Expedition - Walking Home
02 Feb 2025 21:46 - 02 Feb 2025 21:47 #79460
by hikingviking
Expedition - Walking Home was created by hikingviking
Hi there!
This March/April, myself and Michaela will be attempting an extreme version of the Drakensberg Grand Traverse where we will be hiking all the marked passes over about 40 days (weather permitting).
We have decided to call this expedition 'Walking Home'. It will be a journey to reconnect with the earth and raise awareness about the importance of education for earth stewardship and sustainable futures.
There are over 170 different pass variations in the Drakensberg - for our expedition, we have decided to use the 104 listed passes on the newest Slingsby Maps and included Fangs Northern Gully, Didima Pass and Minaret Pass to make our route more efficient. We will also be summiting the 6 iconic DGT peaks.
Stijn did a similar expedition a number of years ago - he called it the SuperTraverse (from the Chain Ladders to Injisuthi Camp).
We mapped our route out on Gaia GPS, and these are the statistics according to their app:
Have a look at our Instagram for some great Drakensberg content, which includes interviews with some Berg Legends - Andrew Porter and Jonathan Newman's interviews are live - be on the lookout for interviews from Tony Marshall, Clem Robins, Carl Dreyer and Ryno Griesel (and let us know if we missed anyone that you would like to hear from).
There are only four known individuals who have completed over 100 Drakensberg passes – Clem Robins, Tony Marshall, Andrew Porter, and Jonathan Newman. Extensive research and effort has gone into determening these four individuals. Please reach out to us if you know of anyone else.
Feel free to have a look at our website for more information on this expedition and to learn more about us and why we are doing it.
We also loaded our route on the website and you can have a look at the route for every day, get the link to our GaiaGPS or download the PDF route which contains a bit more detailed information.
There is also a Live Tracking section on the website where you will be able to track our progress as we go along (will be enabled on 20 March when we start the journey).
The logistics behind this expedition are quite something, but we have so many wonderful people who are providing assistance (whether it is for resupplies, training, sponsors etc.). If you are keen to get involved, or would like to come and hike a section or two with us, feel free to reach out to us via Instagram , a message on VE, or via email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
We are aware that there are quite a number of things that can go wrong on a trip like this (storms, injury etc.) but we are doing everything to control the controllable from our side. It will be a wild 40 days in these beautiful mountains!
If you have any questions, concerns, see any issues with our route, advice or anything else, it would be epic to hear from you and make adjustments as needed.
It would be insane if you could follow along on this journey!
www.walkinghome.co.za/
Happy hiking!
Can't believe it took me this long to post on VE
This March/April, myself and Michaela will be attempting an extreme version of the Drakensberg Grand Traverse where we will be hiking all the marked passes over about 40 days (weather permitting).
We have decided to call this expedition 'Walking Home'. It will be a journey to reconnect with the earth and raise awareness about the importance of education for earth stewardship and sustainable futures.
There are over 170 different pass variations in the Drakensberg - for our expedition, we have decided to use the 104 listed passes on the newest Slingsby Maps and included Fangs Northern Gully, Didima Pass and Minaret Pass to make our route more efficient. We will also be summiting the 6 iconic DGT peaks.
Stijn did a similar expedition a number of years ago - he called it the SuperTraverse (from the Chain Ladders to Injisuthi Camp).
We mapped our route out on Gaia GPS, and these are the statistics according to their app:
- 588.6km
- 60 173m of elevation gain
- 59 229m of elevation loss
Have a look at our Instagram for some great Drakensberg content, which includes interviews with some Berg Legends - Andrew Porter and Jonathan Newman's interviews are live - be on the lookout for interviews from Tony Marshall, Clem Robins, Carl Dreyer and Ryno Griesel (and let us know if we missed anyone that you would like to hear from).
There are only four known individuals who have completed over 100 Drakensberg passes – Clem Robins, Tony Marshall, Andrew Porter, and Jonathan Newman. Extensive research and effort has gone into determening these four individuals. Please reach out to us if you know of anyone else.
Feel free to have a look at our website for more information on this expedition and to learn more about us and why we are doing it.
We also loaded our route on the website and you can have a look at the route for every day, get the link to our GaiaGPS or download the PDF route which contains a bit more detailed information.
There is also a Live Tracking section on the website where you will be able to track our progress as we go along (will be enabled on 20 March when we start the journey).
The logistics behind this expedition are quite something, but we have so many wonderful people who are providing assistance (whether it is for resupplies, training, sponsors etc.). If you are keen to get involved, or would like to come and hike a section or two with us, feel free to reach out to us via Instagram , a message on VE, or via email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
We are aware that there are quite a number of things that can go wrong on a trip like this (storms, injury etc.) but we are doing everything to control the controllable from our side. It will be a wild 40 days in these beautiful mountains!
If you have any questions, concerns, see any issues with our route, advice or anything else, it would be epic to hear from you and make adjustments as needed.
It would be insane if you could follow along on this journey!
www.walkinghome.co.za/
Happy hiking!
