The Drakensberg offers the most beautiful scenery imaginable, a challenge for adventure seekers, quiet for nature lovers, accommodation of a world-class standard, hikes for family and mountaineer and picture perfect views.
Information about the Maloti-Drakensberg
Located in the Royal Natal National Park along the Mahai river, a short walk of about 800m from the Mahai campsite. This is the only rock art site accessible to people in wheel chairs. Cascades path rock contains mainly rhebuck but also people. The images are not clear because of mineral leaching present on the rock f ... Read More...
Zulu Cave is in the Monks Cowl area. The cave is large and can sleep up to 12 people. Cat Cave is near by and contains Bushamns Paintings. Read More...
Tarn Cave is a great cave to stay overnight in the Bushman's Nek area. The hike is 8.9km's to the cave with an elevation gain of 661m along the way, a slow and easy pace and you will be there in around 4 hours. Read More...
12.5 km's (5 hours) via Pholela Hut on the way to Gxalingenwa Cave and 11.5 km (4 hours) return via Pinnacle Rock. The hike is good for bird watching and game viewing. It follows the Emerald Stream, past indigenous forest to a spectacular waterfall with pools suitable for swimming on the way back form the cave. The hi ... Read More...
uMkhomazi is situated in the southern part of the Central Drakensberg, 100 km from Pietermaritzburg. uMkhomazi is 6 000 ha in size and forms part of the Maloti-Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site. The uMkhomazi section of the Maloti Drakensberg Park is one of the most isolated and least explored mountainous areas i ... Read More...
Kamberg Nature Reserve forms part of the Maloti- Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site and is situated centrally in the foothills of the mountains. The reserve was proclaimed in 1951 and is 6 300 ha in extent. This reserve is particularly scenic, with a number of walks throughout the area. The natural landscape ... Read More...
Leslie's Pass is relatively easy to hike, it is just very long. Leslie's and Injisuthi pass are the only routes to the top in the Injisuthi area. Read More...
Aasvoelkrans Cave accommodates 8 people and is approximately 3.9km's from the Highmoor Reserve parking area. This is a relatively easy hike. The cave itself is a "double story" cave and sleeping would generally be at the bottom cave. Their is a steep drop from the top cave and a climb down from the bottom cave to the ... Read More...
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. his route is commonly used for smuggling activities and is best av ... Read More...
Mlambonja Pass (also known as Umlambonya pass) is a steep pass in the Cathedral range. It is still used often because it is a more direct route to the escarpment from the hotel and has a large, comfortable cave nearby. Read More...
A popular pool only 4.5 km from Bushman's Nek camp. The pool is apparently named after Cedric Biggs, a leader of the Mountain Backpackers Club some years ago, who was known for plunging through the ice into the freezing pool. It's also referred to as "Three pools" on some of the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife maps and literatu ... Read More...
One of the most identifiable passes of the Drakensberg Mountains, Giant's Castle Pass is a steep, rocky ascent to 3 102m offering stunning views. Some say it's an extreme 4 hr (6 km) hike from Giant's Hut below, others will say an easy 2hrs, we would say a 3 hr moderately difficult hike with a full backpack. Read More...
A three day, two nights hike starting at Injisuthi Camp. Each day of this circular route has its own unique views and hiking challenges. Day one to Centenary is a testing 10.5km to Centenary Hut, wake up the next morning to a stunning sunrise. Day 2 is the day without paths, a steep downhill and then a small climb nea ... Read More...
A 10 km hike, mostly uphill to the best overnight hut in the Drakensberg. The hike starts at the day picnic spot at Giants Castle. A short downhill and then a mostly gentle climb for about 4km's. The last 5km's are along the contours to the Hut, enjoy the views on the way. The sunrise that awaits you from the hut in t ... Read More...
Ledges Cave offers magnificent views over Mnweni from the cave only for the brave, there is a huge drop below the cave, don't go to the edge. The 10m walk down to the cave is not to bad and anyone looking to try something different will enjoy this adventure. The path down to the cave can be difficult to find from the ... Read More...
