Bushmans Nek
Hikes in Bushman's Nek area. Bushman's Nek is the southern most part of the Maloti Drakensberg Park and incorporates the beautiful Bushman's Nek Valley. Bushman's Nek is bound to captivate your imagination and quench your thirst for outdoor adventure.
Bushman's Cave (via Slab Cave) Hike
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 ...
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Bushman's Nek Pass Hike
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 ...
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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 ...
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Giant's Cup Trail Hike
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 ...
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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.
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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, ...
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Jonathans Gate (via Bushman's Nek Pass) Hike
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.
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Knuckles Pass (North)
Knuckles Pass (North) is located in the Bushman's Nek area. There is no visible trail.
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Lammergeier Cave Hike
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 ...
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Lammergeier Pass Hike (incl Goats Cave)
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.
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Ngwangwane Pass (Bushman's Pass)
Ngwangwane Pass is also known as Bushman's Pass has no trail but is a relatively easy and flat pass.
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Nine Caves in three days
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 ...
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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.
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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 ...
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Thamathu Cave Hike
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.
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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.
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