Drakensberg FKTs - Record of Times

Yes. I myself did a half GT from Bushman's Nek to Giants Pass in 1972, with Lawrence Bates leading. This length of hike was fairly common back then but the first recorded GT which was unsupported, was in 1986. It was talked about a lot beforehand and it was inevitable that it would be done, but I did not hear of anyone else doing it before this. The Berg hiking community was fairly small back then when compared to nowadays.

There's a mountain in Argentina called Llullaillaco, which is 6 739m high. In the 1850's a team of people turned around near the summit in bad weather, and at the time it was believed to be the highest altitude any human had ever reached. In 1950 a team reached the top only to find Inca ruins on the summit. Moral of the story: you can never be sure if you were the first person to do something.

The first grand traverse would largely depend on how one defines a grand traverse, which has little to no consensus either way. If one really wanted to, they could come up with a sufficiently convoluted definition to define themself as the first person when they do theirs at some point in the future. E.g. if one was to define the checkpoints as Monks Cowl, Makheka and Makoaneng, I would say with a fairly high degree of certainty that no one has done those three summits on the same hike.

I recently watched a video on Youtube of someone claiming to attempt the first ever Double Drakensberg Grand Traverse (he bailed at the end of the first GT) - his hike was 6 months after I had just completed my own double. Although, no doubt there are people who won't recognise mine for whatever reason either. And I have no way of knowing if it had been done before by someone else. Then again - where is the line for a double: did my GT in November 2015 and then another in December 2015 count as a double? Once again - one could define it however they like in order to make theirs count as the first. Easiest definition would be to not count mine due to the 5 nights spent at Witsieshoek between traverse one and two, or the two nights spent at Sani waiting for the storm to pass on the way back. Or for that matter to simply say that mine likely never happened, which a few people have told me is their opinion. One could also say the first person to do 2 GTs was the first, even if years apart. My point being: firsts are always debatable and subject to application of definition.

Regarding the huts: getting approval to build a hut on the route would be practically impossible due to the region being protected - unless it was on the Lesotho side of the border. It would almost definitely be vandalised and destroyed pretty quickly as well. But there's no need for that on a speed DGT anyway -  there are more than enough caves along the route to provide shelter even if you end up short of your target. I have done 3 different grand traverses without even carrying a tent.

I can't seem to find the edit button anymore, so using the quote functionality for now!

Michael Baker just finished off a solo DGT in an impressive 79h53m. He's been champing at the bit for a while now, so great to see him getting it done! Plenty of time up on the escarpment during his attempts and I think he feels pretty at home moving in those mountains by now

41h49m - Ryno Griesel & Ryan Sandes (March 2014) - overall record
45h08m - Andrew Porter (May 2015) - solo record
60h29m - Ryno Griesel & Cobus van Zyl (April 2010)
61h14m - Andrew Porter (December 2009)
63h33m - Ryno Griesel & Linda Doke (March 2015) - mixed team record
64h29m - Ryno Griesel & Cobus van Zyl (March 2013)
73h34m - Andrew King & Zoog Haynes (November 2021)
78h58m - Graham Bird, Hanno Smit, Grant Ross & Robyn Kime (November 2014)
​79h53m - Michael Baker (April 2023)
81h53m - Andrew Hagen & Stijn Laenen (December 2008)
81h55m - Luc Steens & Gideon Zadoks (February 2016)
89h01m - Michael Baker & Jo Keppler (March 2022)
91h55m - Stefan Wahl & Simon Marincowitz (October 2017)
92h15m - Brendon Ferrar (April 2016)
95h30m - Armand du Plessis (November 2019)
97h51m - Anouk Baars, Michael Baker & Sean MacFarlane (October 2020)
105h39m - Gavin Raubenheimer & Lawrie Raubenheimer (February 1999)
107h51m - Jonathan Newman & Andrew Porter (November 2015)
109h08m - Anne-Mummie Kirschenman & Kaj Derks (April 2017)
110h57m - Christine Harris & Carlos Gonzales (January 2010)
118h45m - Robyn Kime & Mike Owen (February 2014)
127h06m - Jonathan Newman & Mike Van Wyngaard (December 2016)
129h24m - Pierre Jordaan, Nicolette Griffioen, MC van Zyl & AJ Lausberg (December 2021)
133h31m - Murray Steenkamp & Kevin Rodwell (March 2016)
146h36m - Stephen Child, Rian Botes & Mark Notter (April 2017)
148h46m - Mike Owen, Rodney Long, Ryan Dix-Peek, John Faure, Mark Winter, Jean Theron, Mark MacSymon & Grant De La Mare (September 2019)
157h11m - Laura Bannatyne & Fiona McIntosh (November 2008) - womens' record
194h45m - Carel van Heerden, Gerrit Brink, Heather Wilson & Jonathan Slater (March 2016)

I've updated the unsupported DGT list below to include Rodney, Caro, Andrew & Allan's recent traverses. Congrats to all, particularly Rodney & Caro for pulling off the Double DGT, only the 2nd team I know of having achieved this. I know there was some talk of the team having missed Champagne Castle on their S-N leg. Since this was purely accidental (they summitted Starboard instead) and would not have materially affected their time, I've still included that traverse in the list. Rodney & Caro did end up summitting Champagne Castle twice on the way back, which I don't think was strictly necessary But kudos for them for trying to honour the spirit of the challenge!