Located in the Royal Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho within the Ts’ehlanyane National Park, Maliba Mountain Lodge is a 5-star mountain retreat set in a pristine sub-alpine wilderness valley deep in the heart of Lesotho’s breath-taking mountains. Maliba Mountain Lodge is the first 5-star lodge in Lesotho and it has set the ... Read More...
The hut sleeps up to 30 people and forms part of the Giants Cup trail. Read More...
An difficult 10km hike which takes roughly 5 hours with a total uphill of 1 194m. An early start and the hike to the top and back can be done in a day, else take is easy and sleep in a cave or tent at the top overnight. Read More...
Starting at the Gorge car park this 6km hike to Policeman's Helmet with an elevation gain 340m along the way offers great views. Read More...
If you only ever do one overnight hiking trip in the Drakensberg then this is at the top of the list. The hike to Bannerman Hut on day one is 10km and a climb, most people will be fine. Sleep in relative luxury and in the morning hike up Bannerman Pass. You have plenty time to get to the top and back before sunset for ... Read More...
This is a moderate hike of 9.6km to Bushmans Cave. You can either return the same day, overnight in the Cave or make this day 1 of a multi day hike in the Bushman's Nek area. The views in the valley along the way are stunning and once just above the Cave the southern escarpment views towards Rhino and Hodgson's peaks ... Read More...
Cannibal Cave is in the Royal Natal area of the Drakensberg. Cannibal Cave in the past was occupied by Bushmen and more recently by refugees of Shaka Zulu wars. Read More...
Against the magnificent backdrop of the Drakensberg Mountains of South Africa, and overlooking the secluded Mfazimnyama Valley of the Spioenkop Game Reserve, lies Three Tree Hill Lodge. This Fair Trade certified lodge, places great emphasis on Sustainable Responsible Tourism and offers spectacular scenery, locally grow ... Read More...
This valley lies between the Champagne Valley and Injasuti, and can be accessed after a long walk from the R 600 just below Champagne Castle Hotel. This is private property so access is only by permission of the owners. It can also be reached from Injasuthi camp. Travelling North from Injasuthi following the path aroun ... Read More...
There is a small cave next to the stream which has an interesting burial site in the right side of the cave. The burial chamber was upright to cater for a body in a seated position and the remains of a bushman type person were removed for research purposes in the middle of the last century, but the stones of the grave ... Read More...
The Sehlabathebe National Park is located in the Maloti Mountains in Qacha's Nek District, Lesotho, and is part of the larger Maloti-Drakensberg World Heritage Site. Home to both striking biological diversity as well as important cultural heritage, the park was first established on May 8, 1969. The landscape is domina ... Read More...
Situated in the Bushman's Nek Valley, wildlife commonly seen in the Bushman's Nek area is varied, and includes eland, reedbuck, grey rhebok, oribi and klipspringer, as well as dassie and porcupine. Jackal buzzard and black eagle may be seen soaring above the slopes. The streams are full of trout. Bushman's Nek also pr ... Read More...
In most hikers' opinions Fangs Pass is definitely one of the most stunning passes in the Mnweni area and perhaps even in the entire Drakensberg. It is a difficult pass to undertake and should not be attempted by the inexperienced. It starts at a small waterfall where the Fangs tributary joins the Mbundini River. Read More...
Cathedral Peak (Didima) borders on the upper Thukela area in the north and east, Lesotho in the west and Monk's Cowl in the south and is 32 000 hectares in extent. The area contains the magnificent Didima Valley with its many examples of San Rock art, it is a hiker's paradise offering routes that range from a few hours ... Read More...
Beacon Buttress Gully used to be the only path accessing the escarpment. This short and steep gully is a fun alternative to the Chain Ladder Route. After the steep climb beautiful view rewards you near the summit. Read More...