Can't believe it took me this long to post on VE

Last edit: 02 Feb 2025 21:47 by hikingviking.
The following user(s) said Thank You: Stijn, ghaznavid, Smurfatefrog, tonymarshall, supertramp, grae22, Super_mil, andrehayward, Wandelaar, MikeCross
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- hikingviking
-
Topic Author
- Offline
- New Member
-
Less
More
- Posts: 3
- Thank you received: 11
03 Feb 2025 07:33 #79461
by BobbyStanton
Replied by BobbyStanton on topic Expedition - Walking Home
Please can we see a list of the 170 pass variations and passes in the Drakensberg, and their lat/lon locations if you have them.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- BobbyStanton
-
- Offline
- Elite Member
-
Less
More
- Posts: 139
- Thank you received: 94
03 Feb 2025 19:11 #79467
by hikingviking
Replied by hikingviking on topic Expedition - Walking Home
Hi BobbyStanton,
See attached for the list of passes. There are a few obscure ones that we left out that can be seen under the Drakensberg Passes Index
We worked of a list that @ghaznavid provided to us and added some filters on it.
You can see all the marked passes on the Slingsby maps (104) and the Geoseries maps (78) on the columns.
Hope this helps!
See attached for the list of passes. There are a few obscure ones that we left out that can be seen under the Drakensberg Passes Index
We worked of a list that @ghaznavid provided to us and added some filters on it.
You can see all the marked passes on the Slingsby maps (104) and the Geoseries maps (78) on the columns.
Hope this helps!
Please login or register to view the file attached to this post.
The following user(s) said Thank You: tonymarshall
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- hikingviking
-
Topic Author
- Offline
- New Member
-
Less
More
- Posts: 3
- Thank you received: 11
05 Feb 2025 15:35 #79476
by BobbyStanton
Replied by BobbyStanton on topic Expedition - Walking Home
Thanks very much HikingViking. I was hoping to see more of the 170 passes that are claimed to exist. Maybe Ghaznavid or Tony have more of them.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- BobbyStanton
-
- Offline
- Elite Member
-
Less
More
- Posts: 139
- Thank you received: 94
07 Feb 2025 09:26 #79477
by hikingviking
Replied by hikingviking on topic Expedition - Walking Home
Hi BobbyStanton,
I updated the list on our end. Currently on 173 passes.
See attached for the list.
I updated the list on our end. Currently on 173 passes.
See attached for the list.
Please login or register to view the file attached to this post.
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- hikingviking
-
Topic Author
- Offline
- New Member
-
Less
More
- Posts: 3
- Thank you received: 11
07 Feb 2025 13:28 #79478
by tonymarshall
Replied by tonymarshall on topic Expedition - Walking Home
Thanks, the first posted list contained 161 passes, and I have no hesitation in agreeing that there are easily more than 170 passes and pass variations in the Drakensberg, which includes the Free State, KZN and Eastern Cape.
The second list with 173 passes expands on this, and since my name is mentioned as a source of more information, I have no problem to share some others not on the list that I know of.
The second list excludes at least 5 passes that I have done (Mlambonja Buttress North Pass, South Cockade Pass, Tiffendell - Tenahead Trail (TTT)and two unmarked others around Tiffendell), as well as some pass variations I have done or know of (Ifidi, Rockeries, Black and Tan Wall North, Cowl and several more), and 2 passes that I know others have done (Champagne Castle Frontal, Nkosazana Pass), as well as several unmarked passes I have looked at and am sure are doable.
Furthermore, the list only contains four Eastern Cape Passes, and besides the other three which I have done, there must be many, many more in the Eastern Cape berg, especially unmarked passes.
The second list with 173 passes expands on this, and since my name is mentioned as a source of more information, I have no problem to share some others not on the list that I know of.
The second list excludes at least 5 passes that I have done (Mlambonja Buttress North Pass, South Cockade Pass, Tiffendell - Tenahead Trail (TTT)and two unmarked others around Tiffendell), as well as some pass variations I have done or know of (Ifidi, Rockeries, Black and Tan Wall North, Cowl and several more), and 2 passes that I know others have done (Champagne Castle Frontal, Nkosazana Pass), as well as several unmarked passes I have looked at and am sure are doable.
Furthermore, the list only contains four Eastern Cape Passes, and besides the other three which I have done, there must be many, many more in the Eastern Cape berg, especially unmarked passes.
The following user(s) said Thank You: ghaznavid, hikingviking
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- tonymarshall
-
- Offline
- VE Advisory
-
Less
More
- Posts: 754
- Thank you received: 2166
09 Feb 2025 11:04 #79479
by BobbyStanton
Replied by BobbyStanton on topic Expedition - Walking Home
Thank you HikingViking and Tony, I shall map them and examine the results with great interest.
Regards
Bobby
Regards
Bobby
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
- BobbyStanton
-
- Offline
- Elite Member
-
Less
More
- Posts: 139
- Thank you received: 94