Drakensberg

Drakensberg

Corner Pass

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Parent Category: Drakensberg
Category: Passes
Hits: 6598

If you're keen to start doing some rock passes in the berg, this is probably the pass to start with. It's relatively short and quite easy to access from both Injasuti and Giant's Castle in a day. The scrambles on the pass are fairly easy and there is no exposure to worry about at all. There is no path to speak of but the route finding is quite straightforward due to the narrow gully one has to follow. This is another great pass to use for an ascent of Mafadi and is much more interesting than it's neighbors (Bannerman and Langalibalele).

Lightning hotspots warning

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Parent Category: Drakensberg
Category: General
Hits: 1955

The South African Weather Service has issued a warning for strong winds, hail- storms and lightning strikes in areas such as Greytown, Ixopo, Pietermaritzburg, Giant Castle, Underberg and the Drakensberg in general.

Source: The Witness

Please take care in the Berg as we enter the thunderstorm season!

Leslie’s Pass

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Parent Category: Drakensberg
Category: Passes
Hits: 10179

Leslie’s Pass is a pass which is very pleasant to hike. There are some great features in this pass like the Marble Baths and the huge cliffs of the Molar towering over you near the top of the pass. It is a fairly long pass but most of the distance is covered by bushwhacking and boulder-hopping up the river. This is also the most direct non-rock pass to access Mafadi which is about 6 km south of the top of Leslie’s Pass.

Ship’s Prow Pass

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Parent Category: Drakensberg
Category: Passes
Hits: 8271

This is a very difficult pass which is notorious for rock falls which have killed hikers in the past. In good weather, there shouldn’t be too much of a problem (except for the fact that it’s very steep) in climbing up Ship’s Prow Pass. The impressive “Prow” itself towers over you as you climb higher up this long pass. The pass tops out at 3300m, giving it the highest summit of any pass in the Drakensberg.

Gray’s Pass

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Parent Category: Drakensberg
Category: Passes
Hits: 12918

If you’re looking for great views without too much strenuous hiking involved, Gray’s Pass is a must. This is probably the best pass to use for a weekend hike in the Drakensberg and it takes the hiker deep into the throat of the Mhlawazini Valley at the base of Cathkin, Champagne Castle and Monk’s Cowl. The pass itself is relatively short which allows for a lot of time to explore the many great escarpment features in the wide valley at the top of Gray’s Pass.

Invitation to a Rock Art and Tourism Presentation

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Parent Category: Drakensberg
Category: General
Hits: 1964

You are invited to attend a

PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION ON

ROCK ART TOURISM IN THE DRAKENSBERG

Venue: Theatre, Queen Elizabeth Park, 1 Peter Brown Drive, Pietermaritzburg
Time: 08h45 for 09h00
Catering: Teas provided, not lunch

Programme:
08h40 Arrive and have tea & coffee
09h00 Welcome and introduction (Ian Rushworth)
09h10 Presentation by Dr Mélanie Duval-Massaloux on research findings in respect of Rock Art Tourism in the Drakensberg
10h30 Tea & Coffee
11h00 Facilitated discussion and review of findings; recommendations for improved management of rock art; and options for rock art tourism
13h30 Closure and way forward (Ian Rushworth)

Queries: Ian Rushworth 082 940 1462; Jean Wagner 033 239 1514

Reporting Emergencies and Requesting Rescue in the Drakensberg

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Parent Category: Drakensberg
Category: Hiking
Hits: 11393

The following is essential information for hikers on how to report emergencies and request a rescue in the Drakensberg.

Contact Details for the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park

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Parent Category: Drakensberg
Category: General
Hits: 16083

Contact details for the management of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park. Details the KZN Wildlife Conservation Managers for the varios regions and areas, who should be contacted in the event of serious injury, death, missing person, criminal threat or any other serious or threatening situation.

You may also contact the respective managers if you have questions and concerns before a trip for issues such as security, fire dangers and trail conditions. Reports and concerns resulting from your trip can also be reported to them.

Mt-Aux-Sources Challenge 2010

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Parent Category: Drakensberg
Category: General
Hits: 2143

On 11 September, some 264 runners took part in the annual 54km mountain marathon starting from Royal Natal Nationl Park up to Witsieshoek Resort, on to Sentinel Car Park, up the Chain Ladders to Tugela Falls, descending via Beacon Buttress Gully, and back down all the way.

Fire Warning to Drakensberg Hikers

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Parent Category: Drakensberg
Category: Hiking
Hits: 2780

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife would like to draw attention to the fact that conditions in the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site are extremely dry and that there is  an extremely high risk of fires. Hikers are advised to contact the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife conservation staff in the area they wish to hike to get relevant information about existing conditions.

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