Drakensberg

Drakensberg

Mont-Aux-Sources Challenge 2011

Details
Parent Category: Drakensberg
Category: General
Hits: 2524

Every year, the 50km race to the top of Tugela Falls and back from Royal Natal National Park, takes place in September. The number of participants is limited and selected. The route ascends Gudu Pass to Witsieshoek, up to Sentinel Car Park along the road, after which the Falls are reached via the Chain Ladders. Descent is via The Gully and back along the same way. This year's event was held on the 10th and was won by Lance Chapman in a time of 05:04:59. For more information visit the official website. A personal account by one of the participants, with pictures, can be read on this blog.

The 10 highest South African summits not shared with Lesotho

Details
Parent Category: Drakensberg
Category: Peaks
Hits: 2928

The following list reflects the highest summits in South Africa which are not shared with Lesotho. It will be recalled that many of South Africa's highest summits form part of the border between the two countries.

Drakensberg Weather Forecasts

Details
Parent Category: Drakensberg
Category: General
Hits: 17346
A collection of Drakensberg weather forecast information.

“Mafadi”: the invention of a peak and the misconstructions of RSA mapmakers

Details
Parent Category: Drakensberg
Category: Peaks
Hits: 11235
While physical exploration in the Drakensberg can be rewarding, solving its scholarly enigmas can be more so. In collusion with Professor David Ambrose at the National University of Lesotho, I uncovered a significant naming aberration for a significant Drakensberg peak. The name in question is incongruously called “Mafadi”, a label that was actually misappropriated to the highest peak in South Africa from an already named peak inside Lesotho. While the peak itself is indeed the highest, and always has been, it lacked a name until the Directorate of Surveys and Mapping, Government of South Africa, 2929AB Champagne Castle 1:50 000 map of 1971 was published and indicated the new name of the highest peak as “Mafadi”  (at 11,306’ - 3446m). This was the first time the name appeared on an RSA publication.

Mnweni Marathon 2011

Details
Parent Category: Drakensberg
Category: General
Hits: 4462

May the 14th 2011 saw the running of the annual Mnweni Marathon – that epic mountain race which pits body and mind against the Drakensberg terrain, the altitude, the weather, your training or lack thereof, your hidden masochistic tendencies, the clock, and above all, your desire to get high on life / endorphins / adrenalin / cataflam. The circular route is easily described in one sentence: run up the Mnweni valley and pass, run down Rockeries Pass and the Ntonjelane valley back home – overall distance 38Km, altitude gain to the summit 1600m (stats may vary, depending on how officially lost or found you were at any given moment of the self-navigated route). The trials and tribulations of the day, and each participant’s unique tale of conquering the Mnweni could fill a chapter.

Beacon Buttress Gully

Details
Parent Category: Drakensberg
Category: Passes
Hits: 7094

This short and steep gully used to be the only way of accessing the escarpment in this area before the chain ladder was put in place. It is a really fun alternative to the over-used Chain Ladder Route (see above). No scrambling is involved but it is a boulder-strewn gully and a lot of the rock is loose. It tops out near the summit of Beacon Buttress and has an awesome view as a reward for the steep climb.

The Chain Ladders

Details
Parent Category: Drakensberg
Category: Passes
Hits: 11136
This is undoubtedly the most popular and heavily-used trail to the escarpment in the entire Drakensberg. The path is very well defined and usually quite crowded during weekends and holidays. The only obstacle on the way to the top is the chain ladder itself which ascends the final 30m of cliff face in two sections. The ladder should only pose a problem to those with a fear of heights.

Thamathu Pass

Details
Parent Category: Drakensberg
Category: Passes
Hits: 3782

This must be the easiest pass in the entire berg (yes, easier than the Chain Ladder route) as it tops out at only 2500m after an easy trundle up a Little Berg ridge. Thamathu Pass is used as the descent route for the Grand Traverse but it's certainly worth doing when you're feeling like a pretty chilled hike. The views of Thaba Ngwangwe and the Devil's Knuckles are impressive and some interesting rock formations can be seen on the way up.

Mashai Pass

Details
Parent Category: Drakensberg
Category: Passes
Hits: 5997

This pass is frequently used by hikers climbing the Rhino as it is by far the most direct (hiking) route to the top of this impressive peak. It is by no means a walk in the park though and there are some tricky sections higher up due to some heavy erosion and scree fields.

Devil's Tooth collapses

Details
Parent Category: Drakensberg
Category: Peaks
Hits: 5683

The iconic Devils Tooth, a well-know peak at the Amphitheatre, has finally collapsed. Reports from hikers on Tuesday afternoon, 29 March, could only be verified on Wednesday due to the mist.  Details are not entirely clear at this point how and when it happened exactly, but it is believed that a massive landslide on the southern slopes of the peak weakened it's base, causing it to topple over and fall down the slopes leading to the Busingata Valley below. The landslide was triggered by recent heavy rainfall in the region.

This legendary peak will truly be missed in the Drakensberg.

EDIT: Please note that this is an April Fool's joke!

Subcategories

Hiking Article Count:  19

Climbing Article Count:  7

Peaks Article Count:  8

Passes Article Count:  44

Caves Article Count:  4

Grand Traverse Article Count:  8

Environment Article Count:  8

Security Article Count:  15

General Article Count:  21