Downloadable Maps for Drakensberg Hiking

Hey folks

Does anyone have a resource for maps able to be downloaded to phones or tablets, that include up to date hiking routes for the berg?

I found this:
shop.tracks4africa.co.za/product/drakensberg-south-hiking-maps-5-6-edition-2-1-digital/
but there's only one online review, and I'd like to know it's a good resource before purchasing.

Any feedback is welcome.

Big Jay

Hi BigJay,

Welcome on VE!!!

In the Drakensberg download section you will find a map of the Drakensberg created by Andrew Porter. It contains black dotted/striped lines which indicates the typical paths/tracks followed by hikers. I have that downloaded on my GPS.

You can also download Garmin's Explore app on your phone, has pretty much the same functionality.

You can also look at Strava, their heat maps have lots of tracks all over the berg. Would include tracks made by lost hikers and explorers as well, so be aware that just because somebody has been there doesn't mean it is a viable or good route option. Found that out the hard way myself many years ago

Hi BigJay,

The new Slingsby Maps of the Drakensberg for sale from Tracks 4 Africa are excellent hiking maps, and by far the best ever produced for the Drakensberg. The map screenshots that BergAttie posted in response to your query about Mont-Aux-Sources is from these maps.

Disclaimer: I was field research co ordinator for Peter Slingsby, the cartographer who produced these maps, so I had extensive involvement in compiling the information of paths, ways to go, caves and passes shown on these maps, but I am not alone in my opinion of their excellence.

There are three double sided maps in the set, Drakensberg North, Central and South. The digital maps are in image format, and can be downloaded to phones or tablets as images, but they are not compatible to be used as gps background maps. It seems like you just want to view the map on a phone or tablet, and this functions very well, especially because of the ability to zoom in the map and see more detail in a small area.

You are interested in hiking the Amphitheatre area, so the Drakensberg North map is the one that you would need for that.

Hey Tony

Thanks for that info, I will definitely look into the paper map for the area.
I presume this is the correct one?

Hey Riaan

Thanks for the welcome and the info posted.
I've just installed the Garmin Explorer app and am trying to suss it out.

Yes, that's the correct one for the Amphitheatre area BigJay 

Thanks Tony!

Has anyone used the Maps.me app? 
I have recently used it in North Wales. 

i had a brief look at the Mnweni area. Looked OK to me. 

 

Got delivered today...so stoked! thanks for the tip Tony