inconvenient, but if you persevere, the child will be punished and you will save a future visitor to Lesotho from a potentially more serious encounter with that ‘child’ as it becomes older and bolder! You may also save that child from a prison sentence sometime in the future! If the crime is committed by an ‘outsider’ to the local villages, the next recourse would be the police.
• Ask permission before making camp. If there are older shepherds around and you are near a Motibo you should consult them and ask permission (if possible). When you are travelling through the villages you should always locate the Chief or Headman for permission before making camp. He (or in some cases she) will probably expect you to camp where he and his extended family can take responsibility for, and ensure your safety. This might not be the most ideal or ‘beautiful’ spot from your perspective!
• It takes much longer to get anywhere in Lesotho than you might be tempted to think from distances on the map! Driving times are increased by the many animals being herded along the roads, the state of the roads themselves, and the very many sharp corners that can only be negotiated at a ‘snails pace’. Measure distances in ‘driving time’ rather than kilometres, to avoid rushing through the beautiful scenery, Basotho villages and towns, and possibly risk colliding with children or domestic animals. Take the advice of people who have done the trip before!

SOUTHERN SECRETS HIKING AND BACKPACKING
PO BOX 111 MERRIVALE 3291 KwaZulu-Natal SOUTH AFRICA

Philip Grant: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Cell +27 (0) 82 417 9163 Professional National Mountain Guide (KZN 0904)

Christeen Grant: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Cell +27 (0) 82 417 9162 Professional Mountain Guide and Nature & Culture Guide (KZN 1025) Illustrator, Artist & Photographer

A stunning guided trail into this lesser known part of the Maloti-Drakensberg Park. Discover San rock art, protea and tree ferns, indigenous forests, wild flower gardens and rare birds. Pass through rural villages and be greeted by friendly local communities and experience traditional culture. At the end of each day be welcomed by your hostess at comfortable chalets where you can enjoy a hot shower, African cuisine and an inviting bed!

Located in the relatively unexplored Southern Drakensberg, at the junction of the Eastern Cape, Kwa Zulu Natal and Southern Lesotho, the Mehloding Trail takes you on a path of rich and diverse natural and cultural heritage.

The quaint and welcoming town of Matatiele, 70km from Kokstad forms the perfect gateway to the trail, half way between Underberg and Rhodes. The route traverses spectacular mountainous foothills and rural villages, taking in visits to ancient rock-art, sparkling streams, indigenous trees, medicinal plants, craft projects and top of the world views.

MALEKHALONYANE CHALET DAY ONE: 14 km Alt: 1591m

Starting point after overnight at Malekhalonyane chalet near Motseng village. Chalet is in open grassland with mountain views along which the trail traverses in a north-easterly direction. Cross over the Jordan river soon after starting the hike. Pause to inspect rock art paintings on route which your guide will point out. Short steep climb up onto grassland ridge with easy walking decending down to stream crossing near Masupha village. Moderate climb with great views followed by descent through Mpharane village to chalet.

MAKHULONG CHALET DAY TWO: 20 km Alt: 1560m

Descend through Mpharane village to cross the Seeta river. This can be deep in summer requiring careful negotiation. Thereafter a steady climb using footpaths and sled tracks to reach a long easy ridge with excellent 360 degree views. Through a nek and contour path to the protea level where the path meanders through open grassland with streams and incised valleys. A final moderate climb takes you to the chalet at Maboloka located below the Twin Sisters and Makalane peaks. A walk down to the stream and through Mountain Hardpear trees takes one to a panel of well preserved rock art in the sandstone belt.

MABOLOKA CHALET DAY THREE: 14 km Alt: 1663m

Moderate climb along stock paths up pleasant contour with interesting sandstone features. Descend to Kinira river (good clean water for drinking) and follow undulating terrain through Goxe and Pepela villages. Cross Makomoring stream (some wattle infestation) and climb up to the chalet located in protea grassland. The chalet at Madlangala is surrounded by encircling mountain peaks and has a sense of space and clear mountain air.

MADLANGALA CHALET DAY FOUR: 13 km Alt: 1685m

Your last day's hike is a pleasant contour walk with patches of indigenous forest, protea groves, fascinating sandstone features and mountain grassland. Depending on season, you will find many species of wildflowers and birdlife along this section. The trail ends nears Qachas Nek (border post with Lesotho) where you will be collected by vehicle and taken back to Matatiele where your cars will have been safely parked.

Enquiries and Bookings:

Mehloding Community Tourism Trust
Tel / Fax (039) 737 3289
Email : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Further information can also be found here and a trail brochure can be downloaded here.

You have decided to want to go on a Hike in the Maloti-Drakensberg Park, what do you do next?

After assisting many people who have asked questions for a hike they would like to do and now knowing the types of questions asked we thought it may be helpful to outline the steps so that when you go on your hike you are fully prepared and know the type of hike that best suits you, how to get to your destination, what you need to pack, how long your hike will take, what to do in case of an emergency and most importantly how to get the most enjoyment out of your hike.

Step 1: Where will you start from for your hike?

The Maloti-Drakensberg Park is huge and is thus split into 17 regions (entrance points).  These 17 regions are listed in detail here (will open in a new tab for ease of reference).

These 17 entrance points are what make up the Northern, Central and Southern Drakensberg. When you read the information on any of these regions an overview of the region is given, the contact numbers, what accommodation and activities are available at the reserve and most importantly directions to get to the reserve. Your hike will in all likelihood start from one of these reserves.

Of the 17 regions, 13 are run by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife. The entry fee (daily conservation fee) to these reserves is currently R60 per adult and R30 per child per day. A detailed schedule of the tariffs can be downloaded here. If you are doing a day hike starting at any of these reserves then you simply arrive at the reserve on the day, pay the applicable entrance fee, park in the designated day parking area and go out and enjoy your hike. Overnight hikes, where you sleep in your own tent or a cave are charged at R100 per adult and R50 per child.

Should you choose to stay in a campsite or chalet at these reserves then refer to the accommodation schedule of tariffs in their booklet above for prices for each reserve as what is available and prices vary per reserve. Booking accommodation you will do by phoning the central reservations office of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife - +27 (0)33 845 1000 or by booking online at: https://bookings.kznwildlife.com

The Mnweni (AmaZizi Traditional Authority Area) and AmaZizi Traditional Authority Area are not part of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and forms part of a Community Conservation Area. The park entrance fee is R45 for adults. Camping at Mnweni Cultural & Hiking Centre is R90 per person and the chalets are R250 per person. Overnight hiking is R90 per person.

The Sehlabathebe National Park is in Lesotho and the contact number is +266 2232 6075. Some further information can be found here.

The entrance to Sentinal Car Park (the start of the Chain Ladder Hike) is run by Transfrontier Parks Destinations (TFPD) and administered by Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge. The first 4km's of the 7km section of road after Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge to Sentinal Car Park is not in good condition and a 4x4 vehicle is advised.

Step 2: Decide on your hike

Now that you have decided where to start, know the costs and how to get there you need to choose a hike. This may be a day hike or overnight hike. Overnight hikes would mean you will either stay in a tent you carry, in a cave or in one of the Huts.

If your hike includes staying in a cave download this document which lists all the caves showing the number of people each cave can accommodate and the contact numbers for the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife reserve where the cave booking needs to be made. Cave bookings are done directly with the reserve and not with Central Reservations. The cost of overnight hiking/accommodation paid to Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife for using a cave or your own tent is R85.00 per day.

If your hike includes staying in a hut (view the huts here) then your booking is made with  Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Central Reservations.

