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Hey folks
Thanks for a great site, I've been reading through many of the forums and found loads of info advice.
We plan to arrive in the Northern Drakensberg area 29 April late afternoon and depart 1 May.

We are really keen on getting the chance to see something from the top of Amphitheatre and a view of the Tugela falls as well as an overnight in the berg.

1. Please Can you recommend a camp site from where we can start the hike the following morning? I was thinking Mahai or Thendele.
2. Recommend a fairly easy trail from camp to the Amphitheatre (if there are any)
3. As I mentioned we were hoping to spend a night camping in the Berg, where would be the best spot to set up camp? We woudl like to avoid the escarpment and some of the passes due to security reasons - A friend of mine mentioned he was robbed camping next to the mountain hut last year. On the last day we'd like to make our way back to where we parked.. any thoughts ideas?

Hi Gwakie

Welcome to the forum.

I have camped at the Sentinel car park where there is small hut with bunks, not sure how many it sleeps, though we had a party of 6. If you get there late friday you can sleep over, and that will get you to within 4-6 hours return of the Tugela Falls and it is a moderate grade hike with chain ladders up the one section. You could take an easy day and stay up there for a bit and then come down late afternoon and stay at Witsieshoek Mountain Resort and then drive back on the Sunday.

I won't recommend to hike from Mahai or Thendele to the top of the ampitheatre it's 26.5kms from Mahai camp and it's a 1.5km climb in altitute. My fiance and I did it this March and was bit hectic. Best is like said stay at the Sentinal car park or Witsieshoek. Witsieshoek mountain resort is very nice and offer a lift from them to the carpark for R150, that sounds alot till you see the 7km stretch of road.
We enjoyed the Ampitheatre we stayed there 4 nights from Tugela to Ribbon falls and never had problems. The Basutos herdsmen just want cigarettes and sweets when passing them in the mountains.

Welcome Gwakie.

If you want to spend a night out in the mountains in those parts consider sleeping in Sentinel Cave, or at the top of Beacon Buttress Gully (take water with you), or even a couple of hundred meters North of the Chain Ladders at the Elands River Falls (not too far North though cause because you soon run across two passes used by locals). If the crime bothers you do not camp in the Tugela basin. The further away from the Falls and the hut, the better. The theft problem up there has been going on for many years and it happens frequently.

Answering your last question, you can make a loop via Beacon Buttress Gully and the Chain Ladders, but the approach to these will have to be doubled back the way you came. There are passes in QwaQwa a little further North, but I wouldn't consider them for this trip.

Hi Folks
Thanks for the tips and advice... I had to cancel the Amphitheatre plans and will be doing a trip in the Monks Cowl area instead. We're planning to arrive tomorrow in the valley area, a farmhouse very close to Champaigne Castle Resort as our base for the night. Saturday morning head-off towards the Sphinx and Crystal falls and possibly around Champagn or Giants Castle over a two-day trip. I believe there is a Vulture nesting ground in the area?
I'll let you know how my first trip went when I get back Tuesday.