Hello, I am interested in doing the Drakensberg Northern Traverse as a group in January 2025 and would like to know some tips for doing the trip and how to obtain the necessary permits.
We want to start from Cathedral Peak and finish at Sentinel.
You can get permits at Cathedral Peak Hotel or the Didima Offices. Witsieshoek will make you buy their permit too when you arrive there. But the EKZN Permit from the start will cover rescue etc.
The NHT is a great hike, and the upside of doing it that way around is that you approach Ntonjelana Gap from below, so it’s much easier to find. I assume you are aware that there’s no specific trail and obviously nothing is marked. It is crucial to have a good GPS track for this one.
Are you going up via Mlambonja Pass or Bell Traverse? I assume you’re taking the scenic line rather than the speed line. Also take not of places that are unsafe for camping on the route.