Sentinel Car Park to Cathedral Peak - Northern Berg Escarpment Traverse

Another note is the Mponjwane Cave is a bit exposed in rainy/ misty weather so a bivy is a good idea or just take a tarp that you could spread over the top of your bags. Survival bags don't work as you get too much condensation in the Berg conditions. Don't forget to tie down the tarp in case it's windy though!

Adding to this legendary forum - a friend and I attempted the mini-traverse back in October 2022. It was our first time doing a multi-day hike in South Africa (two Canadians) and we got our asses kicked in the most beautiful way possible. We didn't make it through, but I wrote a technical summary of the adventure on my website, including links to great resources for people to use when planning.

Not sure why but it was extremely hard for me to find any online resources leading up to the trip. It was far easier when writing my technical summary, but I wonder if it's because my google algorithm has started feeding me more south African links since I spent so much time there/researching. We teetered between hiring and guide versus not, but decided not to for $ reasons and because a couple people we met who grew up around the Berg told us they thought we could do without!

Here is the technical summary I wrote, if it helps anyone! alanacristante.com/writing/drakensberg-technical.html  

Hi Alana,

Welcome to the group. I have not read your report yet but its a pity you didn't know about this forum. One question here and you would have had loads of expert answers and help, etc.

@alana
I tried to read your full account but was met with a "404 ERROR".
Just me and my 'Vintage Mac' or something that side?

Thanks for sharing. As said below, too bad you never encountered this site - plenty of good info on here. We've had a few people over the years who have come to SA to do either the Northern High Traverse or a full Drakensberg Grand Traverse and have learned why the range is called the Dragon's Mountains. What I find interesting is that the Drakensberg isn't an inherently difficult or dangerous mountain range compared to anything else globally - its just an unusual layout for the top of a mountain range. Even when compared to other mountain ranges in the country, none of them are a huge escarpment with a relatively flat top. Notably relatively flat - not actually flat.

By comparison to basically any traverse hike globally, most of these traverse hikes follow the base of the mountain. The Hex Traverse is the only range traverse I am familiar with in SA where you actually follow the summit ridge and not the side of the mountain - and that's on much harder ground and is a considerably more technical in places than a Drakensberg Grand Traverse, and also very rarely done - I don't know of any accounts of doing the entire way from the Mostertshoek Twins to Matroosberg (although I assume it has been done).

Here's a writeup from when I did the NHT hike in a day, well sub 24h since we technically finished just after midnight. Could be fun to go back and try to do it faster some time.
jonathantheghaznavid.wordpress.com/2017/09/28/drakensberg-northern-high-traverse-in-a-day/

Hi, 
Not sure if there is already an existing and recent topic/category that cover this, but I'll give it a try to see if I can get some tips. I'll do the mini-traverse from Sentinel to Cathedral Peak at end of March. I wonder if I can get some advice on the following.
- Low nighttime temperatures. Does it, in general, drop below 8-10 degrees C on top of the escarpment/3000m?
- Difficulty rating of passes. Ratings are from 1 to 10 and several passes are rated 10, but after reading blogs, fb groups etc I get the impressions that you don't have to be a superman to hike this. I'm a quite experienced hiker and will take it slow, but do any parts of the mini traverse (on top of escarpment) require any ropes or technical skills beyond the average scrambling?
- Animals. What type of animals can be expected in this area that may be good to be aware of?
- GPS route. Can anyone suggest a link where I can find suggested GPS coordinates for the route? 
- InReach or similar. Would it be possible to rent this somewhere in the area of the start of the hike in Witsieshoek?
- Cell phone coverage. Is there cell phone coverage part of the hike or more or less the entire hike. Which operator would have the best coverage?
- Water levels. Are water levels decent or should one stock up on water for each day trip?

Any help on this would be MOST welcome!! Thanks. 
/Niklas

Hi Niklas

Some answers which I'm sure others will expand on:

• Night time temperatures can drop below freezing in any month of the year up there. March generally mild but be prepared for unexpected weather that can drop temeperatures below 5degC to belwo freezing.
• You have a range of passes to pick from - from extreme technical to very easy. Easiest and most practical for what you intend is probably up Chain ladders and down Mlambonjwa.
• No ropes required anywhere
• Animals - nothing dangerous. Some of the sheppard dogs can be aggressive so take care around huts and sheppard but generally Ok in this area.
• GPS - search in this website - they are somewhere her
• Cell phone is Ok in some spot and non-existant in others. Last I recall Vodacom was good.
• Water - we had wet seasons in succession now so water should be good BUT it is good practiose to fill up with water whenever you encounter a source.

Spend some time browsing this website and you will get all the info you need. Enjoy the Berg!

THanks so much for your reply, much appreciated! Not sure if you intended to add a link to where I could find GPS coordinates for the routed - but it's not there... I will follow the mini-traverse more or less the suggested route on the new Slingsby map for the area. And I'll get the phone operator you suggested as I've seen it recommended elsewhere as well. Thanks again!!

Try this link from the downloads section:
www.vertical-endeavour.com/downloads/download/4-drakensberg-hiking/44-northern-berg-traverse-gps-data.html