The best trekking routes in Drakensberg, South Africa

ByTravesía Pirenaica
Drakensberg, South Africa / Photo: Diriye Amey [CC BY 2.0] Wikimedia Commons

On the north-eastern side of South Africa lies a 1000km mountain range, the Drakensberg. The landscape is probably the most spectacular in South Africa, a mix of rugged peaks, escarpments, pinnacles, forests, waterfalls and rivers. The variety of wildlife and birdlife is exceptional, and the region also has more than 22,000 examples of rock art in 600 sites.

This variety of huge peaks, high basalt cliffs, massive sandstone outcrops and deep gorges form the core of an area of unlimited potential for hikers. The area has a unique geological structure and fascinating history, as well as a wide variety of antelope and other mammals and a regular bird list of over 200 species.

South Africa's Maloti-Drakensberg Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located in KwaZulu Natal and easily accessible from Johannesburg, Harrismith, Pietermaritzburg and Durban, the region boasts spectacular cliffs, ravines and waterfalls, abundant wildlife and 2000-year-old rock paintings.

Royal Natal National Park, Cathedral Peak, Monk's Cowbird, Injisuthi, Giant's Castle, Highmoor, Kamberg, Lotheni, Himeville and Underberg districts, plus Bushman's Nek.

Planning your trip

  • How to get to the city
  • Fuel, cash and permits
  • Accommodation
  • The climate - when to visit
  • Health issues
  • Security
  • Communications
  • Maps

When to go?

Hiking in this area can be done at any time of the year. Limitations imposed by adverse weather conditions can occur in any month. However, snow is more common in June and July and there are frequent and sometimes severe storms in summer.

Difficulty

To assess the difficulty of the route you should take into account the distance, elevation gain, expected duration and any physical problems, e.g., stairs and exposure.

Not to be missed:

A dramatic, exciting and unique mountainous region of South Africa located on the eastern side of Lesotho. Breathtaking scenery, towering basalt cliffs (e.g. Amphitheatre), 3,000-metre mountains (e.g. Cleft Peak), deep ravines (e.g. Thukela, with the second highest waterfall in the world); abundant wildlife; 2,000-year-old Bushman rock paintings.

Cities & Services

The key centres for the rides are the entrances to the individual areas of the Park and often have accommodation of all kinds nearby. These include the Royal Natal National Park, Cathedral Peak, Monk's Hood, Injisuthi, Giant's Castle, Highmoor Monk's Hood, Injisuthi, Giant's Castle, Highmoor, Kamberg, Lotheni, the Himeville and Underberg districts, plus Bushman's Nek.

Royal Natal National Park

  • The Cascades
  • Fairy Glen
  • Plowman's Kop Loop
  • The crack and the mudslide
  • Gudu Bush and Gudu Falls
  • Witsieshoek through Mahai Falls
  • Walk through the Thukela Gorge
  • Police helmet
  • Camel's Hump
  • Sunday waterfalls
  • Surprise Ridge and Cannibal Cave
  • Thukela and Mont-aux-Sources Waterfalls Trek (3282m)
  • Sugarloaf Mountain (2085m)

Top Of The Cathedral

  • Doreen Falls
  • Mushroom Rock
  • Rainbow Gorge
  • Cataract tapes
  • Xeni Cave
  • The Tarn Hill Circuit
  • Tryme Hill and the Contour Trail
  • Organ Pipes Pasa and Slit Spout
  • Baboon Rock
  • One Tree Hill
  • One Tree Hill and the Contour Path to Mlambonja Valley
  • Cathedral Peak (3004m)

Nun's Cow

  • Nandi Falls
  • Hlathikulu Forest
  • Crystal Falls, the Sphinx and Verkykerskop
  • Blind Man's Corner and return via Keartland's Pass
  • Matterhorn (1995m)
  • Amphletts' (2620m)
  • Sterkhorn (2973m)
  • Injisuthi to Monk's Cowl via Van Heyningen's Pass
  • iNtunja/Gatberg (2408m)
  • Blue Grotto
  • Van Damm Waterfalls
  • uMakhulumane Stream, the Little Berg and Hlathikulu Nek - The Smugglers' Way

Injisuthi

  • Poacher's Stream
  • Van Heyningen's Pass to the lookout point
  • Grindstone Caves
  • Waterfall Valley
  • Battle Cave
  • Marble bathrooms

Los Gigantes Castle

  • Main Caves and River Walk
  • Langalibalele and Bannerman Heights
  • Giant's Hut: up Giant's Ridge and down Oribi Ridge
  • Beacon Ridge hike to viewpoint with optional extension to Meander Hut

Highmoor

  • Foulton's Rock
  • Aasvoëlkrans (Vulture) Cave
  • Caracal Cave
  • Viewpoint of the Castillo del Gigante

Kamberg

  • Game Pass Shelter

Lotheni

  • eMpophomeni and Eagle Rock Falls
  • Emadundwini Trail
  • Jacob's Ladder Falls
  • Gelib tree
  • Zwelele

Cobham

  • Trout Beck and return via By-pass Ridge
  • Pinnacle Rock
  • Emerald Dome
  • Ndlovini
  • Pholela River Boundary rock walk
  • Allen's Shelter and Tortoise Rocks
  • Mzimkulwana Hut, Siphongweni Stream and Rock
  • Stromness Hill, Ngenwa Pool and the Gxalingenwa River
  • Nelson's Column and balancing rocks
  • Salt 'n Pepper
  • Hodgson Peaks (S 3256m: N 3251m)

Garden Castle

  • Sleeping Beauty's Cave and Engagement Cave
  • Magnificent Valley and Swiman Ridge
  • Hidden Valley
  • Three Pools and Bushman Rock
  • Pillar Cave and Annex
  • Rhino Peak (3056m)

Bushman's Nek

  • Twin Pools

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