Drakensberg

Drakensberg

Lesotho border to be patrolled by SANDF once again

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Parent Category: Drakensberg
Category: Security
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The SANDF is to be re-deployed to the Free State - Lesotho border, replacing the SAPS, and the dilapidated and almost non-existent border fence it to be re-built.

Should Sterkhorn be renamed Mount Mandela?

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Parent Category: Drakensberg
Category: Peaks
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A call has been made to rename Sterkhorn, in the Monk's Cowl area, Central Drakensberg, to "Mount Mandela" in honour of Nelson Mandela. This proposal was put forward in a recent speech by John Tungay, founder of the Drakensberg Boys Choir School.

Masubasuba Pass

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Parent Category: Drakensberg
Category: Passes
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Ascending right up through the middle of the Giant's Cup, this pass catches the eye from all sides. It's obviously the most direct way to climb the Hodgson's Peaks (definitely worth it) and a good pass to use if you don't feel like slogging up its next-door neighbour, Sani Pass, along with all the traffic. For me, it's the approach to the pass that makes it special. Hiking up the Pholela River Valley and up into the pass via Fingall's Rock must be one of the best ways to start a berg hike: scenic, secluded and unique in the berg.

Giant's Castle Pass

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Parent Category: Drakensberg
Category: Passes
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One of the most identifiable passes around, Giant's Castle Pass is a short, steep and loose pass which is most often used to climb Giant's Castle itself. The gully can be seen from as far back as the lodge and looks fairly bland. Once in the throat of the pass, however, some very impressive buttresses and cliffs tower above you.

Three Hikers Airlifted at Cathedral Peak

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Parent Category: Drakensberg
Category: Hiking
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Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and members of the Mountain Club of South Africa Mountain Rescue Team in KZN orchestrated the rescue of three hikers near Cathedral Peak on 05 January 2011.

The three hikers Mr Andrew McAughey (44), Mr Tom McAughey (66) and Mr Paul Neame (42) had undertaken a hike from The Sentinel car park at Royal Natal National Park to Cathedral Peak and were delayed by bad weather.

Mike's Pass at Cathedral Peak closed

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Parent Category: Drakensberg
Category: Passes
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Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife has been obliged to closed the popular Mike's Pass 4x4 route at Cathedral Peak in the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site with immediate effect.

Consistently heavy rains have fallen in the area for many days, resulting in landslides on sections of the Pass.

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Website

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Parent Category: Drakensberg
Category: General
Hits: 3502

As you all probably know by now, I work for Ezemvelo. I have recently been roped in to help update the website which is hopelessly out of date and horrible to navigate, even by most people's standards. Although there is a wealth of information there, not many people who visit the site have too much joy, given that recent stats indicate an average stay of only 5 minutes!

Some of the new changes that we will be implementing very soon, is online booking (incl caves to a certain extent) so keep your eyes peeled on this new development on the site.

Across the Dragon's Back in Six Days

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Parent Category: Drakensberg
Category: Grand Traverse
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On Sunday 2010/12/05 at 04:00 Louwtjie Van Straaten and myself Gavin Bazley left the Sentinal car park and started a 228km journey on foot. We were attempting the Grand Traverse Challenge.

Rock art site at Cathedral Peak closed

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Parent Category: Drakensberg
Category: Environment
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Amafa, the provincial heritage body responsible for Drakensberg rock art, has closed the Lower Mushroom Cave Damaged rock art at Cathedral Peakin the Cathedral Peak area because it has been subjected to three attacks by vandals over the last three years.

The paintings in this cave, which are said to be about 5000 years old, were last vandalised in June by security gaurds from the Cathedral Peak Hotel. They were each fined R1500.

Two other rock art sites in the area remain open to the public and more are said to be opened in co-operation with the local community.

 

Source: The Witness

Bannerman Pass

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Parent Category: Drakensberg
Category: Passes
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The Bannerman hut at the bottom of this pass makes this one of the very popular passes in the Drakensberg. It’s a very short pass and you’ll find yourself at the top in no time at all. Despite its relative ease, it is still quite a fun pass to do with the final section heading up a narrow rock-filled gully. No real scrambling is required to do this section and it is therefore a great pass to do when you are new to the Drakensberg.

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