Area: Royal Natal

Your starting point for the Chain Ladders, Sentinal Car Park. This entrance 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 a ...
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Amphingati Peak is located in the Royal Natal National Park. The peak is not listed on the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife map for Royal Natal. The peak name is that given by Chris Murch in his list of Khulu's (peaks greater than 3000m) in South Africa in 1994.
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The Amphitheatre is one of the geographical features of the Northern Drakensberg, South Africa, and is widely regarded as one of the most impressive cliff faces on earth. The cliff face of the Amphitheatre is roughly three times the size of the total combined area of all the cliff faces in Yosemite's famous El Capitan, ...
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This 5-day hike features some of the most dramatic scenery in the whole of the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park. The route passes through the Amphitheatre, Mbundini, Mnweni, The Rockeries, The Saddle and The Cathedral range. The first day’s hike takes hikers up the chain-ladder to the top of the Amphitheatre. From here, th ...
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Barricade Pass was nicknamed Fallen Boot Pass by Neil Margetts. One of his companion hikers dislodged his boot and it fell down a steeper part of the pass. If you begin your route from Fika dam, on the true right of the river is a well-used path as far as the base of Namahadi Pass. If you begin on true left, you will ...
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Beacon Buttress in the middle and Sentinal on the right.
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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.
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The actual summit is on the Mont-Aux-Sources ridge.
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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.
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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 ...
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The Chain Ladder is one of the easiest hikes as far as Berg passes go. This trail is also the most popular. The final 30m of the cliff face is ascended by means of a two-section chain ladder. The route is accessed via Sentinel Car Park which can be found on the road from Witzieshoek Mountain Resort. There are two sect ...
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A circular day hike starting at Sentinal Car Park and up to the Chain Ladder which is one of the easiest passes. The final 30m of the cliff face is ascended by means of a two-section chain ladder. Once at top you make your way to the Amphitheatre / Tugela Falls for stunning views and the return is down the short and s ...
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Crows Nest is located within the Royal Natal area. The chain ladders is the closest pass.
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Crows Nest Cave is found on Crows Nest Peak near Mont-Aux-Sources in the Drakensberg.
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From Left to right: Eastern Buttress, Devil's Tooth, Inner Tower and the Escarpment.
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Dooley Peak is in Royal Natal above Thendele Camp.
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From Left to right: Eastern Buttress, Devil's Tooth, Inner Tower and the Escarpment.
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There are several possible routes but all will require a scramble. The start is from the contour path.
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An easy 2.2km in total hike from the day parking area in Royal Natal. The path is uphill and then through the bush to the waterfall.
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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 - Gudu falls is shown on the left), else continue stra ...
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A 3.6km hike to the top of Gudu Falls via the “Crack” with an elevation drop of 264m along the way. There is beautiful swimming pools, within 20 metres of the falls and a lunch area at this very picturesque spot.   
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Gudu Falls Pass is a relatively easy hike worth doing. If you venture towards the falls you will find some lovely rock pools to swim in.
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The Inner Tower is found in the Royal Natal area. It lies next to the famous devils tooth.
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Two very distinct gullies lead up towards the Inner Tower. Both gullies are extremely challenging scrambles. The gully has many obstacles but the struggle may be well worth it. The Inner Tower Gully is located in the Royal Natal region.
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Starting at the Gorge car park in Royal Natal head roughly South up the hill. This is a steep hike of 558m elevation gain over 3.3km. The views at the top of the Amphitheatre, Tugela Falls and the Sentinel are magnificent.
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Mahai Cave is in the Royal Natal area about 500m below Mahai falls.
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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.
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Namahadi is the highest peak in the Free State and it is one of the highest in the Drakensberg. It is an easy pass with very limited exposure.
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This is a relic of an early settler's dwelling. Image Credit: pietspix [03 July 2008] The ruin is situated 80m from the top of Namahadi pass.
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An easy one hour walk of 3 kilometres starting at the visitor's centre which takes you along the Tugela River and continues towards the park gate. The path leads up the Sigubudu Valley to some fine examples of San rock paintings.
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Starting at the Gorge car park this 6km hike to Policeman's Helmet with an elevation gain 340m along the way offers great views.
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Royal Natal National Park (Thendele & Mahai) was proclaimed in 1916 and contains some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in Africa. The main feature is the world famous Amphitheatre, a rock wall approximately five km in length, and 500 m high. Above the amphitheatre is Mont-aux-Sources peak where, as its nam ...
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Sentinel is in the Royal Natal area.
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The two Sentinel Caves in the Royal Natal area are situated on the escarpment in a large crack at the back of the Sentinel. They provide excellent protection from bad weather, have level floors and each cave can sleep 4 people.
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Located above the chain ladders in Royal Natal Reserve.
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Sigubudu / Ungiyeza is in the Royal Natal area. Interpretation by Celeste Rossouw: This painting includes several animals, such as eland, mountain rhebuck and even part of a cobra (beneath the running eland). Bushmen legends relate that snakes were linked with rain-making rituals. Soft or female rain was interpreted a ...
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The steep ascent through The Crack Pass is aided by a chain ladder. It is potentially dangerous.
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Tooth Cave is in the Royal Natal area at the top of Devils Tooth Gully. Getting to this cave requires proper climbing gear and experience.
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This magnificent hike starts at the Gorge Car Park leading through stretches of protea veld and forest, and the scenery beyond the Gorge is spectacular.  
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Witches is in the Royal Natal region of the Drakensberg.
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A long 9.5km hike with an elevation gain of 820m. The rewards along the way make this uphill climb well worth while. You pass Cascades, Lookout Rock, Cave Shelter, Mahai Cave and Mahai Falls on the way before reaching Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge at the top.
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The Drakensberg Grand Traverse (DGT) has no set route and is largely off trail. Most people will cover in the vicinity of 210 kilometers and climb more than 9,000 meters. The DGT is seen as a backpacking destination for the very fit and experienced. The basic rules are that have to pass through eight checkpoints: C ...
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The route follows a hiking path up the Mahai Valley, past the Mahai Falls, to Witsieshoek Mountain Resort – a climb of some 700m over a distance of 9km. From here to the Sentinel Car Park, a distance of 9km, it’s very rough undulating dirt road resulting in a further climb of some 300m. A concrete path is followed for ...
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Mont-aux-sources is in the Free State and this trail run starts at the Sentinel Car Park near Witsieshoek and is via the chain ladders. Fastest Known Times (KFT) 1. Matt te Water: 2:27:42 on 6 September 2020
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