For ideas on hikes view our directory listings of hikes showcasing 95 hikes. We keep adding to this list so be sure to return and see what new hikes ideas are added. Alternatively use one of the many hiking books written. One such book is: Best Walks of the Drakensberg by David Bristow which covers most of the Maloti-Drakensberg and has short and long hike ideas with detailed directions.

Navigation

Please purchase a map (shown below) of the area published by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife before embarking on any of the hikes. The maps are usually available at the Reserve from where you will be hiking or at Ezemvelo head office in Pietermaritzburg.

Over the years we have used many different app's and devices to assist navigation, especially in the high berg and also when in very misty conditions where you cannot see more that 10 metres in front of you. We have found using BackCountry Navigator TOPO GPS to work extremely well on a cell phone and have never got lost. The app costs R159.99 and is worth the cost.

How to use the app is explained by the developer and one of the best things is you can pre download the map of the area you are hiking so no cell reception is required, the tracks and markers you will add manually to the app, if you see a track listed in one of our hikes we are happy to share it with you to add to your phone, just email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

A new version of this app is coming out soon and as part of their kickstart project we will be able to test the beta versions.

Mountain Rescue

When going on your hike you will fill in the Mountain Rescue Register (in case you get lost, someone hurts and ankle, etc). It is very important this is filled in accurately so that if you need to be found then MCSA knows where to start looking, the Maloti-Drakensberg Park is vast in size.

In the event of a mountain rescue emergency it is best to try and contact the local KZN Wildlife ranger in the Drakensberg and report the matter to them first. If this is not possible, or if you are not in the Drakensberg, you must dial 0800 005133 and report that this is a "mountain rescue". The operator will in turn contact one of the MCSA rescue organisers.

Step 3: Is your hike safe?

Overnight camping in potential problem areas should be avoided to minimise the chance of something going wrong and if near the potential problem areas sleeping in one of the caves down a pass is potentially a better alternative, caves at top of the passes in the potential problem areas should also be avoided, for example Rate Hole Cave.

Below are 4 images with the potential problem areas near the escarpment where pitching a tent for the night should be avoided if possible to minimise the chance of any incidents. If near these areas walking to the next valley to pitch your tent is a better alternative.

The latest incident was at Ntonjelana pass on 02 January 2019 and the hikers were confronted by two people dressed in camo pants, a civilian top and armed with an R4 rifle. No one was harmed but extreme caution needs to be taken if hiking in this area.

Step 4: Bushman Paintings - also a hike option

One of the Drakensberg's greatest treasures is cultural. Some 40 000 individual rock paintings have been recorded at 600 different cave and overhang sites between Royal Natal and Bushman's Neck.

A list of all the caves (41) with Bushman Paintings we are allowed to visit with an accredited guide can be viewed here.

Below is an image from Mpongweni (Sipongweni) North Shelter is in the Cobham area. Mpongweni North Shelter is a must visit if you are interested in Bushman Paintings. It's a long uphill hike of about 6 hours to the site but well worth the visit. Probably best to overnight and make this a 2-day trip. Read more...

Please note that visitors may only visit rock art sites that are officially open for public visitation and they must either have a permit or be accompanied by an Amafa accredited custodian or guide depending on the management arrangements at each site. All of the open sites have a management plan and trained guides or custodians that will accompany the guests to the rock art site, relate the code of conduct and that would supervise the visitors’ behaviour. The list of public rock art sites can be seen here.

Step 5: Hiking Equipment, Food, etc...

We have compiled detailed pages that give an introduction to hiking, hiking ethics, hiking gear and food ideas here. This will give you a good idea of what type of gear you need and food you should take with. As you do more hikes (day hikes and overnight hikes) you will discover what suits you best, which kit is essential and what food you like to take with that does not make your backpack too heavy, there is always a compromise between weight and what you take with on your hikes.

Step 6: Enjoy your hike

Being as prepared as you can and knowing what to expect on your hike will allow you time to stop, enjoy the views, take some amazing pictures and enjoy your time with your fellow hikers. 

If you have any questions email us on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will try assist and answer any other questions you may have.

A four day hike from Cathedral Peak Hotel to Rolands Cave in May 2018. Day one is from the hotel past Ribbon falls and camping in tents below camel pass. Day two is up Organ Pipes Pass to Rolands Cave for the night. Day three is down the escarpment to Mikes pass for the night in tents and a short easy hike back to the hotel on day four.

Video by Nicola Freitas

On Saturday, Carl and I went up Rhino S Route, in the Southern Drakensberg, South Africa. Rhino Peak is a 3056m peak, traditionally hiked up, but does include a few rock climbing routes. The S Route and Eastern Arete Route are both considered classics.

The route is described as 6 pitches, which go at (South African Trad Grades) E3, F1, C, D, C, F1 per the latest guidebook, or F1, F1, E, E, B and F1 per the original route description. Seeing as I am relatively inexperienced at rock climbing, Carl agreed to lead all the difficult pitches, and I would see how I felt about leading the 3 easy ones.

We started walking just before 5AM, and sat in Pillar Cave Annex waiting for it to get light enough to head off.

We left the trail at the same spot as one would use for Eastern Arete, but then turning left instead of right where you start traversing. In retrospect, I would stay on the trail for a while longer and hit the gully below the climb directly. Nonetheless, our line wasn't particularly inefficient.

We scrambled to a small cubbyhole to have a snack before commencing the first scramble. This was harder and looser than anticipated, so Carl trailed a rope up for me. The scramble was from steep ground above a large cliff, so I was relieved to have the rope. First move of the scramble, my hold broke and I fell. Second try, and another hold broke, a good start!

Anyway, once we were through the supposedly easy scrambles, we finally hit the first pitch. By this point, backing off the route is already basically impossible, so we were relieved that the first pitch didn't look particularly bad.

Carl lead and got up fairly quickly. Once through the open book, it is a steep exposed walk to the stance. We had about 4m of rope to spare (using 50m ropes, I guess 60m ropes should be used on this route). I got through the crux relatively quickly (all free climbing), but most certainly wouldn't have been comfortable on lead. This pitch is probably the least exposed of the entire route.

Gearing up for pitch 1

itch 2 was odd. The RD made it very clear where the pitch was, but we both were a bit confused at the sequence. The only gear through the crux was about 1m off the ground, and had to be extended as it was off route, so it functioned more as a backup for the belay rather than actual gear. Carl got through the sequence as I watched trying to figure out how on earth I would pull this sequence off.

Stance at the top of pitch 1

Carl leading pitch 2

After trying the first move a few times, I got my prussik out and used it as a aid handhold. Even with this, the sequence was tricky and I was very happy that I didn't have to lead it (I'm actually not certain that I would have been able to lead it). The first useful gear on the crux was right at the top, and made another handy aid point for me. Once again, once through, you walk/scramble on exposed ground to the stance, which is also close to 50m from the previous stance.

Seeing as I wasn't too psyched out, I decided to lead pitch 3. In retrospect, I should have done this in trail shoes, as most of the pitch is on grass and slippery/loose rock, so the fact that climbing shoes don't grip well on grass didn't help! The first placement was about 4m in, and the next one was almost 40m in. So, just to settle my nerves, I put a sling around a bush on this section, knowing fully well that it wouldn't do anything if I did actually fall. Eventually, as I ran out of rope, I found 3 placements, so I set up my stance 4m from where it was supposed to be. Observations on my first proper Berg lead (unless you count free soloing the cliff on Injisuthi Pass):

1. When you are past 30m, even without rope drag due to there being no gear, the weight of pulling the rope up adds a massive amount of effort.
2. Even though the moves were easy, this lead isn't trivial, a fall would be serious and is possible as the rock isn't always good and is often covered in sand.
3. C grade means the moves are easy, not that the pitch is easy. Climbing is a head game, and looking down and seeing more than 20m between you and your last meaningful piece is actually rather intimidating, even if the moves are so easy that you shouldn't fall (if the rock holds).
4. When a pitch is that easy, but that long, your seconder basically running up the route gives you a very sore arm as you belay them!
   
