Hikes

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.  
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This hike, starting at Giant's Castle main camp, takes you up the Bushman's River to the largest forest in the Giant's Castle area.
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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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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 ...
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12.5 kms (5 hours) via Pholela Hut and an elevation gain of 530m. The hike via Pholela Cave follows day 1 of the giants cup trail in reverse for the first  7.25km's and then you turn left (continue straight) and follow Gxalingenwa River up the valley. The cave is a real cave with great views into the valley. It' ...
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11.5 km (4 hours) via Pinnacle Rock and an elevation gain of 432m 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 cave is a real cave with great views into the vall ...
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13 kms about 4 hours. 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. It begins on the Sani Pass Road and has good views of Giants Cup. It leads to Gxalingenwa Cave.
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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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A moderate 9kms - 3hrs hike This hike begins at the Garden Castle main office, via Swiman Hut and along Hidden Valley, returning the same route.
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A severe 2 - 3 days hike (19 kms) The hike starts at Cobham Camp and follows the main Polela River towards the escarpment, the path becomes less clear and the Masubasuba Pass is long and difficult.
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An extreme round trip of a minimum of 3 days. The hike starts at the Isanlwana Police Post in the Mweni Valley and follows the Icidi River to the escarpment. It requires serious, potentially dangerous rock scrambling, and should only be attempted by experienced, competent mountaineers. In the Icidi Valley which is in u ...
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Ifidi Valley, Mnweni. An extreme round trip of a minimum of 3 days. From the Isandlwana Police Post follow the Mnweni River to its junction with the Ifidi River. The route then follows the Ifidi River and up Ifidi Pass. This hike should be led only by competent mountaineers with able parties, as it requires rock climbi ...
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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 ...
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A hike of 2km which follows the Lotheni River and leads to the spectacular Jacobs Ladder Waterfall.
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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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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.
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Knuckles Pass (North) is located in the Bushman's Nek area. There is no visible trail.
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A moderate 8 hrs - 2 days hike. There are many caves in the in the area. A network of parts connects the caves and places of interest and allows hikers to amble around the section of the Little Berg. Hikes begin from the Cobham Camp. Cobham State Forest area, which is situated close to Himeville.
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The sunrise from Lakes Cave is brilliant and the colours of a sunrise on the berg mountains are brilliant. This 12km hike from Cobham will take 4 to 5 hours, the hikes starts off pretty flat  and get steeper after 6km's, the last 2km's after Nutcracker Cave being the steepest.  The total elevation gain is 49 ...
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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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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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Old maps may refer to this as "Bushman's River Pass", as it was known in the 19th century. The exact date of the name change to "Langalibalele Pass" is uncertain, but makes reference to the arrest of the amaHlubi Chief Langalibalele at the top of this pass in 1873. Seven people died during this capture, five from the E ...
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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.
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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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A hike of 7 to 8 hours over 16 km's and 1 447m uphill. The hike begins at Lotheni Camp, follows the Ngodwini River and ascends up to the contour path. The Hlathimbe Pass itself is very steep, doing the hike to the top over 2 days is a good option.
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Lotheni South Pass. The gully access is actually more prominent but the North Fork is the one indicated on maps. It is a known smuggling route and is an easier hike than the North Fork.
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Lotheni South Fork is a smuggling route with a trail. Lotheni South Fork is an easier hike than the North Fork.
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This hike leads from the camp, along the river near the edge of a forest, up to the large caves, which are crucial archaeological sites and have been turned into a museum showing the Bushman's way of life. Tours are conducted throughout the year at set times in the company of a field ranger. An easy 40min hike. Tours ...
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The Maliba Circular Route is a 13km hike (8miles), starting at Maliba Lodge at 2030m, following the Upper Route to Black Pool, then climbing steadily up to 2626m above sea level. Thereafter you come down the fairly steep valley to the ventilation shaft, and then circle back to the lodge through gate #8 and the river po ...
