Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020

Hiking in the Drakensbergs

Country forums / Africa / South Africa

Hi
I'm hoping to go hiking in the Drakensbergs in December for a couple of weeks. I'm coming from the UK and wondering if anyone can recommend a good local guide/tour company who organises these kinds of things?

Thanks!
Cat

Ive PMed you

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#1. That's helpful. But what if others are in the same boat? Isn't easier posting the information? I thought that was the purpose of the forum!

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Sorry - we're also walking in the Draks and wanted to tell OP who we are/ when we are there/ where we're going - its none of your business....

3

Howzit!

Your question is a bit vague. Which province? For how long? Budget? I don't think you need a guide. A lot of the hikes are within Parks Board reserves and are well signposted. Always hike in a group tho, if you are coming alone then yah contact the Natal Parks Board, they should be able to help you out.

Anyway as far as KwaZulu-Natal goes, my recommendations are:

1) Royal Natal National Park - parks board run, beautiful camping site or stay at Tendele in a rondavel or Hlalanathi down the road which is very reasonable. Great views of the Amphitheatre, well marked paths, adn hikes ranging from 1 hour to a few days from the Sentinel Car Park.
2) Mont Aux Sources
3) Injasuthi - potholed road for the last bit, but stunningly beautiful, eland in the camping ground and some great hikes.

www.drakensberg-tourism.com/drakensberg-hiking-trails.html<BR><BR>Hope that helps

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#3 I understand. I agree Your personal details are none of my business. I am not interested in them and didn't suggest you post them.

But the only question the OP asked was for details on a good, local comapny. Surely that's worth posting to help others?

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Hi
Thanks very much for the responses - what I'd ideally like to find is a group I can join - ideally long distance walking and camping - I don't mind where, whether Lesotho or Natal. I did some hiking through Lesotho in the early 90s and it was stunning...

Thanks!
ps retsbew was pming about a personal trip so it wouldn't be useful to anyone else for wider information...

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have a look at the Otter trail as well - the most famous coastal hike in SA. Well worth it

7

There are of course several operators that can organise hikes in the Drakensberg. My own agency Vertical Endeavour is still in the process of registering and it will take a while before I can do anything in South Africa. You may want to use our dedicated forum on the Drakensberg to get more detailed information.

In the mean time I would reccomend visiting the Mweni area of the Berg - a very spectacular part of the Northern Berg and you can stay at the Mweni Cultural Centre, which has reasonable facilities and offers a cultural experience of the area as well as guided hikes. It is run by locals who also benefit from it - which makes it all the more worth supporting (the area is very rural). Get their number from their website and leave a message (their cell phone reception is very poor).

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