   

While pitch 3 was easy, the gear was very minimal. Notice where my last gear was in this shot!

Anyway, so Carl lead pitch 4, which is the famous Knife Ridge Pitch. The crux move is easy, but with a relatively small foothold (admittedly big enough to get more than a third of your shoe on) above a massive drop, and the next gear was quite far ahead, so I would have taken a big swing if I came off. Fortunately the pitch was shorter than the proceeding 3 and thus Carl made it to the stance without running out of rope, so we were back to having the correct stances.

Preparing to leave the stance and start pitch 4

The great south face of Rhino

Pitch 5 was probably the part I found most scary. In retrospect it shouldn't have been, but a combo of wind and poor line planning on my part almost ended really badly. So the RD says go over the block above the stance. Carl decided to go around rather and avoid having to downclimb on the other side. This pitch was another full rope length, and as soon as he had taken in the slack, I realised that I couldn't unclip the piton on top of the large boulder, and he couldn't hear me shouting "slack". So I took out what I could, and left the sling and biners in place. I then started around the corner, but stayed too low. Upon removing the piece Carl used to protect the move, I realised that I couldn't see another piece in the next section, so I wasn't sure where the next gear was. I had also stayed too low, but had to go back 1m to get a bit higher, and Carl couldn't hear me shouting "slack" in the wind.

After a few minutes of trying to get slack, I realised that I had to try and do the harder lower move, and if I fell, at least every bit of rope Carl took in would mean a slightly shorter fall. By the time I was doing the move, I had come to terms with the fact that I would fall, I would swing into that cliff and probably have a broken leg, or worse. But there was nothing I could do, I couldn't communicate with Carl, and I couldn't aid the move, so I just had to do it, slowly and carefully.

Aside from the wind, weather was perfect!

Somehow I stuck the move, and looked back to realise how easy walking over the boulder would have been! I proceeded to walk to the stance and realised that there wasn't a single piece of gear on the rope between where I almost came off and the next stance, Carl and I had a good laugh about this when I told him why I took so long. Sitting at my computer typing this, I can't help but think how lame this must sound, couldn't have been that bad, it was only a C pitch. Nonetheless, I rate this pitch is actually easier to lead than to second, but do go over the top, not around!

Carl went back to go and retrieve the sling, and I had to appreciate why he couldn't feel me tugging, even without gear, the rope drag on this pitch was really bad due to the ridges along the pitch that the rope goes over. When he emerged over the ridge on the way back, he must have been holding 25m of slack that I hadn't taken in, even though the rope felt tight. So basically: pitch 5 is really easy if you take the right line, but don't expect any gear, and the rope is mostly for show. Definitely a pitch for hiking shoes, not climbing shoes. And in retrospect, by far the easiest part of the route (if you go over the boulder, that is).

Pitch 6 (the crux pitch) looked fairly short from below, and was the first pitch where the stance didn't feel like the leader would pull you off the mountain if your belay station didn't hold the fall. We stopped for something to eat and drink before Carl started up the pitch. Because the spot wasn't exposed, I only anchored myself in via the piton at shoulder height. This pitch is bypassable, but is supposed to be the best pitch of the climb. Well, the bottom of it is predominantly loose rock, so I suspect they were referring to the crux sequence. Fortunately getting to the "welcome piton" is fairly easy, and the crux sequence does have some gear. Carl got up it relatively easily, and for once we had about half the rope left over when he got to the top of a pitch.

I got through the bottom section easily enough, but annoyingly dropped the draw that Carl had placed on the "welcome piton", and was not up for descending to recover it (especially since it was getting late). I was struggling with the crux move, so I got out the old prussik and attached it to left rope to get myself an aid handhold. Once through this section, I managed to free climb the rest of the crux sequence, which requires moving right and then taking a staircase of holds back left.

We were both very happy to be up, but soon realised that the first of the two supposedly easy scrambles was a choice between a difficult foot-jam move, or a very exposed easier move. Carl pulled my pack up and placed a cam to give me some protection on the exposed move. While doing the move, I got some gear on my gear loop stuck in a crack, which resulted in me being stuck in a rather uncomfortable position for what felt like a really long time. When I got free, we kept going, the top scramble was considerably easier.

We walked up to the summit, got the obligatory summit selfie just after 4PM. It had taken much longer than planned, but one has to account for the fact that, despite having done rock climbing for about 6 years now, I still haven't done much and am relatively inexperienced. Also, despite the fact that most of my climbing has been in the Drakensberg, this was only the 6th route I have completed, and by far the hardest and longest.

We walked out via Mashai Pass, and arrived back at the camp around 9PM, so not express pace by any means, but heavy climbing packs plus being tired after a long day does not equate to a fast time.

Overall I rate the route is spectacular, but also very exposed and the possibility of it going wrong is there. You also can't back off the route, so not a wise route for beginners.

Thanks Carl for taking me along, it was an awesome day out!

A three day circular hike from Mnweni Cultural Village up Mnweni Pass and down Rockeries Pass of 38km's and 2164m elevation gain and loss.

Video by Roughing It With Ruth

Organ Pipes Pass is probably one of the most commonly used passes in the KZN Drakensberg. The name is derived from the very impressive wall of rock pinnacles near the top of the pass.

The ridge offers stunning views of the Cathedral and Cathkin ridges. This route is commonly used for smuggling activities and is best avoided at night. Do not camp near the top of the pass.

In terms of scenery, there are few passes that can compete with this one.

Route Description

Park at the boom gate at the entrance, or if you will be hiking for more than a day, at the Didima offices (in which case you will need to walk down the road back to the boom gate at the entrance).

The Camel, Column and Pyramid as seen from higher up on the pass

A Berg Adder warming up in the sun

Walk up Mikes Pass. This is a road pass that dates back to the days of pine plantations in the area. These plantations have left a very noticeable scar on some of the ridges, and an infestation of alien trees. Volunteer teams are working hard to eradicate these alien trees, and have made amazing progress in recent years.

Cleft Peak. Note the erosion in the foreground, this dates back to the old pine plantations.

If you watch carefully, you will see a trail leaving to the left of the road about 3km in. This trail goes through the gap in the cliffs to bypass a significant portion of the road. It is occasionally possible to arrange to drive up the pass, or for Ezemvelo to take you up the pass, but this policy changes from day to day, and arranging it in advance does not necessarily result in such use being allowed.

Looking back towards the top of Mike's Pass from near the Contour Path

Once up Mike's Pass, you will reach a locked boom gate. After this, keep an eye out for a turnoff to the right, which you will need to take, followed by a trail that turns off to the left. This description is notably vague, and I highly recommend using a GPS track to find the route as it is easy to go wrong, especially in the dark.

Interesting rock formations around 2700m on the pass.

The trail hits the contour path exactly at the turnoff for the pass. The pass starts off with a relatively steep slope up to the old fire lookout building, which is currently derelict.

From here, the trail gradually climbs the Thuthumi Ridge, before eventually reaching the final pass gully, and subsequently the summit.

The final summit gully

Fortunately the trail is very clear to follow, and once you are past the contour path, there are no spots where one is likely to lose the trial.

