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I need some advice on the Tugela Gorge hike. Would you have to be very fit? i want to take some first time hikers in December up to the bottom of the falls, or as close as we can get, depending on the state of the river. I have camped at Mahai before, but was bit dissapointed that you don't have a view of the Amphiteatre from the campsite. What is the Rugged Glen campsite like? views, facilities, etc.
Any other advice on the hike will be appreciated. Thanks

I did this hike on 24 December 2005 (my 3rd Berg hike ever). Its far and "difficult", but considering it was very hot on that day and we didn't have a proper back pack (not to mention the fact that I was nowhere near mountain fit), you should be ok. Its a very nice hike, but the river water is dodgy, so take purification tablets...

Some advice, climb the chain ladder at the split in the path (check the awesome tunnel) and keep walking for about 4km after this (my brother lead the hike and he has a no-path-no-walking policy, so we turned around when it becomes a rock scramble), from what I read in David Bristow's Best Hikes of the Drakensber, the rock scramble is the best part...

plouw wrote:

I haven't stayed at Rugged Glen for ages (as in >15 yrs) but I always preferred RG to Mahai - which is much more like a 'beach' campsite with pitches next to each other, v.big, often v.crowded. RG was quieter, more rustic, in a nicer spot etc. I don't know what security is like at RG though.

I've done the gorge 2 times in the past few years. Bit of an unhill climb going in, but not too bad, and back is mostly downhill obviously. Lots of forest and places to cool down though. Think its 11km in total.

Wanted to camp at Rugged Glen, but did not feel safe at all (probably due to no other people !), so booked in at Mahai, at least it was only 1/4 full. Yes, the fact that there is no view of the Amphiteatre is a bit sucky, but I guess you only have to walk a 1km or so to get a proper view.

Climb the chain ladder, and boulder hopped for 1km or so, but turned around as it seemed to much of a mission to continue. also went up to the cave (to the left at the chain ladders/tunnel), nice view of the waterfall from there.

I did the Gorge hike some years ago - we also tried to get to the foot of the Falls. After the tunnel, the going gets heavier - lots and lots of boulder hopping. We eventually had to turn back as we were running out of time and it's quite a long trek back. Also did the Devils Tooth gully a couple of weeks back as we were trying to get to Tooth Cave. Not for the fainthearted - plenty of boulder hopping, scrambling and steep grass banks to contend with. You definitely need abseiling gear to get down again. Anyone else done this recently?

Hey

check out this place, a little further away but will give you a view of the Amphitheatre:
www.amphibackpackers.co.za/