Hikes

drakensberg maps

When going on a hike please ensure you have a map which can be purchased from most of the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife regional reserves or at the head office in Pietermaritzburg.

This guide to Hiking in the Drakensberg may also be of assistance especially if your first hike. A list of the caves and phone numbers that can be booked is available here and an example of the Mountain Rescue Register can be downloaded here.

Hikes

The Drakensberg Mountains offer opportunities for some of the finest hiking in the world. With its sheer cliffs, its fauna, its flora and its San rock art, a hike in the Maloti-Drakensberg Park is a unique experience. The park allows for all levels of hiking, from a stroll around the camp to the most strenuous hikes onto the escarpment.

Map of listings on this page
Lammergeier Pass Hike (incl Goats Cave)

Lammergeier Pass Hike (incl Goats Cave)

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

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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Langalibalele Pass Hike

Langalibalele Pass Hike

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

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

Leslie's Pass

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

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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Lion Buttress Hike

Lion Buttress Hike

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

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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Lotheni Camp to Hlathimbe South Pass

Lotheni Camp to Hlathimbe South Pass

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

A hike of 7 to 8 hours over 16 km's and 1 447m uphill, this is a difficult hike. 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. A map and a garmin or phone with the tracks a ...
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Lotheni Pass (South Fork - gully access)

Lotheni Pass (South Fork - gully access)

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Lotheni South Pass - 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 Pass (South Fork)

Lotheni Pass (South Fork)

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

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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0 reviews

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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0 reviews

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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0 reviews

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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Marble Baths Hike

Marble Baths Hike

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

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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Marble Baths via Grindstone Caves Hike

Marble Baths via Grindstone Caves Hike

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

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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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 last image in the gallery sho ...
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Mlambus Pools Hike

Mlambus Pools Hike

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

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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Mnweni Pools Hike

Mnweni Pools Hike

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

A 12.5km hike from the Mnweni Cultural Centre with an elevation gain of 347m.
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Mount Lebanon Hike

Mount Lebanon Hike

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

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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Mushroom Rock Hike

Mushroom Rock Hike

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

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 (Bushman's Pass)

Ngwangwane Pass (Bushman's Pass)

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

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

Nine Caves in three days

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

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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Organ Pipes Pass (Camel Route)

Organ Pipes Pass (Camel Route)

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Organ Pipes Pass - the Camel Route is marked as dangerous on official maps but this only really applies in icy conditions. There is beautiful scenery on both sides of the ridge.
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Organ Pipes Pass (Thuthumi Ridge Route)

Organ Pipes Pass (Thuthumi Ridge Route)

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Organ Pipes Pass is probably one of the most commonly used passes in the KZN Drakensberg. The name is derived from the very impressive wall of rock pinnacles near the top of the pass. The ridge offers stunning views of the Cathedral and Cathkin ridges. This route is commonly used for smuggling activities and is best a ...
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Organ Pipes Pass from Cathedral Peak Reserve

Organ Pipes Pass from Cathedral Peak Reserve

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Organ Pipes Pass is probably one of the most commonly used passes in the KZN Drakensberg. The name is derived from the very impressive wall of rock pinnacles near the top of the pass. The ridge offers stunning views of the Cathedral and Cathkin ridges. This route is commonly used for smuggling activities and is best a ...
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