To finish off our three months trip through Southern Africa we went to the Drakensberg. Since we love mountains and hiking this was the place to be for us. Because there are several different locations and it was not that easy for us to choose where to go to.
The Drakensberg
Where to stay at the Drakensberg
The first area we stayed in was the Giants castle. Since campsites were limited we chose the White Mountain Resort and how lucky we were with that choice. It was bitter cold that night and we were the only guests, the owner offered us a chalet for the same price as the campsite. Of course, we accepted and felt like little kids on Christmas.
Next, we moved on to Monks Cow where we camped at the Inkosana Lodge. From our tent, we had the best view and the kitchen and bathroom were amazing as well. They encourage you to NOT wash your dishes, which was no problem for us. A nice added value is the couch area with a chimney to escape the cold outside. The lady that runs the place could be a bit nicer but apart from that, we had an amazing time.
Our last accommodation was the Amphitheater Backpackers which was also really unique. The view in the morning over the Amphitheater is breathtaking and the hostel offers nice chilling lounges, a bar with a pool table, indoor climbing, a hot tub next to the bar and a sauna. All that for one of the cheapest prices we paid in South Africa.
What to do at the Drakensberg
Well, obviously the main attraction in this area is hiking. We also saw some places that offer mountain bike trails but we didn’t use them.
The first hike for us was climbing the White Mountain which was perfect for a warm-up on the first day. The way up is not too steep until the end where we had to do a bit of climbing but nothing too technical. The view from the top of the valley was worth the effort especially with the many vultures flying around.
Thr second day we went to the Giants Castle where we did the Bergview Trail which indeed had amazing views over the surrounding mountains. Also not too exhausting we quite enjoyed the hike except the last part that led us along the road.
At Monks Cowl we followed the trail to the Sterkspruit falls and then up to our target the Nandi Falls. The view of the mountains is spectacular all the way up and the creek is never far to refill your water bottle.
The last hike near the Amphitheater was the longest and most exhausting one. We did the 5.5-hour return hike to the Gorge. The path is never really steep but goes steady uphill along the mountainside. After reaching the Gorge you can hike for another half hour through it and then turn around to get back to your car.