I am trying to arrange a fun adventure for some boys into the Berg.
I have never overnighted in the berg. I am very aware I would be responsible for other peoples kids.
We are look at doing a 2\3night hike into the Berg. (preferably 2x for first time out…. ?)
It’s myself (47) and 3 teenage boys 15\16years old. - All Fit and enjoy the outdoors.
We should be self proficient with Tents , equipment food etc.
Time Period would be any time in August essentially.
As they are adventurous and Boys, the dream is to possibly overnight in a Cave (such a Rolands) and the Idea off Summiting the highest Peak Mafadi sounds awesome.
Problems, It looks like Rolands is not near Mafadi as well as possibly a bit too Dangerous ?
As we would be coming from Jhb.
Any Northern or Central Hikes would be preferred.
We were thinking of not doing Mnweni as that is one we want to keep for a Springbok Scout hike one day.
Any recommendations for something pretty (great scenery vertical cliffs) , preferably 2 nights. Maybe even has a different return route , not too stressed about fitness levels ?
Maybe even the Tugela Falls with the ladders but it just seems very short. Not sure if we can have a decent hike around the top and then back to same basecamp ?
I even thought about maybe having a guide take us but have no idea on costs or where to find one ?
Any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated.
The Cannibal Trail near clarens is great, and you sleep in a cave, but only one night though.
Maybe combine it with the Ribbok Trail at Golden Gate National park if you don’t mind driving in between.
In the Mnweni area (closest to you if you’re coming from JHB) there is Rockeries Pass and Ntonjelana Pass as well as Mnweni Pass, which are all possibilities for first-time berg hikers. Mponjwane cave and Ledgers cave are options for overnight (although I would still take tents as they are not totally protected). Have you done other wilderness overnight trips? If not, it might be an idea to do a test overnight camp at the top of the Magaliesberg (via Piesangkloof) before you head into the Drakensberg. The consequences if you realize that you don’t have something you need, or there is a problem, are less severe in the Magaliesberg than in the Drakensberg.
Sounds great! It will be cold - haha! and the Berg is tough, one ideally needs to be very fit.
In order from least tough to hellish…
1 - For a first time in the Berg, id recommend up chain ladders and sleep near the falls (sleep 1) about then walk to the other side, possibly camp close to Devils tooth (sleep 2) and walk all the way back on day 3. Its not too far or too tough and the views are great ( as they are in all the berg!) and close enough to other people / civilisation if there are issues.
2 - Organ pipes (Camel - Windy gap) is probably the second best for a first time (Sleep Rolands - personally I don’t see the attraction of Rolands - or sleep in other caves above Rolands) and then go up cleft peak and sleep around there for night 2. Its just a long first day with no water for most of the day so will need to carry 3L or so.
3 - Rockeries as suggested in Ruth’s reply
4 - You could look into Greys pass and Ships Prow, can be done in 3 nights. Monks Cowel camp site - Blindmans, Gatberg - Keith’s Bush camp (sleep1), Up Greys pass (sleep2), Down Ships prow and sleep on contour path level (sleep3) then back to Blindmans and Monks Cowel campsite. Its tough, extreme with a lot of cliffs / exposure. Im not sure if its suitable for a first time in the Berg though, a lot can go wrong…
Just to add. My son is 16 and an Experieced Scout for hiking.
We will use the KMZ files and take a physical map \ Compass.
I think we have roughly finalised our plans or narrowed them down.
In total we will try do Tugela Falls & Ifidi Cave.
Not quite sure yet on the order of things yet.
Jhb-Sentinal Car Park - Roughly 5-6hrs (Have a Jeep Wrangler 4x4)
We are hoping to arrive roughly 09:00ish at Sentinal Car park.
Try get to Tugela falls by 12:00\13:00. (3\5hrs depending on what I read)
Have a breather and then make our way onto Ifidi. (May be a push too far)
I am aware that’s a further 10\12km away. Looks like most of the route is much flatter tough till you get fairly close to the cave.
If we make that. Next day have a slow return to the falls and last day return via the other route to Sentinal.
We may also leave Jhb earlier to get to Sentinal earlier to try gain back some time.
Time we we are looking at last week of September or 1st week of September to try and get some slightly warmer weather.
