Drakensberg itinerary ?
10 Aug 2023 19:39 #78634
by Martin01
Drakensberg itinerary ? was created by Martin01
Hello guys !
Currently visiting SA with my girlfriend, we absolutely wanted to hike in Drakensberg and we will have 3 to 4 full days there.
We will arrive from Durban and I'm currently wondering what to do and where to go: we don't have a car able to climb the Sani pass, and we would have liked maybe to go to Lesotho for a bit.
I'm wondering if it's would be doable to hike a bit on the SA side and then go around to enter Lesotho from Maseru before going to hike again on Lesotho's side ?
Does that even make sense ?
Or would you recommend to stay on SA's side ?
I'm a bit lost about what to do with those 3/4 days..
Thanks a lot !
Martin & Maëva
Currently visiting SA with my girlfriend, we absolutely wanted to hike in Drakensberg and we will have 3 to 4 full days there.
We will arrive from Durban and I'm currently wondering what to do and where to go: we don't have a car able to climb the Sani pass, and we would have liked maybe to go to Lesotho for a bit.
I'm wondering if it's would be doable to hike a bit on the SA side and then go around to enter Lesotho from Maseru before going to hike again on Lesotho's side ?
Does that even make sense ?
Or would you recommend to stay on SA's side ?
I'm a bit lost about what to do with those 3/4 days..
Thanks a lot !
Martin & Maëva
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10 Aug 2023 20:37 #78635
by Edwin128
I do not know about hiking within Lesotho, maybe other people can comment about it.
Cheers.
Replied by Edwin128 on topic Drakensberg itinerary ?
Hello. You can hike into Lesotho from SA, via the Drakensberg escarpment, but I would recommend staying close to the border. Many places to hike in the drakensberg (Giants Castle, Tugella falls, Mweni).Hello guys !
Currently visiting SA with my girlfriend, we absolutely wanted to hike in Drakensberg and we will have 3 to 4 full days there.
We will arrive from Durban and I'm currently wondering what to do and where to go: we don't have a car able to climb the Sani pass, and we would have liked maybe to go to Lesotho for a bit.
I'm wondering if it's would be doable to hike a bit on the SA side and then go around to enter Lesotho from Maseru before going to hike again on Lesotho's side ?
Does that even make sense ?
Or would you recommend to stay on SA's side ?
I'm a bit lost about what to do with those 3/4 days..
Thanks a lot !
Martin & Maëva
I do not know about hiking within Lesotho, maybe other people can comment about it.
Cheers.
The following user(s) said Thank You: Martin01
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10 Aug 2023 21:41 #78636
by Smurfatefrog
Replied by Smurfatefrog on topic Drakensberg itinerary ?
Hi Martin,
How fit are you?
Do you want to do day hikes, or also stay overnight in the mountains?
What dates are you here for?
How fit are you?
Do you want to do day hikes, or also stay overnight in the mountains?
What dates are you here for?
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12 Aug 2023 18:20 #78637
by Martin01
Replied by Martin01 on topic Drakensberg itinerary ?
Hi ! Thanks for the answer !
We should be there around the 13th to the 16th or 17th, and we would like to stay somewhere close to the hike, if it's possible for a decent price as we're on a budget (but it's a bit cold for camping these days
We should be there around the 13th to the 16th or 17th, and we would like to stay somewhere close to the hike, if it's possible for a decent price as we're on a budget (but it's a bit cold for camping these days

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12 Aug 2023 20:00 - 12 Aug 2023 20:01 #78638
by intrepid
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
Replied by intrepid on topic Drakensberg itinerary ?
Hi Martin,
You could consider hiring a tour company to take you up Sani Pass, where you could stay in the accommodation up there and do various hikes into Lesotho and along the Drakensberg escarpment. This would give you a combined experience of the Southern Berg and Lesotho. Alternatively you can stay somewhere at the base of the pass and only go up the pass for a day visit provided you can work out the rides up and down the pass.
You mentioned Sani Pass and Maseru in your original post, however to connect these two areas is not quick and easy and doesn't seem feasible with the 3-4 days you have available.
If you really want to go deep into Lesotho you could consider places like Bokong which has good road access, accommodation, and hiking. To see the Drakensberg too, you would need to look at something in the Northern Berg, but again the amount of driving around you would need to do doesn't seem like a great way to spend the 3-4 days.
You could consider hiring a tour company to take you up Sani Pass, where you could stay in the accommodation up there and do various hikes into Lesotho and along the Drakensberg escarpment. This would give you a combined experience of the Southern Berg and Lesotho. Alternatively you can stay somewhere at the base of the pass and only go up the pass for a day visit provided you can work out the rides up and down the pass.
You mentioned Sani Pass and Maseru in your original post, however to connect these two areas is not quick and easy and doesn't seem feasible with the 3-4 days you have available.
If you really want to go deep into Lesotho you could consider places like Bokong which has good road access, accommodation, and hiking. To see the Drakensberg too, you would need to look at something in the Northern Berg, but again the amount of driving around you would need to do doesn't seem like a great way to spend the 3-4 days.
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
Last edit: 12 Aug 2023 20:01 by intrepid.
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12 Aug 2023 21:48 #78639
by Edwin128
So, an option could be to stay in a camp like giants castle, get a chalet and do some of the day hikes there. So, you can come and sleep in the chalet and no need for camping.
Replied by Edwin128 on topic Drakensberg itinerary ?
It seems that you are short on time and gear.Hi Martin,
You could consider hiring a tour company to take you up Sani Pass, where you could stay in the accommodation up there and do various hikes into Lesotho and along the Drakensberg escarpment. This would give you a combined experience of the Southern Berg and Lesotho. Alternatively you can stay somewhere at the base of the pass and only go up the pass for a day visit provided you can work out the rides up and down the pass.
You mentioned Sani Pass and Maseru in your original post, however to connect these two areas is not quick and easy and doesn't seem feasible with the 3-4 days you have available.
If you really want to go deep into Lesotho you could consider places like Bokong which has good road access, accommodation, and hiking. To see the Drakensberg too, you would need to look at something in the Northern Berg, but again the amount of driving around you would need to do doesn't seem like a great way to spend the 3-4 days.
So, an option could be to stay in a camp like giants castle, get a chalet and do some of the day hikes there. So, you can come and sleep in the chalet and no need for camping.
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30 Aug 2023 10:31 #78683
by ALPAT
Replied by ALPAT on topic Drakensberg itinerary ?
Hi
You can enter Lesotho from the Maseru side or from the Free State at Fouriesburg. However the scenery from there is not that great.
You would be missing out. I suggest you consider staying in Underberg and doing some hikes at Drakensberg Gardens resort, There is Pillar cave - about a 4 hour in total hike - this depends on your fitness of course! The road (R617) to Underberg from the N3 and Merrivale has lots of potholes - it is a tar road , but be on the lookout. There are bad potholes which will damage your rim and tyre!!
You can enter Lesotho from the Maseru side or from the Free State at Fouriesburg. However the scenery from there is not that great.
You would be missing out. I suggest you consider staying in Underberg and doing some hikes at Drakensberg Gardens resort, There is Pillar cave - about a 4 hour in total hike - this depends on your fitness of course! The road (R617) to Underberg from the N3 and Merrivale has lots of potholes - it is a tar road , but be on the lookout. There are bad potholes which will damage your rim and tyre!!
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