Drakensberg Amphitheatre (3 days - 3 nights)This three day trek is perfect for those seeking to climb to the top of the Drakensberg without having to camp out in tents, or carry more than a light pack - you stay in comfortable accommodation throughout. You also get to ascend to the top of the Drakensberg’s most iconic feature, the beguilingly symmetrical Drakensberg Amphitheatre, via the notorious chain ladders, and stand on the top of the Tugela Falls – don’t get too close to the edge! The approach and return routes through the lower elevations of the Royal Natal National Park on the first and final day are also stimulating in their own right. Soft adventure at its best!
Highlights
Drakensberg Amphitheatre trek in detailPre-trek Accommodation
You’ll need to spend a night close to the trail head so that you are ready to start trekking the next day. You’ll also return here for a final night after your descent from the Drakensberg Amphitheatre. We recommend staying in either the Cavern or Sungubala Mountain Camp. The latter has self-catering accommodation, and we ensure that the guide will cater for you if you base yourself there. The Cavern is a friendly, family run 3-star hotel, offering comfortable accommodation on a full-board basis. There is also an excellent Zulu-owned and run B&B which we have started using. Trek Day 1 On the first day you’ll walk through The Cavern property, through a magnificent indigenous forest with a look at some bushman paintings at Lone Rock and then a steep bit through Sugar Loaf Gap and onto a ridge, where you’ll have amazing views of the valleys in Royal Natal National Park on the left, and QwaQwa on the right, with the Amphitheatre looming up ahead. After tucking in to a packed lunch above The Grotto, you’ll continue on up to Witsieshoek Mountain Resort, where you spend the night in one of their newly refurbished chalets (the steaks here are excellent!). Witsieshoek is situated at 2220m, and commands fabulous views over the surrounding foothills. Your hike today covers about 12kms and should take about 7hrs. Trek Day 2 At the start of the day you will be driven up the 8km of dirt road to the Sentinel car park (2500m), where you commence your climb up the Ampitheatre via the chain ladders. You’ll climb up past the Three Witches and stop just above for your first close-up views of the main Amphitheatre wall. Continue along a contour path behind the Sentinel peak to a point where you can decide to either ascend the Gully (for those nervous of the ladders), or continue round to the ladders further on. Once up top at 3000m, you’ll have a “flat” walk to the top of the Tugela Falls for lunch. From here you can stroll around and look at the old mountain hut, and look through Gods Window for a peep of the falls. Those who have energy can quickly nip up Mount Aux Sources, located 2km away. Then it is back down to the car park, where you’ll be met by a vehicle and driven back to Witsieshoek Mountain Resort for a well-deserved hot bath and dinner. You’ll spend between about 6 and 8 hours hiking today. Trek Day 3 The final day of hiking is by far the easiest, and you’ll walk down through the Royal Natal National Park, passing through lovely protea fields and indigenous forests with clear cold mountain streams to drink from. The hike ends at the main Royal Natal National Park Offices, where you can reward yourself with an ice cream before being driven back to your base accommodation at either The Cavern or Sungubala Mountain Camp. Today's hike is about 3 hours. Did you know?The 1964 film “Zulu”, which depicts the battle of Rorke’s Dift, and stars Stanley Baker as Lieutenant John Card and Michael Caine as Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead, was filmed below the Northern Drakensberg escarpment, with the Amphitheatre providing a truly spectacular backdrop. This is actually geographically in-accurate, by a considerable margin – Rorke’s Drift is actually located in gently rolling country in the heart of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, about 200 kilometres away from the Drakensberg!
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Image Gallery2016 Prices4 persons on trek (chalets):
from* £400 per person 4 persons on trek (hikers hut): from* £365 per person 2 persons on trek (chalets): from* £555 per person 2 persons on trek (hikers hut): from* £515 per person *prices are shown as "from" as some room rates change during the year, and exchange rates can fluctuate Includes: guide, all meals except dinners at Witsieshoek, 1 night full board at The Cavern Hotel, 2 nights in comfy chalets at Witsieshoek Mountain Resort (or hikers hut), trek logistics, all permits Excludes: travel to The Cavern and onward travel after the trek, Dinners at Witsiseshoek (a la carte) Notes:
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