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
Garden Castle is situated in the southern most section of the Maloti-Drakensberg Park. The reserve is a total of 35 300 ha in extent and offers the visitor a variety of experiences. Garden Castle forms part of the Maloti-Drakensberg Park, South Africa’s first cultural and environmental World Heritage Site. The excepti ... Read More...
An easy 2 hour hike over 3.7 km with a total uphill of 377m. The cave is huge and offers excellent protection from bad weather. The last section on the way to the cave is up some wooden steps.There is enough flat sections in the cave to sleep 10 people comfortably. The video by Patrik Kjellgren @patttrici shows how bi ... 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...
Pillar Cave is in the Garden Castle area. Read More...
An difficult 10km hike to Rhino Peak 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...
The hut sleeps up to 30 people and forms part of the Giants Cup trail. Read More...
Winterhoek Hut is in the Garden Castle region and is surrounded by old oak trees. Their is accommodation for 30 and the hut forms part of the giants cup trail. Read More...
Mashai Pass is often used by hikers climbing the Rhino. Some sections are harshly eroded making it a tricky pass to do. It is the first gully North of Mlambonja Peak and has cairns marking the top. Read More...
Whyte's Cave is in the Garden Castle area, accessible from either Garden Castle or Bushman's Nek. The cave has a level floor and provides faily good protection from bad weather. Read More...
Rhino Peak (Thaba Ngcobo) is located in the Garden Castle area. Read More...
Langalibalele Cave is in Garden Castle near the base of Langaibalele Peak. No camping is permitted due to the cave having Bushman Paintings. The exact location has not been shown. Read More...
Pornographic Shelter (Bushmans River Rock #1) is in the Garden Castle area. Interpretation by Celeste Rossouw: One of the panels at Pornographic Shelter displays a group of running men that seems to be hunting. The parent rock shows signs of flaking, natural weathering and water-wash areas consisting of silica, salt a ... Read More...
Only 20m from Verkyker cave Fun Cave has a narrow sloping overhang that is large enough to sleep 12. Read More...
Corncob Cave (named so after corncobs were found at the cave) is near the top of Walkers Pass and almost level in height to Isicatula Peak. Read More...
Secret Cave is in the Garden Castle area in Secret Valley. The cave has a level floor and provides good protection from the wind and rain. Read More...
Rob's Cave is in the Garden Castle area in the Hidden Valley area. The cave has a large overhang providing good shelter. The floor is only level in some areas for sleeping. Read More...
Black Eagle Pass is not on the main escarpment and forms part of the Giants Cup Hikeathon. Read More...
Mzimude caves is in the Garden Castle area. Their are 3 caves all in very close vicinity to eachother. The caves offer good shelter and have a level floor. Read More...
Enough space for 2 people, found 190m up the valley from Seeping Beauty Cave. Read More...
Wilsons Cave is in the Garden Castle area. The cave has a large overhang and provides good shelter from the elements. Read More...
From left to right: Thaba Ngwangwe Peak, Walkers Peak and Mashai Peak Read More...
Pillar Cave Annex is in the Garden Castle area, about 250m from Pillar cave. Read More...
Sherry Cave (New) is in the Garden Castle area. To get to this cave a small ledge needs to be walked along so care needs to be taken. The cave has a level floor and will protect you from rain. Read More...
Wave Cave is in the Garden Castle area, it gets its name from the wave shape of the overhang. The cave is near Curtain Cave. The cave has some level floor areas and does not offer good shelter from the elements. Read More...
The approach to Rhino Pass is difficult but the actual pass is fairly easy. It has spectacular scenery. Read More...
Sandleni Cave is in the Garden Castle area and is positioned just below Sandleni Cave. This is a big cave ad offers great protection from the elements. Read More...
This cave has a large deep overhang and is 40m from Wave cave. Read More...
Varnish Shelter (Bushmans River Rock #2) is located in the Garden Castle region. Interpretation by Tim Forssman & Lee gutteridge (2012: 124) “Both the San /Xam in Western Cape and the Kalahari Bushmen (!Kung, Nharo and Khwe) believed the eland was the most powerful animal of all and is thus closely linked with n/o ... Read More...
Sherry Cave (Old) is in the Garden Castle area. This is a small cave/boulder overhang and will fit 2 people only. Read More...
Bollard Pass is not marked on most hiking maps. It is closely associated with and named after Bollard Peak. Read More...
Can be seen from Winterhoek Hut in Garden Castle. Read More...
There are three possible heads to the Mzimkhulu pass. The North pass is easy with a distinct path and offers beautiful scenery. Read More...
Swiman is in the Garden Castle region of the Drakensberg. Read More...
Located in Garden Caslte as the top of Mashai Pass this small 2 man shelter may offer a little protection from the elements. Read More...
The Mzimkhulu Middle Pass is located in the Garden Castle area. There is a waterfall on route which may be tricky to navigate. Read More...
The South Mzimkhulu Pass has no path but it is an easy pass. Read More...
There is no trail trail for this pass, its best to stay in the gully on the way up. Read More...
Wilson's Peak is in the Garden Castle area. Read More...
Verkyker Cave is in the Garden Castle area, very near to Fun Cave on the other side of the stream. The cave floor is uneven and exposed to bad weather. Read More...
Mzimkhulu Cave is in the Garden Castle area on the route followed up Mzimkhulu Pass. Read More...
John's Cave is in the Garden Castle area below Little Bamboo Mountain. This caves name is given by Dave Sclanders in memory of John C. Durno (junior) who died in 1933 at 15 years of age. Read More...
Mzimude Pass (North) is located in the Garden Castle area. The pass has no trail and it is not used often. Read More...
Walker's Pass is a worthwhile route located in Southern Drakensberg in the Garden Castle area. Read More...
The Mzimude Passes are not rock passes. The South Pass is steep and is used more often than the North Pass. It has a lot of exposure due to height but it is still safe. Read More...
Stones North Pass is fairly easy. It is narrower than Stones South Pass. Read More...
The Matebeng peak is found in the Garden Castle area. Read More...