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Maliba Lower Trail To Black Pool Grade in Tsehlanyane National Park is a 3.1km (1.9 miles), a gentle walk will take about 1 hour 20 minutes to Black Pool. This route follows the Hlotse River and is almost the same distance as the Upper route but has fewer climbs making it enjoyable for all age groups. The Lower trail ...
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Maliba Upper Trail To Black Pool in the Tsehlanyane National Park is an easy 3.2km hike (2 miles), taking about 1 hours 20 minutes to Black Pool. A circular route returning via Lower trail should take about 2 hours 30 minutes. The upper trail starts from the junction about 140m north of the lodge veranda, accessed off ...
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From Injisuthi Camp follow the route towards Fergy's Cave, after 5km's turn right crossing over the river, only 3km's and 200m elevation to go. The path is on the left side of the valley and slowly climbs higher towards Marble Baths. Marble Baths Cave and Annex are 50m from Marble Baths should you choose to sleep over ...
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From Injisuthi Camp head past Yellowwood forest for a steep 3.8 km's hike all uphill to Grindstone Caves, continue up past the caves, the views at the top of the Drakensberg are stunning. Follow the path South West across the ridge for 3km's of relatively flat walking, then downhill and towards Marble Baths. A good ma ...
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An extreme hike of 2 days (27 kms) Two steep passes in the Mnweni area leading to the top of the escarpment and enclosing Mbundini Abbey Peak. These passes are steep and dangerous and should not be attempted by the inexperienced.
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A relatively easy day hike for the family (probably 8 and above). A steep hill on the way to the hut but almost all downhill after. The views from the hut looking back towards Highmoor and into the valley below are worth while. Sadly the hut burnt down and is not in use at the moment. The first image in the gallery sh ...
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A severe 6-8 hrs hike (11 kms) From Cathedral Peak Hotel the path follows the river past the trout hatchery and up to the top of the little berg above the mlambonja river. The pass (also known as Umlambonya pass) is consistently very steep and long.
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A moderate 30 mins - 2 hrs hike (1,5 - 5,2 kms) There are three hikes, the lower valley 1,5 km, neptunes pool 4,2 km and marble baths 5,2 km. The Mlambonja Pass Route bypasses most of the lower river valley. All hikes begin at the Cathedral Peak Hotel.
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Starting at Mnweni Cultural Village this 9.7km hike is not very steep with a total elevation gain of only 255m.
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A 12.5km hike from the Mnweni Cultural Centre with an elevation gain of 347m.
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An extreme hike of 4 days (48 kms) An extremely long and difficult hike which begins at the Isandlwana Police Post in the Mnweni area. The first day would take you to the base of the Rockeries Pass, the second to the top and Mponjwane or Ledgers Cave, the third down the base of Mnweni Pass and the fourth back to the po ...
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The longest of all the hikes from Highmoor Camp rewarded with great views along the way. Mount Lebanon Peak can be viewed from the Highmoor Campsite. The peak is 2 153 m high. In the gallery you will see how the small Kamloops Dam had overflowed from a short downpour a little earlier, always keep an eye on the weather ...
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From Cathedral Peak Hotel its only 2.6km but its a steep uphill with an elevation gain of 355m. The views from Mushroom are excellent.
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This is day 2 of the Giants Cup Trail hike. Its an easy hike of 8.6km to Mzimkulwana Hut. On the way you pass Bath Plug Cave which is a good spot for lunch. The Hut can be quite cold as in a valley near a river so do take some warm clothes along also.
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A 9.2km hike mostly uphill with a detour to Siphongweni Cave, the highlight of any trip to Cobham. The bushman paintings 100m from the Cave are some of the best you will ever see in the Drakensberg. After Siphongweni Cave you pass The Policeman, an often photographed feature of the Drakensberg. Lakes cave offers good ...
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Ngwangwane Pass is also known as Bushman's Pass has no trail but is a relatively easy and flat pass.
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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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