Drakensberg: 3-Day Overnight Hike from Johannesburg

Drakensberg: 3-Day Overnight Hike from Johannesburg

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Embark on a 3-day guided hike in the Drakensberg Mountains. Climb the Drakensberg escarpment via the Mnweni Pass, spend the night in a cave, and descend via Rockeries Pass.

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Highlights

Climb the Drakensberg escarpment via the Mnweni Pass on a guided hike
Spend the night in a cave on the lip of the escarpment with a view to the north
Descend via Rockeries Pass, dodging small rocks and roller skating Drakensberg style
Encounter weed smugglers from Lesotho and Basotho shepherds on the escarpment
Enjoy the convenience of a fully guided hike with food, tents, and equipment

Description

Embark on a 3-day guided hike of the Drakensberg Mountains. Trek through the Mnweni Circuit, a circular route covering about 43 km over 3 days and 2 nights. Enjoy the convenience of having your food, tents, and hiking equipment provided. Start your adventure by making your way to the top of the Drakensberg escarpment via the Mnweni Pass. The first day's hike covers 14 km to the base of the pass. Although there is not a major ascent profile, the day is pretty long. Overnight in tents. The second day will see an ascent up Mnweni Pass. The altitude gain is about 1200 m with the majority of the gain in the last 3 km. Top out at 3000 m and is known as the Drakensberg escarpment. Spend a night in the incredible cave known as Ledgars. The cave is situated on the lip of the escarpment and affords hikers with not only a majestic view to the North but is a really cool spot to spend the night. The third day is long. Cover 17 km and descend via Rockeries Pass. Again, the worst part of the descent is covered in the first 5 km. In fact, drop about 800 m over the 4 km. So you might need your knees for this one. Encounter a few Basotho Shepards on the escarpment. They are looking after sheep and cows. They only frequent the area in the summer months though.

Includes

Guided hike Return transfers from Johannesburg Food ( dinner, lunch, breakfast and hot drinks during the hike ) Hiking equipment ( tents, sleeping bags, sleeping mats and backpacks )

Important Information

Expect a challenging hike with significant altitude gain Prepare for variable weather conditions Encounters with local shepherds and possibly wildlife Respect local customs and environmental guidelines