41h49m - Ryno Griesel & Ryan Sandes (March 2014) - overall record
45h08m - Andrew Porter (May 2015) - solo record
60h29m - Ryno Griesel & Cobus van Zyl (April 2010)
61h14m - Andrew Porter (December 2009)
63h33m - Ryno Griesel & Linda Doke (March 2015) - mixed team record
64h29m - Ryno Griesel & Cobus van Zyl (March 2013)
73h34m - Andrew King & Zoog Haynes (November 2021)
78h58m - Graham Bird, Hanno Smit, Grant Ross & Robyn Kime (November 2014)
​79h53m - Michael Baker (April 2023)
81h53m - Andrew Hagen & Stijn Laenen (December 2008)
81h55m - Luc Steens & Gideon Zadoks (February 2016)
89h01m - Michael Baker & Jo Keppler (March 2022)
91h55m - Stefan Wahl & Simon Marincowitz (October 2017)
92h15m - Brendon Ferrar (April 2016)
95h30m - Armand du Plessis (November 2019)
97h51m - Anouk Baars, Michael Baker & Sean MacFarlane (October 2020)
105h39m - Gavin Raubenheimer & Lawrie Raubenheimer (February 1999)
107h51m - Jonathan Newman & Andrew Porter (November 2015)
109h08m - Anne-Mummie Kirschenman & Kaj Derks (April 2017)
110h57m - Christine Harris & Carlos Gonzales (January 2010)
118h45m - Robyn Kime & Mike Owen (February 2014)
127h06m - Jonathan Newman & Mike Van Wyngaard (December 2016) - as part of Double DGT in 15 days, 7 hours, 50 mins
129h24m - Pierre Jordaan, Nicolette Griffioen, MC van Zyl & AJ Lausberg (December 2021)
133h31m - Murray Steenkamp & Kevin Rodwell (March 2016)
144h13m - Rodney Long & Caro Jordaan (April 2023) - as part of Double DGT in 13 days, 35 min
146h36m - Stephen Child, Rian Botes & Mark Notter (April 2017)
148h46m - Mike Owen, Rodney Long, Ryan Dix-Peek, John Faure, Mark Winter, Jean Theron, Mark MacSymon & Grant De La Mare (September 2019)
154h24m - Rodney Long, Caro Jordaan, Andrew Balnaves & Allan Lamont (April 2023) *note - accidentally missed Champagne Castle summit by 1km and summited "Starboard" instead
157h11m - Laura Bannatyne & Fiona McIntosh (November 2008) - womens' record
194h45m - Carel van Heerden, Gerrit Brink, Heather Wilson & Jonathan Slater (March 2016)

Bakes has been at it again, for his 4th unsupported DGT, this time with some relative Berg novices. They got it done in 114 hours & 4 minutes, and with Grant on the team at 62 years old, he may just be a contender for the oldest unsupported time? It's quite possible that there are some older folks that have completed the DGT unsupported - please let me know if you know of any!

