Vergelegen hikes - 4 days or longer

If you want to follow the escarpment edge, it is quite a tough route going over Ngaqamadolo Peak, and not much water, if any, along the way. Just into Lesotho and south of the ridge with Mlahlangubo Peak, is a stream flowing into Lesotho, plenty of water and good tenting sites here. There is also a trail following this valley downstream, which veers south around the Lesotho side of Ngaqamadolo and Lamunram peaks, and then roughly follows the Mohlesi River upstream to the top of Mkomazi Pass, where there are also numerous possible tenting sites next to or close to the river.

To get to the top of Nhlangeni Pass is quite a slog up the Mohlesi ridge, but there is a good trail up the ridge to the Mohlesi Pass area (a continuation of the trail up the Mohlesi valley), and then it is quite easy to head around Mohlesi Peak to the top of Nhlangeni Pass for your descent.

Hi all -

Thanks for the advice on this site.... we had a great hike in the Verglegen area last week.

Route - drove down from JHB, parked cars at Vergelegen camp site and spent night 1 in the lower berg. We ascended Mlahlangubo Pass and spent night 2 on top of the escarpment and then descended via Mkohomazi Pass and spent night 3 near Birds Nest cave. Day 4 returned to Vergelgen by late morning. Total route was ~50kms.

A couple of observations:
1. There was plenty of water in the valleys, up the passes and on top of the escarpment
2. Lots of friendly Basotho interaction - seemed to be more kraals than in other areas we have been through
3. Saw lots of small snakes en route (even up to 2,700m)
4. Saw lots of Eland
5. The facilities at Vergelegen are in poor shape (no hot water) and there was no -one at the camp site for the long weekend
6. Around Vergelegen paths are well marked out but on both passes there are no real paths to follow
7. In our view Birds next Cave is not worth staying over - its more a partially sheltered hangover than a cave
8. The dirt road from Underberg via Lotheni to Nottingham road is about 20 - 30 mins slower than the tarred road back via the N3 at Howick

Thanks again for a great site.
Rolf

Hello everyone

I am new to this forum, in fact just registered . excited to be with like minded souls so bear with me.

I am from the mother city and looking at doing a 4 day hike in April 20??. i have never been to this area and would appreciate any advise/suggestion/comments,

My thoughts briefly is to do a 4 day circular route with a group of 10/12.
Start: Vergelegen off
Ascend via Mkhomazi pass
Summit Thabana Ntlenyana
Descend Sani pass

?'s
1) access to Vergelegen reserve by kombi. how is the road and the driving distance thereto.
2) is the hike doable within 4 days.
3) is there a marked trail or do we navigate as we go along.
4) topography of the route/area (can maps be trusted vs word of mouth
5) where to pitch tent the first night vs do we push for the top and then pitch.
6) is the track on top to Thabana defined.
6) similarly the return to Sani
7) or any other information that i have not thought/omitted.

I hope i have managed to make some sort of sense.

Thank you I await your response

Kind regards

Agree Diverian.... the road to Vergelegen will be bad after all the rains we have had recently. Even during normal conditions it is rough for a bakkie and I would not attempt it with a Kombi. One could go to Lotheni and go up Hlatimba Pass which would add on 10kms + to reach top of Mkhomazi Pass.

Hello guys

Thank you both. If the road is that bad we could end up not going due transport concerns. Thats a let down. Nevertheless im sure them tracks will come in handy. Will msg you a bit later for it.

Regards