hiking in South Africa

Posts Tagged ‘hiking in South Africa’

Drakensberg Mountains

Posted in Drakensberg map, Drakensberg mountains, Drakensberg Mountains map, Drakensberge, hiking in South Africa, hiking in the Drakensberg Mountains, Mount Aux Sources, movies, National Anthem, National Bird of South Africa, National Fish South Africa, National flower of South Africa, National Symbols, Protea, South Africa, Springbok, tagged Coat of arms, Drakensberg map, Drakensberg Mountain map, Drakensberg mountains, Drakensberge, hiking in South Africa, hiking in the Drakensberg Mountains, Mount Aux Sources, movies, National Anthem, National Anthem of South Africa, National Bird, National fish of South Africa, National flower of South Africa, National Symbols of South Africa, Protea, South Africa, Springbok on 02/02/2008| 4 Comments »

Click to access drakensberg.pdf

The pdf has loads about the mountain.

Drakensberg Map

On this link, you will find two map links – very detailed and beautiful.

Click HERE to visit different places of the Drakensberg mountain and you can also make bookings from this link. This mountain range stretches from the Northern part of South Africa to the Southern part of the country. The highest peak is Mount Aux Sources, about 4300 m. I was on Mount Aux Sources when I was 15 with a school hiking trip! Two of our teachers went with us. We were about 20-30 students, 15 and 16 years old. I can remember we travelled through Qwa-Qwa –Eastern Free State -and we parked the coaches at Witsieshoek. From there you are sort of already at the foothills of the mountain and it wouldn’t take you that long to the summit. Just a few hours. But hey, be prepared for two chain ladders and strong winds. You have your kit on your back: tent, rucksack, sleeping bag, whatever you take with you – and you go up the ladder with everything. Some of the students were scared and our teacher used a rope to tie around one another to make them feel more safe. I think I just prayed all the way up! There is a hut on Mount Aux Sources, but when we arrived there, the roof was down! So, we just slept wherever we felt safe – away from trees because of the possibility of thunder and lightning.

There are many caves in “The Berg” where you can sleep when going on a hiking trip. Click HERE to see the caves and links, they tell you also about CAVE ETIQUETTE on the cave-index page! You can also read on the “hut” link where to find huts to stay on your trip! And on THIS LINK you can see a gallery of the peaks in “The Berg” and their names. This is really a MUST go place to go on holiday, make sure you don’t miss out!

The flower is South Africa’s National Flower, the King Protea.

The Springbok – South Africa’s National antelope – also the Rugby team of our country called the Springboks.

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Mkambati Nature Reserve

Posted in hiking, holiday, Mkambati, Nature Reserves, South Africa, Transkei, tagged hiking in South Africa, Lupatana, Lupatana Splash Rock, map, Mkambati, Mkambati Nature Reserve, Pondoland, Port Edward, Port St Johns, South Africa, staptoer, Tophat, Transkei, Waterfall Bluff, Wild Coast, Wild Coast South Africa, Wilde Kus, Wildekus on 17/06/2007| 2 Comments »

As a student, I went on several hiking trips. One with Uncle Mauritz, a kind, friendly man from Centurion, Pretoria. He was also the chief engineer of the Transkei Highland Water Scheme Project and he knew that part of the country like the palm of his hand! We were 34 people and about 6 children age 9/10. We went to the part of South Africa, called the Wild Coast!

At some places we walked ON the beach and other places just about 20 m away and sometimes even on high cliffs of the escarpment. At night our tents were about 50m from the beach. This was an amazing trip!

Uncle Mauritz showed us spectacular places, the highest water fall with its fall cascading into the sea, it is called the Waterfall Bluff. Hidden places! Tea plantations and the spectacular Magwa Waterfalls! Top Hat, Lupatana Splash Rock – these are just a few to mention. It was really an experience I will never forget. You got to see the beautiful unspoiled beaches and part of the trail is up along the escarpment. One walks along the cliff tops with magnificent views. The terrain was fairly strenuous, but it was all worth it – a hundred times worth it.

It was a too difficult route for the children, so when we came to the Mkambati Nature Reserve, we sadly had to end our trip. But, we had to cross a river first and it was in flood! – see the first picture in this entry. We had a GREAT time for a day at the resort and it was great fun, the bar man was a great sport and we had big laughs with him. A coach picked us up at the resort and we set off for Margate – one of THE places to go on holiday by the beach – well, that was ‘way back then.’
I kept a diary an exact diary of everything: where we stopped for lunch, what the time was, how long it took us to walk from A to B, etc. etc.

Click on the image for a larger view. We started at Port St Johns and we walked North towards Port Edward.

Waterfall Bluff -wildcoast.co.za

Update: August 2011

Since I got my own photos now with me – I could scan them in and here are a couple of pictures from this hiking trip!

In this photo you can see uncle Mauritz, our leader. He was also the chief engineer of the Highlands Water Scheme. We all gathered first at his house and he showed us a slide show of the area and discussed all sorts of ‘issues’.