41h49m - Ryno Griesel & Ryan Sandes (March 2014) - overall record
45h08m - Andrew Porter (May 2015) - solo record
60h29m - Ryno Griesel & Cobus van Zyl (April 2010)
61h14m - Andrew Porter (December 2009)
63h33m - Ryno Griesel & Linda Doke (March 2015) - mixed team record
64h29m - Ryno Griesel & Cobus van Zyl (March 2013)
73h34m - Andrew King & Zoog Haynes (November 2021)
78h58m - Graham Bird, Hanno Smit, Grant Ross & Robyn Kime (November 2014)
​79h53m - Michael Baker (April 2023)
81h53m - Andrew Hagen & Stijn Laenen (December 2008)
81h55m - Luc Steens & Gideon Zadoks (February 2016)
89h01m - Michael Baker & Jo Keppler (March 2022)
91h55m - Stefan Wahl & Simon Marincowitz (October 2017)
92h15m - Brendon Ferrar (April 2016)
95h30m - Armand du Plessis (November 2019)
97h51m - Anouk Baars, Michael Baker & Sean MacFarlane (October 2020)
105h39m - Gavin Raubenheimer & Lawrie Raubenheimer (February 1999)
107h51m - Jonathan Newman & Andrew Porter (November 2015)
109h08m - Anne-Mummie Kirschenman & Kaj Derks (April 2017)
110h57m - Christine Harris & Carlos Gonzales (January 2010)
114h04m - Michael Baker, Jordan Leppan, Grant Leppan & Michael Voysey (October 2023)
118h45m - Robyn Kime & Mike Owen (February 2014)
127h06m - Jonathan Newman & Mike Van Wyngaard (December 2016) - as part of Double DGT in 15 days, 7 hours, 50 mins
129h24m - Pierre Jordaan, Nicolette Griffioen, MC van Zyl & AJ Lausberg (December 2021)
133h31m - Murray Steenkamp & Kevin Rodwell (March 2016)
144h13m - Rodney Long & Caro Jordaan (April 2023) - as part of Double DGT in 13 days, 35 min
146h36m - Stephen Child, Rian Botes & Mark Notter (April 2017)
148h46m - Mike Owen, Rodney Long, Ryan Dix-Peek, John Faure, Mark Winter, Jean Theron, Mark MacSymon & Grant De La Mare (September 2019)
154h24m - Rodney Long, Caro Jordaan, Andrew Balnaves & Allan Lamont (April 2023) *note - accidentally missed Champagne Castle summit by 1km and summited "Starboard" instead
157h11m - Laura Bannatyne & Fiona McIntosh (November 2008) - womens' record
194h45m - Carel van Heerden, Gerrit Brink, Heather Wilson & Jonathan Slater (March 2016)

Hi Stijn. If a meal and sleepover at Sani do not disqualify me as an unsupported finisher of the DGT I also did it at the age of 62. Started at Sentinel Car Park with a backup weighing 22 kg and finished at Bushman's Neck 13 days later, summiting all 6 peaks along the way.
Ernst Kapp 

Hi Ernst - in terms of the technicalities, it wouldn't quite count as fully unsupported for this list, but nevermind the semantics, that's quite an achievement! Setting off with 13 days of food must have taken some proper efficient planning & packing... must have been a fantastic journey

Thanks Smurf! List updated:

41h49m - Ryno Griesel & Ryan Sandes (March 2014) - overall record
45h08m - Andrew Porter (May 2015) - solo record
60h29m - Ryno Griesel & Cobus van Zyl (April 2010)
61h14m - Andrew Porter (December 2009)
63h33m - Ryno Griesel & Linda Doke (March 2015) - mixed team record
64h29m - Ryno Griesel & Cobus van Zyl (March 2013)
73h34m - Andrew King & Zoog Haynes (November 2021)
78h58m - Graham Bird, Hanno Smit, Grant Ross & Robyn Kime (November 2014)
​79h53m - Michael Baker (April 2023)
81h53m - Andrew Hagen & Stijn Laenen (December 2008)
81h55m - Luc Steens & Gideon Zadoks (February 2016)
89h01m - Michael Baker & Jo Keppler (March 2022)
91h55m - Stefan Wahl & Simon Marincowitz (October 2017)
92h15m - Brendon Ferrar (April 2016)
95h30m - Armand du Plessis (November 2019)
97h51m - Anouk Baars, Michael Baker & Sean MacFarlane (October 2020)
105h39m - Gavin Raubenheimer & Lawrie Raubenheimer (February 1999)
107h51m - Jonathan Newman & Andrew Porter (November 2015)
107h53m - Michael Baker, Micheala Geytenbeek, Scott Rogers, Michael Dickens, Arno Pouwels & Brett Campbell (March 2024)
109h08m - Anne-Mummie Kirschenman & Kaj Derks (April 2017)
110h57m - Christine Harris & Carlos Gonzales (January 2010)
114h04m - Michael Baker, Jordan Leppan, Grant Leppan & Michael Voysey (October 2023)
118h45m - Robyn Kime & Mike Owen (February 2014)
127h06m - Jonathan Newman & Mike Van Wyngaard (December 2016) - as part of Double DGT in 15 days, 7 hours, 50 mins
129h24m - Pierre Jordaan, Nicolette Griffioen, MC van Zyl & AJ Lausberg (December 2021)
133h31m - Murray Steenkamp & Kevin Rodwell (March 2016)
144h13m - Rodney Long & Caro Jordaan (April 2023) - as part of Double DGT in 13 days, 35 min
146h36m - Stephen Child, Rian Botes & Mark Notter (April 2017)
148h46m - Mike Owen, Rodney Long, Ryan Dix-Peek, John Faure, Mark Winter, Jean Theron, Mark MacSymon & Grant De La Mare (September 2019)
154h24m - Rodney Long, Caro Jordaan, Andrew Balnaves & Allan Lamont (April 2023) *note - accidentally missed Champagne Castle summit by 1km and summited "Starboard" instead
157h11m - Laura Bannatyne & Fiona McIntosh (November 2008) - womens' record
194h45m - Carel van Heerden, Gerrit Brink, Heather Wilson & Jonathan Slater (March 2016)