The Bushman's Nek Pass is suitable for hiking and horse riding. The hike from Bushamn's Nek camp to the top of the pass is 8km with a total elevation gain of 679m making this a moderatley difficult hike. The first half of the hike takes you past Cedric's Pool and is relatively flat, the next 3km are steep to the top o ... Read More...
Mafadi/Ntheledi peak is the highest peak in South Africa,The name Mafadi (meaning the Mother of Fadi). The original Sotho name Ntheledi (meaning "Makes me slip", refers to the nearby stream) it is considered by some to be a more relevant and the correct name. Read More...
A difficult 10.5km hike starting at Injisuthi Camp to Centenary Hut but worth every aching muscle once you get to the top. The first 7.5 km's are easy and then the "little" hill to climb up to the hut. It seems never ending at times but is most definitely achievable by most people, take it easy up the hill and you will ... Read More...
Judge Pass is a steep pass which calls for some rock scrambling. The path is very clear. It is located in the Injisuthi region of the Berg. Read More...
Twins Cave is in the Cathedral Peak area. The cave is big with a level floor. The views are stunning. The overhang is high and thus protection from rain is not great. Read More...
A stunning 3 day hike. If you want a moderately easy hike, enjoy seeing Bushman Paintings want the luxury of a Hut on night 1 and enjoy caves as your accommodation on night 2 this is the hike for you. The sunrise from Lakes Cave is brilliant and the colours of a sunrise on the berg mountains are brilliant. The Hut ca ... Read More...
From Injisuthi Camp head past Yellowwood forest for a steep 4.2km's hike all uphill with an elevation gain of 377m. It sometimes feels like even more. The cave sleeps 12 and the views down the valley from the cave are spectacular, definitely worth spending a night over in this cave. Read More...
Cayley Mountain Resort is located in the breathtaking Central Drakensberg, overlooking the imposing Cathkin Peak and Sterkhorn ranges. The Bell Park Dam lies stretched out below the resort offering breathtaking views; and is also the site of many leisure activities. Guests enjoy precious time with loved ones around a w ... Read More...
Cleft Peak is located within the Cathedral Peak area. Organs Pipe Pass and Tsekesteke Pass are the closest passes. Read More...
This cave is located in the Injasuthi (translated as valley of the well-fed dog) valley and is a 5-hour hike from the Injasuthi camp. The cave is fenced so cannot be accessed without a guide. Interpretation: The human figures appear to be arranged in a composition that suggests a fight. Some figures have arrows notche ... Read More...
Organ Pipes Pass - the Camel Route is marked as dangerous on official maps but this only really applies in icy conditions. There is beautiful scenery on both sides of the ridge. Read More...
Nestled in the heart of the Drakensberg lies 4 star family-owned Cathedral Peak Hotel. For over 80 years they have been providing premier accommodation, sumptuous buffet meals and an exceptional outdoor leisure experience surrounded by the magnificent peaks of some of the World Heritage Site’s most iconic mountains. G ... Read More...
Caracal Cave easily accommodates 8 people and is approximately 5.2km'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. This is a very comfortable cave. Water supply is seasonal, although water flowing over the top of the cave has been se ... Read More...
Icidi Pass is most likely the most difficult non-rock pass in the Drakensberg. It is very long, steep and boulder-choked. It should not be attempted by any inexperienced and unskilled hikers as it could become very dangerous. Read More...
Crows Nest Cave is found on Crows Nest Peak near Mont-Aux-Sources in the Drakensberg. Read More...
Ship's Prow South Pass is the advised route option, the North Fork has had rockfalls in the past and is very dangerous. This is a long pass and tops out at 3292m, the highest pass in the Drakensberg. Read More...
Sterkhorn (Mount Memory) is in the Monks Cowl area. At the top you will find the M.O.T.H memory cross. For very fit and experienced hikers / trail runners Sterkhorn can be reached on a day hike. Read More...
An easy family hike starting at Drakensberg Sun of 4.3km in total distance. Read More...