Essential Gear

It is notable that there is no water on this route, and in the dryer months, water above the pass can also be reasonably far into Lesotho. So make sure you carry enough water to get from your car to the top.

A hiker admires the view from the summit gully

Normal hiking gear is required for this route, with a good quality raincoat and a warm top being vital, even in summer. Other essential items such as headlamps with spare batteries, first aid kit, a phone with mountain rescue's number saved on it etc.

Accommodation

The Didima Campsite is currently closed, and it is unclear when it will reopen. Cathedral Peak Hotel and Didima Resort are both very well situated, although they might be a bit fancy for the average hiker.

The view looking north towards Cathedral Peak

Members of the Mountain Club of SA can book Cambalala Hut, situated conveniently close to the top of Mike's Pass.

The old fire lookout is not suitable for sleeping in, and there is nowhere suitable to camp between the bottom of the pass and the top. However, there are 5 different caves at the top of the pass, ranging from the fairly small Lower Ndumeni Caves to the legendary Rolands Cave. A video of the notorious walk in for Rolands Cave can be seen in the tab alongside.

Getting to Cathedral Peak

From Johannesburg 

Take the N3 Southbound towards Durban. At Harrismith, take the Phuthaditjhaba/Clarens offramp. After roughly 13km, turn left at for Bergville. Shortly after passing the town of Bergville, take the right turnoff marked "Didima/Cathedral Peak Hotel". After a short distance, you will need to turn right once again at a sign marked "Didima/Cathedral Peak Hotel". You won't need to turn off from this road before reaching the reserve. The boom gate at the entrance is the start of your route, although you will need to proceed to the Ezemvelo offices first to complete the mountain register and obtain your permits.

From Durban

Take the N3 Northbound towards Harrismith. Take the Winterton offramp, and follow this road till you reach Winterton. At the traffic lights (the first traffic lights since the offramp), turn left. After about 1km, you will need to turn right, this should be signposted (saying Drakensberg World Heritage Site) but the sign is not always there. Follow this road till you reach a T junction, at which you turn right.
Roughly 1km later, you will see a left turn off marked "Didima/Cathedral Peak Hotel". Take this offramp.

You won't need to turn off from this road before reaching the reserve. The boom gate at the entrance is the start of your route, although you will need to proceed to the Ezemvelo offices first to complete the mountain register and obtain your permits.

More information and the tracks for this hike can be read here.

This past weekend a group of Treverton College boys, girls and teachers went to the pristine Mnweni area. We walked about 8km up into the Mnweni valley, above the Mnweni pools, where another set of pools offered a beautiful setting to set up tents.

Water is flowing strongly in the streams at the moment after the good rains, everything is beautiful and green. The hikers did not get the usual bus fever at the end of the trip and were reluctant to leave this piece of paradise. Thank you to Mr Derek Brown who initiated, organised and led the hike.

Explore all Mnweni has of offer here.

When I was a child, we used to go to the Northern Drakensberg every couple of months. My parents would attend meetings and work-related activities, and my sibling and I would roam around the resort. We played volleyball, rode horses, took the quad bikes for a spin and went on hikes.

This is where my love affair with hiking started…

As Ryan’s birthday is on a public holiday (Freedom Day), which happened to fall on a Friday this year, I decided to take Ryan to the Drakensberg for a birthday weekend getaway.

I started researching hikes in the Royal Natal National Park and was amazed to find out that the Tugela Falls (The world’s highest waterfall) is within the park. I also discovered that the hike to the Tugela Gorge is one of the longest hikes in the park and is considered one of South Africa’s best one-day hikes.

The drive from Johannesburg to the Mont Aux Sources Hotel is approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes. The road passes by beautiful landscapes and through the historic town of Harrismith before reaching the Sterkfontein Dam and turning onto the mountain pass that eventually reaches the Mont Aux Sources Hotel.

We arrived at the hotel close to sunset and were met with a troop of baboons grazing the field right outside our chalet. We decided to get an “early” night so that we could be up bright and early for our hike to the Gorge.View from our Chalet at the Mont Aux Sources Hotel.

View from our Chalet at the Mont Aux Sources Hotel

As holidays go, our “early” start didn’t end up being so early. The Royal Natal National Park is about a 1 kilometre drive from the hotel. We arrived at the gate of the Royal Natal National Park at about 10 AM.

To get to the start of the trail, we paid the entrance fee into the Park and drove to the parking lot of Thendele Camp. At the parking lot there is a big board with a map showing all the trails in the Park. The start of the hike is marked with a sign and the trail is clearly defined.

The hike follows a path along the side of the mountain next to the river all the way to the Gorge – this same path is followed back to the starting point of the trail. Even though the hike is about 17 kilometres in total, it’s not strenuous but relatively flat all way. The only thing that makes this hike a bit tough is the distance.

On the day we hiked, the weather was pleasant – not cold and not scorching hot. Perfect Autumn hiking weather. The only downside to the hike was how busy the trail was! EVERYONE decided to make use of the long weekend to go on a short holiday… a number of school camps, families, children, grandparents. No one was deterred from hiking this trail.

About a kilometre after the start of the trail, there is a bridge that needs to be crossed. Shortly after that, the eroded sandstone pillar known as Policeman’s Helmet is in sight. Carry on walking along the path, which takes hikers in and out of lush forests and protea bushes. After about 6 kilometres, the trail takes you right into the riverbed of the Tugela, where you walk along the river for a couple of kilometres until you reach the Gorge.

This last end stretch before the Gorge is absolutely stunning with views of the bright and blue rock pools. At this point, you can either walk through the gorge or take the chain ladder on the right hand side and continue the trail to the base of the Tugela Falls. During rainy season, it is dangerous to wander through the gorge and it is highly recommended to take the chain ladder up the side of the gorge.

We decided to attempt the walk through the end of the gorge (the water was FREEZING). We turned around after reaching the bit where you have to use all your strength to scurry up over the rock wall to climb out of the gorge. At this point, we were tired, hungry and cold. We found a spot to devour our packed lunch and decided to make our way back to Thendele Camp.

The hike took us about 4 and a half hours in total, which included our lunch time.

I’ve done a number of hikes and this has been one of my favourite trails. The hike is flat but long. Around every bend is a new landscape with more incredible scenes. Besides the amount of people on the trail that day, you feel as if you are in the middle of nowhere. Simply nature and yourself.

If you are a hiking enthusiast, I highly recommend that you put this trail on your bucket list!

What to take:

• Walking shoes – proper walking shoes have better grip and help to prevent injuries sustained by slipping and falling.
• Water
• Food
• Sunblock
• Camera – you would not want to miss an opportunity to take some picturesque photos.
• Cellphone – always take a cellphone with you for in case of an emergency.

xxx Ingrid (Grace & Gaia) - https://graceandgaia.com

A group of five pupils accompanied by three staff members - Travers Pellew; Derek Brown; and Craig Robinson - headed off to Injisuthi to do two passes that were new to every member of the group. This hike formed part a student's Venture Award and as such it was their duty to lead the group.

After navigating the Injisuthi road, we were greeted by a brief storm on our arrival, and we headed off at 4:30pm and ended up taking refuge at an unmarked cave in the Mbomvaneni Valley. The following day had us ascend the not insignificant heart-break-hill before getting to Centenary Hut.

After cutting left on the contour path for a short distance to get water, we got onto the Corner Pass ridge path which we took to the point where it negotiated a rock band made a little tricky by seepage from the very wet conditions. Bags had to be hauled up, and nifty footwork was needed, but we got past this and then headed into the Corner Pass gully.

