Area: Bushmans Nek

Accessible from Bushmans Nek. A 3 day hike to the top would make for an enjoyable outing.
Read More...

North-facing, providing views of Ngwangwe Peak and Walker's Peak.
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...

The hut accommodates up to 30 people and is situated just off the main route of the Giant's Cup Trail, slightly above the South African border post and overlooking the Bushman's River and views of the far southern drakensberg.Thaba Ngwangwe and Tomathu Peak can also be seen up on the escarpment on either side of Ngwang ...
Read More...

Bushman's Nek Pass is situated on a path towards the Sehlabathebe National Park in Lesotho. The route is suitable for hiking and horse riding.
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...

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...

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...

Gargoyle cave (a large boulder) is about 700m in a westerly direction from Tarn Cave on roughly the same altitude.
Read More...

The Giants Cup trail is the only established trail in the Drakensberg. The hike is over 5 days (and 5 nights accommodation in the Drakensberg) and is 58.9km's in total. The first day is 12.8 km's and you stay in Pholela Hut. Day two is 8.8 km's and you stay in Mzimkhulwana Hut. Day 3 is 12 km's and you stay in Winterho ...
Read More...

Goats cave is at the top of Lammergeier pass. The views from the cave are stunning. The cave overhang is low and as the name implies its often used as a shelter for Goats so be prepared to rather use a tent than sleep in the cave which can be very messy.
Read More...

Two routes are possible, one via Lammergeier Cave or via Thamathu Cave. The route via Thamathu cave is recommended as a path can be followed the whole way. The hike via Lammergeier cave has no path for about half the hike and unless you know the area well and have a good map this route should not be attempted.
Read More...

A narrow cave on the path about half way towards Ngwangwane Pass (Bushman's Pass).
Read More...

A great day hike that's easy and suitable for younger children. As you walk along the Bushman's Nek River and deeper into the valley you will get a great feeling of being outdoors. Some of the gallery pictures show the area when it had snowed. The snow was 3 foot deep near Halfway/Slab cave and no path could be found, ...
Read More...

The Isicatula Pass is found in the Bushman's Nek area. This pass descends from the escarpment into Lesotho by means of a narrow and steep gully.
Read More...

Isicatula peak is considered a hard non-technical khulu, located in the Bushman's Nek area. 
Read More...

Jonathan's Gate Pass is situated in the Southern Drakensberg, Bushman's Nek area. It was once an old Lesotho Border Post and active stock theft route. All that remains is five burnt down prefabricated buildings and an old desolate brick building. The name most probably originates from Joseph Leabua Jonathan who was th ...
Read More...

Jonathan's Gate Pass is situated in the Southern Drakensberg, Bushman's Nek area. It was once an old Lesotho Border Post and active stock theft route. All that remains is five burnt down prefabricated buildings and an old desolate brick building.
Read More...

Knuckles Pass (North) is located in the Bushman's Nek area. There is no visible trail.
Read More...

Knuckles South Pass is an easier, grassy pass with a trail unlike the north pass route.
Read More...

Knuckles Traverse Pass is located in the Bushman's Nek just left of Lammergeier pass and goats cave.
Read More...

Lammergeier Cave in Bushamns Nek is a stunning cave, it must be the longest cave in all the Drakensberg.  The cave is found on the Lammergeier Pass route. The cave could fit 50 people but 12 is the maximum allowed by Ezemvelo. A stream is below the cave all year and the sunrise in the mornings are a must to see. ...
Read More...

A strenuous 9.5km hike from Buskman's Nek Camp. A Map and knowledge of the area is necessary as no path exists in parts. The total elevation gain is 645 meters, no part of the hike is downhill. The cave could fit 50 people but 12 is the maximum allowed by Ezemvelo. A stream is below the cave all year and the sunrise i ...
Read More...

Read More...

Lammergeier Pass is located in the Bushman's Nek and is a relatively easy pass, however the last 1km on a steep uphill from Lammergeier cave has no visible path. At the top of the pass you will see goats cave on your right.
Read More...

From Bushman's Nek camp is a very strenuous 10.6 km hike. A Map and knowledge of the area is necessary as no path exists in parts. The total elevation gain is 859 meters, no part of the hike is downhill. At the top of the pass you will see Goats cave on your right.
Read More...

Langalibalele is in the Bushman Nek area.
Read More...

Mystery shelter in in the Bushman's Nek area. Mystery Shelter is one of only three shelters known inside the Drakensberg that includes several layers of painting, the one executed over the other. This is called super-positioning. A study of super-positioning can be used to date Bushman images indirectly based on style ...
Read More...

Ngwangwane Pass is also known as Bushman's Pass has no trail but is a relatively easy and flat pass.
Read More...

Ngwangwe Cave is near the top of Ngwangwe peak which is access from the Ngwangwane Pass (Bushman's Pass) in Bushmans Nek. The cave offers reasonable shelter for 4 people.
Read More...

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 eleva ...
Read More...

Painter's Cave is in the Bushman's Nek area. Interpretation by Celeste Rossouw: In the contact period and especially after the arrival of the Europeans, Bushman groups changed from being hunter-gatherers to being raiders and traders for the sake of their survival. Bushman raiders kept the horses for themselves as hors ...
Read More...

Read More...

The Saddle Nek Pass is located in the Bushman's Nek region of the Drakensberg.
Read More...

Senotlolong (Thamathu) Peak is in the Bushmans Nek area.
Read More...

Senotlolong Shelter is in Lesotho just after Thamathu Pass. It is small and can be used for shelter, your best options for caves to sleep in are Thamatsu Cave lower down or Goats Cave or Ngwangwe cave.
Read More...

Surprise Cave is in the Bushman's Nek area. The cave is 280m further up Lammergeier Pass from Lammergeier Cave. The cave provides reasonable shelter from the weather, has a small section at the back where about 4 people could sleep. It looks like the cave could be damp in summer. No name had been given to this cave, h ...
Read More...

Tarn Cave is in the Bushmans Nek area, this cave offers excellent views, a level sleeping area and good protection from the elements.
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...

Tarn Cave Pass has a very good path to follow after Cedric's Pool. The cave is named Tarn Cave because of the small mountain pools above it. From the cave's inner sanctum are beautiful views of the Devil's Knuckles.
Read More...

Thaba Ngwangwe is in the Bushmans Nek area.
Read More...

Thaba Ntsu/Devil's Knuckles is in the Bushmans Nek area. The South Knuckle is the most topographically prominent 3000m peak in South Africa.
Read More...

Thamathu Cave is in the Bushmans Nek area. The cave is about 7km from the parking lot and its uphill almost all the way to the cave. Further on from the cave is Thamathu pass. The cave is large, split into 4 sections and a semi level area near the front. The views and sunrise from the cave make the hike up the hill wor ...
Read More...

A circular 3 day hike in the Bushman's Nek area. Day 1 is a moderately severe 4-5 hrs hike (10 km's) 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 ...
Read More...

A moderately severe 4-5 hrs hike (10 km's) 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.
Read More...

Thamathu is a long pass up from Bushman's Nek up the ridge to the top of the escarpment. It is a relatively easy pass. The views on the way up and at the top are lovely.
Read More...

Thamathu is a long pass up from Bushman's Nek up the ridge to the top of the escarpment. It is a relatively easy pass. The views on the way up and at the top are lovely. Along the way you pass Thamathu Cave, a good place to have a rest and take in the views before doing the final 3 km's.
Read More...

Vast Cave is in the Bushmans Nek area, the cave is 6km from Bushmans Nek offices. The hike is easy, the last bit is uphill and you will find a huge deep cave that offers excellent shelter in any weather.
Read More...