Drakensberg Cable Car

Jean Carte of Montusi Mountain Lodge also questioned whether guests would be attracted to the cableway. “Cape Town and other major cities worldwide have a ready audience, who, at a whim, might decide to nip along to the cable car station and trip up the mountain,” she said. “The Busingatha valley is a very long way from anything.”

According to Carte, other issues of concern are that there were already several failed government projects in the Drakensberg and that there would be few days with suitable weather for trips up the cableway. “The Busingatha area has the highest rainfall in KZN,” she said. “We do have spectacular days but how many would be suitable for trips to the top of the mountain? There is no way I would want to be up there when one of our summer storms breaks!”

Arguments in favour of the cableway include that it will boost tourism and lead to further development of the area. “The Busingatha area can certainly do with a large investment to help with upliftment,” said Hilton Bedingham of the Cavern Resort and Spa. “I also think as an 'icon' project it will also boost general tourism in KZN.” Carte also suggested that, despite her concerns, the cableway could be a draw card for tourism. “Opportunities for entrepreneurs along the route in the Busingatha valley would lead to an economic improvement for some,” she added.

Both Carte and Bedingham are hopeful that the development of the cableway will improve access to the area, particularly the R74. The feasibility study commissioned by the department also suggests upgrading the stretch of the R74 from the R712 to Bergville as part of the cableway project.

However, not everyone is optimistic about the prospects of the road. “I think we would be more interested in having the R74 fixed so that potential visitors to our region are able to travel to and from the Drakensberg safely,” commented Julie Walker, Marketing Manager Cathedral Peak Hotel.