The gully presented us with another two obstacles which involved some bag hauling using a rope, and some control of nerves for those not so happy with heights. By the time we got to the top, some of the energy levels were flagging, and the mist was enveloping the high berg. A few of us managed to summit Mafadi, the highest point in South Africa, with Oscar Hapgood and Kiaran Roediger.

I am not aware of any Treverton group having managed to summit Mafadi before - let alone in a weekend. Sunday morning dawned with heavy cloud on the escarpment edge. After leaving Injisuthi summit cave we headed rapidly towards Judge Pass, aware of the possibility of heavy mist that had, at that point, been threatening from the Injisuthi Dome side.

We found Judge Pass easily and descended into drizzly cloud. Unfortunately, due to a few factors including poor visibility, we overshot the contour path intersection. After establishing the problem, we had to retrace our steps a significant distance. Morale was somewhat restored when we got onto the contour path. We followed this for what seemed like miles before we got to Centenary Hut where we stopped for a short lunch break.

We headed back to the Injisuthi KZN offices, arriving at 5:30pm. This was an extremely testing hike - pretty much as hard as you can get within the time constraints of the weekend. Every pupil on this hike did exceptionally well and showed great steadfastness in the face of fatigue and pain. It will never be forgotten.

Explore all Injisuthi has to offer here.

A permit system is going to be implemented at Monk’s Cowl to solve the problem of illegal visitation at rock art sites and problems accompanying this.

For example, making fires inside shelters and caves containing rock art that causes soot to accumulate over the art and the art to start exfoliating, making candles “stand” on “steps” of the parent rock that results in waxy blotches that causes chemical weathering to the parent rock and destroys the rock art, throwing water over the art to take “better pictures or clearer photos”, this causes mineral accretion and white blotches over the art that finely leads to pigment deterioration and exfoliation, littering inside rock art sites and writing or scratching over irreplaceable rock art..

All visitors or guides that plan to take clients to rock art sites, must first visit Monk’s Cowl’s Reception, where they will sign a visitor’s book and they will be issued with a laminated permit, which must be returned to the reception when the guests return from the rock art site.

The permit card contains the code of conduct of what is permissible at or inside a rock art shelter or cave, namely: Do not kick dust, do not touch the paintings, do not make fires inside caves or shelters containing paintings, do not litter, do not write over rock art or scratch over these irreplaceable and fragile San art panels, respect the religious integrity of the art, enjoy the outing and only leave your footprints.

Secondly, the card contains Section 35 of the National Heritage Resources Act No. 25 of 1999 that stipulates that no one should damage, destroy, alter, write or draw upon rock art....or they will suffer Prosecution: 3 years imprisonment or 3 years imprisonment and a fine.

This permit will initially be for visits to Hospitalspruit Cave (Knuffel’s Shelter) and Bee Shelter.

Spirit of the Drakensberg takes the reader on an evocative journey through the mountains. The twelve chapters are based on the demarcated Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife areas - a unique approach that informs the reader of the highlights and dramatic scenery waiting to be discovered in each particular section of the Berg. It took Richard Hunt six years to capture these Mountains in their changing moods and seasons; enticing one to take to the footpaths, if only from an armchair perspective, to enjoy the spectacular beauty that unfolds, page by page.

The photographs are contextualised by succinct captions, allowing one to share Richard Hunt's passion for this ancient mountain range, and recognising its deep spirituality and endless lure.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

KwaZulu-Natal born and bred, Richard Hunt grew up in Mooi River. With the mighty Drakensberg Mountains constantly in sight, his visual sense was honed by their shape, form and endlessly changing beauty. Richard Hunt has a farming background, which connects him in many ways to the earth and fuels his deep love for nature conservation. Wilderness areas have always called him but he only discovered photography in his later years, capturing magnificent landscape images during his monthly forays into the mountains.

His vast collection of quality photographs depicting the entire Drakensberg range, provides an unprecedented overview of the region.

Secure your copy now: https://richardhunt.smugmug.com/Book/ (Publication date set for August 2018)

The Sentinel Peak Chain Ladders that are used to access the Amphitheatre route to Tugela Falls from Sentinel Car Park are going to be replaced with newly constructed ladders. This is happening because the engineers involved in the rehabilitation of the pathways have concerns about the safety of the current ladders. Time, weather and many thousands of hikers have taken their toll on the metal construction and it’s time to replace them before there is a problem.

A complete new build has been chosen because the professional view is that repairs will not be good enough, and that the safety of hikers cannot be compromised.

This project is being managed by the Department of Environmental Affairs, and we commend their project team for reacting fast once the engineer’s report was received, and changing the project plans to prioritize the ladder replacement. They will be removing the existing ladders and carrying all the metal off the mountain. New ladders will then be constructed and installed at the same site.

During the removal and construction period the GULLY (Beacon Buttress Gully) will be open for hikers who want to climb to the top of the Amphitheatre and see the top of Tugela Falls.

Samson, the head guide from Witsieshoek, has marked a safe path up and down the gully with yellow spray-paint. A cairn has been built at the top of the gully, also marked with yellow paint, to guide hikers to the access point for the downward route. Since Samson did the marking, many hikers have used the gully route, and are happy with its accessibility and safety.

Now to the million-dollar question: when will the new ladders be in place? The project team have told us that they are aiming for the end of May 2018. However, we all understand that there are many variables, not the least being the weather, that can impact that date. Please be assured that everyone wants the fastest possible turnaround, so there is full support for getting new ladders into place as fast as safely possible.

In summary: Hikers going up from Sentinel Car Park to access the top of the Amphitheatre will, with immediate effect, only have access to the gully until new ladders are in place. The route is open, and there is no need for any change of plans. For any further information please contact the manager of Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge, Jan van Niekerk on 058-713-6361/2

More about Beacon Buttress Gully and a route map can be found here.

If spectacular scenery and climbing a pass few people ever will is on your to do list, then this difficult hike is the one.

The pass is approached via the trail to Mnweni Pass. It is very easy to get lost on this if you don't know the route, so best to take a guide from the Mnweni Cultural Centre, or hike with someone who knows the area.

Getting There

From Johannesburg:

Take the N3 Durban bound till Harrismith. Take the turnoff to Clarens, and follow this for about 10km, before taking the R74 Bergville offramp. Follow this road till the town of Bergville, where you will turn right towards Rookdale. Shortly before the road crosses the dam, there is a turnoff to your left marked for a police station, take this turn off.

Watch for a right hand turn off marked amaNgwane (Mnweni) Cultural Centre, take this turnoff. After a fairly long distance, the centre will be on your right, shortly after crossing a large concrete bridge.

From Durban/Pietermaritzburg:
Take the N3 Harrismith bound. At the Bergville/Colenso offramp, turn left to Bergville. Follow this road till the town of Bergville, where you will turn left towards Rookdale. Shortly before the road crosses the dam, there is a turnoff to your left marked for a police station, take this turn off.

Watch for a right hand turn off marked amaNgwane (Mnweni) Cultural Centre, take this turnoff. After a fairly long distance, the centre will be on your right, shortly after crossing a large concrete bridge.

Route Description

Your start is from the Mnweni Cultural Centre.

Start of the pass

Lower down on the pass, Mnweni Pass visible in the distance

At Chi-Chi Bush Camp (which is barely large enough for two tents), leave the Mnweni Pass route and follow the riverbed till you reach the gully.

Directions are given for a team ascending the pass, this route is not recommended for descent. Take the river course until you hit the first waterfall, then break left onto the grass bank. Hold the grass bank for the remainder of the route.

