At the tender age of 18, I backpacked Israel and Europe, and upon my return to South Africa, I fell madly in love with a Durban surfer boy. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be, and to “get away from it all,” I retreated to the wild to soothe a broken heart. My new live-in position at a local hotel at the foot of the Sani Pass was a good three-hour drive away from the nearest town, and it was as remote as I could find within the province of Kwa-Zulu Natal.
The Drakensberg is more commonly known for Sani Pass, a mountain pass that reaches over 3,000 meters and arrives in Lesotho. Thirty years ago, this trail was only for the courageous and adventurous off-roader and not for the timid or faint-hearted. Today Sani Pass is less treacherous but still claims at least six lives yearly.
However, the Drakensberg has much more to offer than just Sani Pass.
The Royal Natal National Park, a World Heritage Site, is a 31-square-mile park home to the world’s tallest waterfall, the Tugela Falls. The five-tiered drops make up an accumulative height of 3110 feet, a mere 13 feet taller than Angel Falls in Venezuela. A seven-mile loop trail that takes approximately six to seven hours is the best way to experience the falls. A moderate level of fitness is required.
The dramatic basalt amphitheater is a cliff face or rock wall over three miles long, standing 4,000 feet tall. You can take several hikes that follow the base of the Amphitheater to the Tugela Gorge or hike to the summit of Sentinel Peak.
The Drakensberg area has so much more to offer, and suggest a visit to Cathedral Peak, Cathkin Trails, Champagne Valley, Giants Castle Game Reserve, and the well-known Drakensberg Boys Choir School.
There are several accommodation options, from camping to a bungalow to high-end Hotels. Sa-venues.com is the most comprehensive site with a range of accommodations.
When to visit
The best time for hiking will be between April and May, and for cold winter nights, snuggled around a warm campfire will be from November through to January. Snowfall during winter is not guaranteed, but skiers can head to Tiffindell or Afriski Mountain Resort to hit the slopes.
How to get there
After a short one-hour flight from Johannesburg to Pietermaritzburg, you can rent a car or 4WD to get you to the outskirts of the Drakensberg in two hours.
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