Overnight Berg hikes with kids

Hey thats cool. My first experience with the berg was when i was 6. We stayed at Tendeli Hutted Camp, and I remember looking up at the Amphithetre with a pair of bino's and was absolutely amazed. Keep the kids out of the malls and in the mountains. Much better place to be.

I agree.

My three daughters were into the mountains on my back when they could barely walk, and were joining us on multiple-day overnight hikes (caving and tenting) before they were 10 years old.

They are all adults now and have a real passion for the Drakensberg.

It is well worth the effort and enjoyment of seeing them enjoy themselves in the mountains at a young age (even if it is spending all day, at 8 years old, building a marina resort in the stream next to our overnight camp on a trip we did up Masubasuba pass).

Go for it.

We are going back to Injasuthi for Easter weekend. We'll camp in the main campsite. I'm hoping to go to wonder valley cave for a look. The trip will be day walks only...no overnighters but thats ok.

Hi All

I have organized a Dads and lads for my Son's Grade 1 class for tomorrow. We are starting at Garden Castle and walking to the Hidden Valley south of Garden Castle. We will be doing a 14Km round trip. Hopefully the boys excitement will out weigh their fatigue by the end. The boys are going to be carrying a daypack with just their sleeping bag and some snacks. Dads a lot more.

As a result of the hike there has been much excitement within the Grade 1 Group and lots of pressure for most Dad's to come. Some Dads have now had to up their game fitness and health wise from the feedback from the Grade 1 teachers. I have 8 confirmed Dads coming. Caesar at Bush and Bundu has been inundated with new prospective hikers coming in for advice.

Hopefully going to be a twice a year adventure for the boys into the mountains and build the boys and the dads up for a high berg trip in years to come.

I decided against a hike to say a cave e.g. Pillar Cave because of the numbers and I was worried about lots of boys running around inside a cave when cooking was happening and the potential for an accident.

I will give some feedback on Monday with some photos.

Regards
Selous

Have fun...watch the river crossings, take rope at least.

Good initiative

I think the Hidden Valley is a great choice! I imagine you are shooting for that massive flat ground near the boulder field to pitch tents?

Hopefully the rivers are down - that crossing was brutal when I was there in December.

More initiatives like this are needed if children are to grow up with an appreciation for outdoors and natural beauty.

Hi Ghaz
Going up to a flattish area where a tributary joins the Mzimude River from the right. Just beyond that I was thinking of camping. I was there a few years back. Hopefully won't have to do river crossings using a rope with grade ones.

If my memory serves me correctly we also pass a big rock with a pool. Hoping kids could have a dip there.
Regards
Selous