At an altitude around 2800m on the pass

The line up the pass will be fairly obvious for an experienced hiker. Boulder fields are occasionally crossed, but don't pose any difficulty.

An idea of the gradient

Near the top of the pass, there are two caves. The lower one - Lamb Skull Cave - can sleep 4 at a push, and is up a bit of a scramble. The higher cave, which is more commonly used and doesn't require a scramble to reach, is called Pins Cave and sleeps 8.

Lamb Skull Cave

Pins Cave

The debate over what is the hardest non-rock pass in the Drakensberg has raged for decades.

I am of the opinion that Pins gets this title, beating out other contenders such as Icidi, Ships Prow and Minaret. The pass starts below 2000m and tops out at almost 3200m, it does not relent and is very difficult to cover at any sort of speed. This is not a route to be taken lightly!

It is possible to camp above the pass, although not recommended as it is on a major trade route. Pins Cave or Lamb Skull Cave are great, but far from water outside of summer.

Top of the pass

Looking down the pass

Essential Gear

The route does occasionally get snowed up, which would make it fairly technical, especially seeing as it is south facing. Otherwise the standard Drakensberg gear is required.

Bannerman Pass was named after former British Prime Minister Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman. It is said that, when viewed from the right angle, the cliffs just south of the pass resemble the profile of his face. Personally, I have never been able to see it, but nonetheless, that's the origin.

Risks: the pass can get iced up after a major snowfall, making it very dangerous. There is also a minor risk of rock falls.

Getting There

Giants Castle is fairly easy to access if you have a car. However, there is no public transport that will get you to the offices.

From Durban/Pietermaritzburg (if you are flying in, fly to Pietermaritzburg, if possible): Take the N3 North (signposted as Harrismith/Johannesburg) to the Nottingham Road offramp, turn right at the T-junction above this offramp Follow the road to the town of Nottingham Road (about 15km) Turn right and follow the road through the town, following directions to Rosetta As you reach Rosetta, there is a brown sign on the left to Kamberg, take this road and

From Johannesburg: Take the N3 South (signposted for Durban) Follow the highway till Estcourt, where you will see signs marked "Giants Castle" Follow the signs to Giants Castle and at the end of the road, you will find the Giant's Castle offices.

Route Description

After paying for your permits at the Ezemvelo offices, and signing the mountain register, head back up the road to the picnic site. If you see a sign warning you that crows might eat your windscreen wipers, you are in the right place!

The trail starts off on concrete, as it steeply zig-zags down towards the Bushman's River. The river is crossed by a wooden bridge. Take the left split just after the bridge, it is signposted in case you aren't sure. This section of the trail is roughly 6km long, climbing up three sections of ridge before leveling out at an altitude of around 2200m.

At the junction on the contour path, turn right. This too is signposted. There is a large tarn at this junction, which can be useful for cooling off in summer.

The tarn, Bannerman Pass is visible in the distance

Junction of Bannerman Ridge and the contour path

Bannerman Pass and Gypaetus Point as seen from the contour path

The path will continue to Bannerman Hut. This hut sleeps 8 and can be booked online or at the Ezemvelo offices. It is the same price as an overnight hiking permit, currently R70 pppn, and no further permit is required (i.e. you either pay for an overnight hiking permit or the hut, not both).

Bannerman Hut

The hut is very rustic, offering little more than shelter from the elements. The beds are masonite, so you will need a mattress. There are no facilities, with water being collected from the nearby river.

This water is generally drinkable, but it is best to collect it upstream of the hut as some people do not comply with hiking ethics regarding outdoor ablutions.

The pass starts from the hut. Initially there is a trail, but the trail soon fades away. The route is fairly obvious, one simply follows the gully until the top is reached. In summer, large waterfalls form above the pass, and the gully itself can become a river. This makes for great photos, but a rather wet experience!

Looking up the pass from the turnoff for Spare Rib Cave

Heading up the pass early in the morning

Bannerman Falls - generally only visible in summer

Bannerman Pass as seen from the top. Popple is visible on the right in the distance.

At roughly 2700m on the pass, on the south slopes, a large cave called Spare Rib Cave can be seen. A small shelter is visible from the gully - aim for this, and continue around the corner on the ledge till you are past this cave.

Spare Rib Cave as seen from Gypaetus Pass

Finding the pass from the top can be tricky in poor weather. However, in clear weather, the pass cuts back so far into the ridge that it is very visible from a distance. From the north (Popple side), aim for the obvious saddle right of Gypaetus Point, and upon reaching the escarpment edge, follow the cliff line right till the summit is reached.

Essential Gear

Gear depends on the time of year and the year. In winter the rivers are often frozen, and cold gear is essential. If you do this route as a day hike, you can do it with very little gear - but only attempt this if you are very fit and competent, especially with how to survive with limited gear if something goes wrong.

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Old maps may refer to this as "Bushman's River Pass", as it was known in the 19th century. The exact date of the name change to "Langalibalele Pass" is uncertain but makes reference to the arrest of the amaHlubi Chief Langalibalele at the top of this pass in 1873. Seven people died during this capture, five from the English and two from the amaHlubi, and were buried at the top of the pass. This grave site can still be visited and is just south of the top of the pass, slightly up the ridge.

This pass is one of the easiest routes to the Drakensberg Escarpment. It tops out between the Sanqebethu and Durnford ridges. With a good path along the entire route and no exceptionally steep sections. This route is suitable for beginners, or fast-and-light day hikers provided they are fit and sufficiently knowledgeable.

Getting There

Giants Castle is fairly easy to access if you have a car. However, there is no public transport that will get you to the offices.

From Durban/Pietermaritzburg (if you are flying in, fly to Pietermaritzburg, if possible): Take the N3 North (signposted as Harrismith/Johannesburg) to the Nottingham Road offramp, turn right at the T-junction above this offramp Follow the road to the town of Nottingham Road (about 15km) Turn right and follow the road through the town, following directions to Rosetta As you reach Rosetta, there is a brown sign on the left to Kamberg, take this road and follow it till it comes to an end at the Giants Castle Offices

From Johannesburg: Take the N3 South (signposted for Durban) Follow the highway till Estcourt, where you will see signs marked "Giants Castle" Follow the signs to Giants Castle and at the end of the road, you will find the Giant's Castle offices.

Route Description

The pass is accessed via the Langalibalele Ridge route from the Giants Castle main offices (not to be confused with the picnic site where one would access Bannerman Ridge). Every turnoff prior to the start of Langalibalele Ridge is sign posted.

Langalibalele Ridge is the hardest part of getting up this route.

Walking up Langalibalele Ridge

The ridge itself is the steepest part of the route, and is a good test for how ready you are for the route. After crossing the contour path, the route climbs a bit further before a gentle downhill traverse to cross the Bushman's River and the start of the pass proper.

The bottom of the pass (left). The Hlubi Passes (centre) and the Thumb (right) can be seen as well.

Once across the river, the steepest part of the trail is reached, although it relents quickly enough - with a side stream crossing, which is well marked by cairns. The pass gradually lessens in gradient and is fairly gentle by the summit - by Drakensberg pass standards, that is.

The steepest section of the pass - notably not difficult by Drakensberg Pass standards.

The easy top half of the pass.

The pass is fairly easy to find from the escarpment, provided you end up in the right valley! The pass is marked by a large cairn on the watershed. The pass tops out at the lowest point on the watershed in the saddle between Bannerman Face and Erskine Peak, just south of the Thumb. The Carbineers' Grave (which is a large pile of rocks with a large metal cross and is visible from a distance) is near the summit of the pass - if in doubt, the graves confirm that you are in the right place.

