General ideas for Berg hikes

Hi All

I have not hiked in the Berg for 15 years, but planning a moderate 5-6 day hike end of April. Ideally would be a loop, including say 2-3 days up top, and ideally sleeping in caves every night. Not really partial to a particular area, but looking for the 'classic' hike of such nature. Does anyone have any recommendations? Is it a good time of year weather wise?

tx a lot
Chris

Thanks guys, good info. the party are all pretty fit so long days are OK - more worried about difficult route finding and super exposed traverses - did the Bell traverse in winter many years ago with wholly unsuitable gear, I think that is the most scared I have ever been in the mountains in my life!

Hi All,

In March I am running 3 photography trips up on the escarpment going from Amphi to Mweni Cultural Center each time (twice down rockeries, once down Mweni camping at Fangs and Icidi). I have a week spare from the 4th-10th of March and I am interested in staying low down to photograph valleys, trees, waterfalls etc.

In December I was blown away by the beauty of the route from Injisuthi to Centenary Hut, so I will return there and visit Marble Baths. Are there other amazing routes in the immediate area?

I also like the idea of hiking the Tugela Gorge so if there are other beautiful walks around there worth considering that would also be great.

Are there any spectacular waterfalls or particularly lush valleys I should consider? I find the South African Trees incredibly beautiful so I would love to see more of that end!

Thanks,

Alex

I expect that you'll find some great material in the Fangs Valley of Mnweni. Ifidi Valley in Mnweni is off the normal circuit, unless you ascend or descend the Pass itself, but I remember spectacular views onto the Mnweni Needles, esp with a 200 or 300 mm lens.

One area that you might not have covered is the Cathedral region. The spur running off the escarpment from Mlamblonje Pass onto Cathedral Peak itself offers many perspective which will be different in the sense that you are separate from the escarpment but still high. Also in that region, the Column and the Pyramid, both really majestic but photographically rather shy, are worth taking in. The view onto them from both the north and south (e.g. foot of Camel Pass) is worthwhile but light on them can be tricky. The symmetry of the Horns is always pleasing too. While we are on free standers, the Injisuthi triplets from the north side, esp the Western triplet, will yield some seldom photographed perspectives. I was overnight high in Hilton Pass once with the mist playing on the escarpment arete of the Western Triplet revealing scenes that were hard to forget.

Rainbow gorge in the Cathedral regions offers a counterpart to Tugela Gorge too with extraordinary layering in the weathered, smooth yellow sandstones.

As Smurf says, the sandstone features of Bushman's Nek are definitely quite something (it is quite a far drive from Mnweni, though). Easier access would be one nature reserve north - Garden Castle - the valley up toward Sleeping Beauty Cave has some amazing sandstone features, lots of vegetation and some dramatic angles. The lighting on the Monk is perfect in December, not sure how it will look when you get there, but in December at about 9AM, it looks like this:


If you can put up with a short section of bad overgrowth above the cave, and then walk along the top of the ridge between the cave valley (Mashai River) and the Hidden Valley, there are some amazing angles (excuse the lack of good lighting, but gives you perspective) - Elinda did a great writeup on this route some time back - can't remember the name of the report (anyone with a link?)


An advantage of this is that you can get some great value for effort - 10km of walking round trip.

For Cathedral Peak area, head up Tarn Hill - it has some spectacular views, and the Mushroom is a pretty cool sandstone feature. You can loop this with another ridge (just don't do the section between Tseketseke and Cockade Pass, this is notoriously badly overgrown).

Another nice route from Cathedral Peak Hotel is to go up the Neptune Pools Hill and down One Tree Hill. You get a great view of the Pyramid and Column, as well as the Cathedral Ridge.

The Sphinx/Crystal Falls route at Monks Cowl comes with some great views and easy access. There are waterfalls around as well - just before Breakfast Stream, and closer to the camp.

From Witsieshoek, a 2km walk (4km round trip) will get you to the Mahai Falls - which might be good for shots. It is a beautiful spot, if you look around a bit, you will probably find some great angles for it (the trail goes through the middle of the falls).

The Drakensberg is full of waterfalls right now, so you shouldn't have difficulty getting good waterfall shots.

As mentioned Cathedral area is closer to Mweni so probably more convienient? The Didima valley area generally has some stunning valleys with lots of caves to overnight in, ie:

head up the Mhlwazini valley, then up Didima (overnight in Gravel Shelter), then back down Didmia Valley and head further up Mhlwazini valley to overnight somewhere around Eagle or Zulu Cave, and finally back along the Eastman Ridge to overnight around Schoongezight Cave area befor making your way back to Didima.

Such a route would not be to arduous and would provide plenty of the kind of photography options you are looking for.

If you're prepared for the travel, I would go with Smurf's suggestion..
Sehlabethebe/Tarn cave area is enchanting, and unique as far as the berg goes.
Tarns, freestanding sandstone formations, arches, caves, overhangs by the plenty..