Mashai Pass - Rhino Peak hike

Trying to post some images, apparently Im technically challenged as I cant get it to work...I have resized them etc

Maybe this time?

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On the way up, bright and clear!

Okay, kinda figuring it out...

The campsite

Coming down!

Hi Guys

Privileged that my family have secured a house to buy on the Drak Gardens Road below Castleburn!

Keen to do a short sharp run tomorrow.

Is it easy to figure out the route from Drak Gardens up to Rhino?

I think that the normal route is from Bushmans Nek / Garden Castle side via Mashai?

And actually getting to the top of Rhino Peak - not the rock climbing route?

Thanks in advance for any help at all!

Andrew5336 wrote: Is it easy to figure out the route from Drak Gardens up to Rhino?

The normal route up Mashia Pass has a good trail the entire way - but mark my words: everybody looses the trail on the lower part of the pass just after the river crossing!

Basically, once you pass Pillar Cave you cross the river, walk for a short distance on the other bank and then cross the river again. This is followed by a very eroded steep (but short) slope. The path then follows this (left hand bank when you are going up) bank for close to 1km, till eventually you hit a large sandy field where there have been mud slides over the years. Probably about 100m after this the trail crosses the river to the right hand bank (to a person going up) and follows a line up a spur on the ridge before eventually turning sharply into the gully. Once you are at this point the trail is very easy to follow.

Be careful on the scramble to the top - it can be tricky if wet. Also don't leave your pack lying around unless you'd like to donate it to the locals.

Andrew5336 wrote: I think that the normal route is from Bushmans Nek / Garden Castle side via Mashai?

Well Garden Castle is the EKZN offices and Drak Gardens is the resort - you would drive to the end of the road (unless you'd like to walk much further with a stretch on the road).

Bushman's Nek is far south of here and would take about a 12km. The normal route is from Garden Castle car park up Mashai Pass and back again. There are other variations (e.g. Rhino Pass or some climbing routes of differing difficulty) - but Mashai Pass is the normal route.

Andrew5336 wrote: And actually getting to the top of Rhino Peak - not the rock climbing route?

Choose your top line well and be careful. The summit is a scramble, but its short and not technical. You may decide to pass packs up if you aren't confident.