Hiking holiday - Drakensberg Amphitheatre Heritage Trail 3 Night South Africa

Hiking holiday - Drakensberg Amphitheatre Heritage Trail 3 Night South Africa

The Amphitheatre is the most recognisable and dramatically imposing feature of the entire Drakensberg range, a World Heritage Site of outstanding environmental and cultural significance. A mighty wall of basalt rises over 1000 metres from the Tugela valley to the Lesotho plateau nearly 3000 metres above sea level. Part of its aesthetic appeal arises from its near perfect symmetry, extending as a sheer wall of rock some 5 kilometres in length from the Eastern Buttress to the Sentinel Peak in the west- altogether an area of majestic and incomparable beauty providing some of the finest scenery in the world.
The Amphitheatre Hiking trail has been planned to enable walkers of average ability to reach these heights and be rewarded by awe inspiring, never-to-forgotten views from the top of the escarpment - a feat normally only undertaken by fit and experienced hikers who would normally have to overnight on the escarpment.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive at The Cavern Drakensberg Hotel for first night before hike

Stop At: Drakensberg Region, Drakensberg Region, KwaZulu-Natal
Arrive at the The Cavern Drakensberg Resort and Spa
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Dinner
Accommodation included: The Cavern Drakensberg Hotel resort and Spa

Day 2: Distance: 15km. Avg Hike Time: 5.5-6.5 hrs, 726m Elevation Gain, 1273m Total Ascent

Stop At: Drakensberg Mountains, Drakensberg Region South Africa
After a hearty breakfast, you will be met by your guide. Today’s hike commences with a rather stiff climb, to get above the sandstone cliffs. Half-way between the Cavern and the cliff line there is the option of a 25min detour to some San Rock Art at Lone Rock (a worthwhile detour!). The path then continues up through Sugar Loaf Gap, taking you above the Sandstone Cliffs, at which point you’ll wish to catch your breath, and enjoy the spectacular vista across the Northern Drak Valley. From here, the route undulates along the ridge bypassing Cold Hill and Cold Ridge with sweeping views across to the former homeland QwaQwa and Metsi Matsho Dam. Broome hill at 8.7km, makes a good lunch spot, after which point it is approx 6kms/2hours hiking onto Basotho Gate and the Mountain Lodge. You would have ascended 1273 metres on today’s hike, but the good news is that most of the ascent comes in the first third of the hike. Once you above the cliff line, you will straddle the border of two provinces: Free State and KwaZulu-Natal.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: The Mountain Lodge - Sentinel chalets

Day 3: Distance: 16km return-trip or 18km if you take in Rainbow Falls. Average Hike Time: 7hrs, 572m Elevation, 985m Ascent

Stop At: Drakensberg Mountains, Drakensberg Region South Africa
This is the most eventful day and you will need to make an early start. You’ll be transported to the Sentinel Car Park, which lies in the shadow of the towering Sentinel peak. After completing the mountain register, you start your hike along a well-trodden path which ascends gradually towards the Witches and Zigzags, taking you to the base of the Sentinel massif. From here, you swing right and follow the contour path below the Western buttresses with the land sloping steeply to the north and east giving you wonderful views of the Maluti’s and the Mountain Lodge plateau. The chain ladders are reached after about 3 kilometres. After negotiating the 35m ascent on the chainladders it is only a short scramble from there to the escarpment where you can spend the better part of the day in exploration. For those persons scared of heights, there is also the Gully Option; or up the gully and down the chain ladders (or vice-versa).
Here is Africa's highest waterfall, where the headwaters of the Tugela drop a sheer 614 metres into the gorge below. Another point of interest, some 2 km inland, is the Mont-aux-Sources peak, at 3282 metres it is the source of four important rivers. A 3-4 km walk along the escarpment requiring some ridge climbing will take you to the Eastern Buttress and Rainbow Falls. This can be undertaken by the fit and eager. With fine weather, a pleasant time can be had for several hours on the summit. The return trip traces your steps back to the Mountain Lodge, where you should aim to be back by mid-afternoon.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: The Mountain Lodge - Sentinel chalets

Day 4: 11km to Mahai Campsite Bridge or 12.2km to Visitor Centre Average Hike Time: 4-5hrs, -813m Elevation Gain, 391m Ascent

Stop At: Drakensberg Mountains, Drakensberg Region South Africa
Today is an easy day's walk down the Mahai River Valley and into the Royal Natal National Park (RNNP). Along the way you will crisscross the Mahai River several times, passing small waterfalls and pools which invite a refreshing dip. The vegetation and topography changes dramatically as you descend, and you will pass through patches of cool mist-belt forest on the southern facing slopes. The path comes out at Mahai Campsite, from where you will be collected and transferred back to your vehicles at Cavern Berg hotel. For those that don’t have long journeys or planes to catch, we recommend visiting the bushmen paintings which are another 2kms past the visitor centre, and then you take a guided trail up to Sigubudu Paintings (approx 1hr trail, R30/pp – pay guide directly).
Arriving back at the Cavern, there is an option of a 4th night, and you may like to treat your weary limbs to a massage at the Cavern’s Forest Spa.
You’ll return home, filled with a sense of achievement for having reached the top of the mighty Drakensberg escarpment!
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.