A common route is to traverse from Bannerman Pass to LangalibalelePass. This route is often attempted by beginners. This is NOT recommended for those who are unfamiliar with the area as crossing the ridge directly south of Bannerman Pass will land you further inland than one might expect, thus making it very easy to get lost. It isn't really feasible to explain this route in words, and therefore photos have been included.

From the top of Bannerman Pass, start by going sharply left to go over the Bannerman/Sanqebethu Ridge.

From the top of the ridge, go further left, and cross the ridge behind Bannerman Face.

Follow the river-course down once over this ridge. The Thumb and Giants Castle will be visible in the distance.

The route down from Bannerman Face towards Langalibalele Pass.

The top of the pass is the obvious low point.

It is possible to camp at the bottom of the pass near the contour path, or immediately above the pass, provided you have a suitable 4-season tent. Winds in this region often exceed gale force, and have been known to destroy tents on many occasions. There have also been security concerns above the pass in the past, but no reports in recent years - so caution is advised, e.g. don't leave your boots outside your tent. Bannerman Cave is fairly close to the top of the pass, but is far from water and difficult to find if you don't know where to look.

The route has adequate water in summer, and unless it has been a particularly dry winter, it is usually available in winter as well - although the river does freeze some years.

Pass Looking down the pass from the top, the path is clearly visible.

Essential Gear

Gear depends on the time of year and the year. In winter the rivers are often frozen, and cold gear is essential. If you do this route as a day hike, you can do it with very little gear - but only attempt this if you are very fit and competent, especially with how to survive with limited gear if something goes wrong.

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Route: Cobham to Mzimkulwana Hut and Lakes Cave
Distance: 30 km (circular route)
Duration: 14 hours (three days)

Day 1: From Cobham (North is Ndlovini Peak and to the right is Grandma Peak then Emerald Dome)

Cobham Parking Lot –>  Tortise Rocks (2.8km – 225m up) -> Bathplug Cave (4km) -> Mzimkhylwana Hut (8.64km)

From Hut

• South is Bamboo Mountain (4km)
• West is Little Bamboo Mountain (4.5km)
• River below hut is Mzimkhulwana River
• River above hut is Siphongweni River
• North / North South is eSiphongweni Peak which has Mpongweni Shelters and Siphongweni Cave (2.6km)
• North / North West The Pimple Mountain (1.3km)
• Behind The Pimple is Amakehla Pass (11km)

Day 2

Mzimkhylwana Hut -> Hike till level with The Pimple, then cross river up hill to Siphongweni Cave (3.5km – 350m up) -> Whale Back (5.4km) -> Titty (6.6km) -> The Policeman (7.6km) -> Lakes Cave (9.3km)

From Cave

• East is Camel Rock (850m)
• North West is Amakehla Pass (3.5 km) / Left is Minaret Pass (North view)
• Peaks North (NNE) is Hodgsons Peak South and North
• 3^rd peak to the right is Sani Peak
• Left of Minaret Pass is The Block, Sandleni Pinnacle, No Mans Peak, Verkyker Buttress and Peak and Rhino Peak
• SW below is Weavers Cave (1.89km)

Day 3

Lakes Cave -> Nutcracker Cave (2.3km) -> C53 Shelter (4.8km) -> Monster Rocks (6.1km) -> Boundary Rock (7.7km) -> Cobham (12km)

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A circular 10km hike with 820m elevation gain and loss. The climb to the Crack and The Mudslide Pass is steep but a chain ladder will help you over the more difficult sections. The descent is steep, loose and slippery after rainfall.

Video by Steven Barker

Route: Bushman's Nek to Thomathu Cave and Lammergeier Cave
Distance: 35 km (circular route)
Duration: 20 hours (three days)

Day 1 is a severe 4-5 hrs hike (10 kms) This hike follows a well-defined path on the northern flank of the Thomathu Ridge. The cave faces north-east and sleeps up to 12 people. The cave is not very deep though, and strong winds can be a problem.

Day 2 hike to the top to Thomathu pass, then to Goats cave for lunch and then downhill to Lammergeier cave for the 2nd night.

Day 3 hike down towards Cedric's pools and return to the car park.

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Route: Giants Castle to Bannerman Hut and up Bannerman Pass
Distance: 35 km (circular route)
Duration: 20 hours (3 days)

Day 1 is a long hike from the Giant's Camp northwest along a clear path, with an early start it is easy to make the hut by lunch time. The hut must be booked through KZN Nature Conservation Service.

Day 2 is a severe hike up Bannerman Pass (about 3 km to the top and 800m climb up). Return to Bannerman Hut the same way. The sunrise in the morning is stunning.

Day 3 return via Langalibalele Ridge.

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Route: Gudu Bush, Lookout Rock and Cascades (Circular route)
Distance: 6.1 km
Duration: 4 hours (day hike)

A 6.1km circular hike heading uphill to start and then through Gudu Bush where a small stream and pool will can be seen. An option is to turn right up the hill here which takes you to the top of Gudu Falls (this is a steep path about 700m long and 230m in elevation), else continue straight and when you exit the forest stunning views await you.

You then head left on exiting Gudu Bush and walk down the hill towards Lookout Rock and then onto the Cascades.

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A winter hike of the Drakensberg Gardens Rhino Horn Mashai pass that was not successful. Paul attempted to hike the Mashai pass in 10 hours return trip. That is 19 km (11 miles) with a elevation climb to 2,9 km ( 9514 ft).

Video by Paul

Route: Bushman's Nek to Thomathu Cave
Distance: 7 km (each way)
Duration: 5 hours (day hike)

A severe 4-5 hrs hike (10 kms) This hike follows a well-defined path on the northern flank of the Thomathu Ridge. The cave faces north-east and sleeps up to 12 people. The cave is not very deep though, and strong winds can be a problem.

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Route: Highmoor to Giant's Viewpoint
Distance: 4.5 km (9 km return)
Duration: 1.5 hours each way (one day)

This is a pleasant walk that is pretty level with a path that is easy to follow. Cape Vultures, Blesbok and Eland are often seen, and the Giant's Castle view is stunning on a clear day.

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Route: Cobham to Gxalingenwa Cave
Distance: 14,5 km (29 km return)
Duration: 7 hours each way (two days)

Gxalingenwa Cave Hike is a relatively easy two-day hike in the Southern Drakensberg. On the hike you will pass Pinnacle Rocks, where the San Rock Art depicts spiritual ceremonies and the Sharma's transformation to other forms.

The Gxalingenwa Cave is also one of the most beautiful, surrounded by an indigenous forest and with a large waterfall cascading over the front of the cave! With many places to swim along the way and in the Gxalingenwa Stream below the cave this an ideal summer hike.

Caution: You need to cross the Pholela River, which after big storms becomes a raging torrent. If the river is flooding do not cross at the point described in this route but rather take the alternative route that turns left 1 km above the river and then meanders down to the Giant's Cup Trail and over the suspension bridge to Cobham.

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Route: Injisuthi to Centenary Hut and Marble Baths Cave
Distance: 30 km (circular route)
Duration: 20 hours (3 days)

Day 1 is a severe 5/6 hrs hike (10 km) from Injasuti on the 1st day past Fergy's Cave and then up the hill to Centenary Nut. Take your time up the steep hill, the views once there make the climb up worthwhile. 

Day 2 follow the contour path above the hut and then down and past Battle Cave ending up at Marble Baths Cave, a spectacular sunrise awaits you in the morning.

Day 3 is a 5-hour hike back to the campsite along the contour path passing Grindstone Caves.

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Route: Kamberg to Game Pass Shelter
Distance: 3 km (6 km return)
Duration: 1.5 hours each way (day hike)

The three-hour guided trail starts at the Kamberg Rock Art centre, where you can watch a 20-minute DVD on the art and history of this famous rock-art site. As you walk, take heed of the poignant verse that is found on all the marketing brochures:  "No more do we Bushmen hunt in these hills. The fire is cold. Our songs are quiet. But listen carefully. You will hear us in the water. Look carefully, you will see us in the rock." And you will.

Leaving the centre, the trail heads south, then, after crossing a small stream, gradually meanders up the hill under the spray coming off the Waterfall Shelter. Shortly after this overhang, the path crosses a small river and then it’s a bit of a slog up a zigzagging path until, about 40 minutes from the start, you reach the gate of the shelter.

Most of the paintings in the shelter are complex polychrome images and the first ones you’ll see as you enter are imposing therianthropic figures (mythological creatures that are part human, part animal) clad in long black karosses. The most frequently depicted animal is the eland, the largest antelope in the Drakensberg. Apart from providing meat, fat and skins, eland had symbolic importance to the San, who believed they had supernatural powers. Archaeologists studying these paintings uncovered a vital key to understanding the symbolism of San rock art (how hunters gained power from the animals they killed) so, in a sense, they "cracked the code" – hence, the site is commonly referred to as the "Rosetta Stone".

It’s then downhill all the way back to the centre, which has a few books, posters and videos, as well as limited snacks, tea and coffee for sale.

Walks are limited to groups of 10 people and leave from the centre at 9am, 11am and 12.30pm or by special arrangement with community guides based at the centre.

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Route: Giants Castle to Meander Hut (derelict)
Distance: 7 km (14 km return)
Duration: 2 hours each way (day hike)

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Route: Highmoor to Aasvoëlkrans Cave
Distance: 4.5 km (9 km return)
Duration: 2.5 hours each way (one day)

Aasvoëlkrans Cave is an easy day day hike in the Central Drakensberg. The cave is unsuitable for young children as high drop-offs in front of the cave requires considerable care.

From the Highmoor Reserve car park head Northwest towards a gate and turn right at the sign. After 250m going downhill cross the stream over the wooden bridge and after another 250m on after the stream crossing take the path to the right which leads to the small Kamloops Dam wall.  Once past the dam, take the left path which leads gently uphill.

Once over this small hill you begin to slowly go downhill and then cross a stream (2.2km into the hike), a waterfall can be seen to the right where you cross the stream (picture alongside). After the stream crossing the path turns right (East) alongside the hill in front of you. You follow the path and just before it ends is a steep path with steps winding down the hill towards the stream and Aasvoëlkrans cave. To return go the same way.

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Route: Bushman's Nek to Halfway/Slab Cave (Fisherman's Cave)
Distance: 5.25 km (10.5 km return)
Duration: 2 hours each way (day hike)

The hike heads up Bushman's Valley alongside the Bushman's River towards Bushman's or Ngwangwane Pass. The hike is not difficult, and the path is easy to follow, unless done in the snow which is what we did.

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Route: Cobham River Walk (Pholela River)
Distance: 2 km (4 km return)
Duration: 2 hours (day hike)

The trail leaves from the camp and follows the Pholela River. The trail offers views of the Giant's Cup and passes through grassland and patches of indigenous forest further along. There are a number of large pools which are ideal for swimming, return on the same route after having a swim and lunch.

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Route: Monks Cowl to Sterkspruit Falls
Distance: 1.5 km (3 km return)
Duration: 1.5 hours (day hike)

This easy walk starts at the Monks Cowl entrance. Take the well-marked path down to the falls. 1 to 2 hours in total time returning back to Monks Cowl entrance.

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Route: Drakensberg Sun to Blue Grotto Pool (return via Barry's Grave)
Distance: 3 km (6 km return)
Duration: 3 hours (day hike)

This is a great 3-hour moderate walk through an indigenous forest onto a magnificent grotto with waterfall and pool. The hike starts from in front of the Drakensberg Sun Time Share Units past the timeshare swimming pool.

Barry’s Grave. A short way from the Blue Grotto, you can visit the grave of Dick Barry. He was one of the early mountaineering pioneers of the area and fell to his death off Monks Cowl in 1938 at the tender age of 22. Take the path from the right side of the Blue Grotto. Climb the hill and at the top of the hill on the left, you will find the grave. You can carry on down the road back to Drakensberg Sun via the site of the old Cathkin Hotel. (now the staff quarters for Drakensburg Sun).

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Route: Giants Castle River Walk
Distance: 1.5 km (3 km return)
Duration: 1 hour each way (day hike)

Follow the signposted path going past "Rock 75" and you will see the river walk signs just before the rustic bridge. You will now walk along the Bushman's River. Stop and have a picnic at many of the scenic spots along the way. Return the same way or continue ahead and follow the path that reads "Hutted Camp" to return.

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Route: Highmoor to Caracal Cave
Distance: 5.3 km (10.6 km return)
Duration: 2 hours each way (day hike)

Caracal Cave easily accommodates 8 people and is approximately 5.3km's from the Highmoor Reserve parking area. This is a relatively easy hike to the Cave and a bit of a climb back to the parking area.

From the Highmoor Reserve car park head Northwest towards a gate and turn right at the sign. After 250m going downhill cross the stream over the wooden bridge and after another 300m on after the stream crossing take the path to the left (the right leads to the small Kamloops Dam wall).

In front of you is the Salma Dam, cross the stream and walk past the dam, now to your left. After a slight uphill you head slightly downwards towards the Shasta Dam which you pass on your left. After this dam is a small knoll on your right and the path turns right (the small path to your left is to Fulton's Rock). You are now walking along the spur, stop and enjoy the views to your left and right.

You then head down the hill towards Caracal Cave (have a look at the picture - this is about 4km into the hike, you have 1.3km's to go). At the bottom of the hill the path goes above the cave and slightly past, you then turn left and go down to the cave on your left. Return via the same route.

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Route: Highmoor to Mount Lebanon
Distance: 6 km (12 km return)
Duration: 2 hours each way (day hike)

From the Highmoor Reserve car park head Northwest towards a gate and turn right at the sign. After 250m going downhill cross the stream over the wooden bridge and after another 250m on after the stream crossing take the path to the right which leads to the small Kamloops Dam wall. Once past the dam, take the right path (the left leads to Aasvoelkrans cave) which leads gently uphill.

Follow the path over the 1st hill and down the next, then along the contours and finally up to the top of Mount Lebanon at 2 153m.

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Route: Bushman's Nek to Cedric's Pool
Distance: 4.5 km (9 km return)
Duration: 2 hours each way (day hike)

The pool is apparently named after Cedric Biggs, a former leader of the Mountain Backpackers Club. Cedric was known for plunging through the ice into the freezing pool.  Cedric's pool is also referred to as "Three pools" on some of the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife maps.

From the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife office walk up the road to the border post. Go through the boom gate and then along a short section of concrete driveway.  Cross the river twice and when on the other side, walk straight ahead, the path to the right leads to Thomathu Cave and Bushman's Cave. Cross the river a third time (this river can be quite high in the summer months so you may need to take off your shoes) and then follow the path along the Ngwangwane river.

After about 4 km's the river turns to the right as the path forks to the left up the slope. Stay on the path nearest the river on the right until you come to Cedric's Pool, which enjoys a spectacular setting at the base of a waterfall beneath the steep escarpment. The pool is deep with a ledge you can sit on under the waterfall.

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