Drakensberg Deluxe Hiking Tour Itinerary

Day 1 Check into Northern Drakensberg

Your driver will meet you at Johannesburg or Tambo International Airport and transfer you to The Cavern Resort & Spa in the Northern Drakensberg Mountain region. The drive is approximately 4hrs, so if your flight arrives late or you would prefer a break first, you can ask for an additional night, and get a room near the airport for your arrival night and schedule the transfer to Drakensberg for the following day.

Once you arrive at The Cavern, the evening is free for you to spend at leisure, have dinner at the lodge, and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
Overnight Location: Resort in Northern Drakensberg
Distance: None
Meals: Dinner

Day 2 Hike to Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge

Today is the start of a 3-day hike that aims to cover large portions of The Amphitheatre. You will meet your hiking guide at The Cavern after breakfast and begin with a steep climb. There is the option of a 25-minute detour to some San Rock Art at Lone Rock, then you will continue heading up through Sugar Load Gap until you are above the Sandstone Cliffs. Here, you can stop and be rewarded for the steep climb with a sweeping view of the Northern Drakensberg Valley. You’ll enjoy a lunch stop at Broome Hill, then it’s around 2 more hours until you reach Basotho Gate & Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge.
Overnight Location: Lodge in Royal Natal National Park
Distance: 14km, 1300m of ascent
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 3 See the top of Tugela Falls

Today is the most difficult hiking day, so be prepared! After breakfast, you will be transferred along with your guide the short distance to Sentinel Car Park. After completing the obligatory admin – signing into the mountain register – you will start your gradual ascent towards The Three Witches, then zigzag to the base of the Sentinel massif. From here, you will follow the contour path to the right, with the land sloping steeply to the north and east so that you have wonderful views of the Malutis and the Mountain Lodge plateau below.

After about 3km, you will reach the chain ladders for a 35m ascent on them, followed by a short scramble to the escarpment. (There is the option to take the gully instead of the chain ladders if you are not comfortable with chain ladders.)

Once on the escarpment, there are a lot of things to see and places to explore. You can see the top of the Tugela Falls, the highest waterfall in Africa, as the water plunges down to the gorge below (depending on the season). There is also the Mont-Aux-Sources peak 2km away, which is thought to be the source of the Tugela, Elands and Orange Rivers. For the very fit and enthusiastic, another 3-4km, including some ridge climbing, will take you to the Eastern Buttress and Rainbow Falls.

Finally, you will make your way back down the same way to Sentinel Car Park, where a transfer will take you back to Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge for dinner and rest.
Overnight Location: Lodge in Royal Natal National Park
Distance: 13-15km, 1400m of ascent
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4 Relaxing hiking day back to Northern Drakensberg

Today is a relatively easy hike down into the Mahai River Valley and into Royal Natal National Park. You’ll crisscross the Mahai River many times and will pass small waterfalls and pools in which you are most welcome to have a refreshing open water swim if you would like to. The vegetation changes dramatically as you descend, including cool forested areas, before you end at Mahai Campsite.

If you have the time & inclination, we recommend visiting the bushmen paintings, which are another 2km past the visitor centre, and then you take a guided trail up to Sigubudu Paintings (approx 1hr trail, a small extra charge will apply on site).

Then you will be transferred back to The Cavern, where you can relax and unwind for the evening. The Cavern has a spa on-site, so if you fancy a massage for your tired limbs, we suggest pre-booking it on Day 1.
Overnight Location: Resort in Northern Drakensberg
Distance: Flexible
Meals: Breakfast

Day 5 Try the Cathedral 4 Challenge

Bright and early, you will be transferred to the Cathedral Peak Hotel – to another gorgeous part of the Northern Drakensberg. The drive is only about 1.5hrs, after which you can choose to have a relaxing day at the hotel, enjoying the many facilities – including a pool, wellness centre, pool/billiards table, outdoor sports including tennis & golf – or join one of the many guided or unguided hikes available from the hotel.

If you have a high level of fitness and are confident in your independent hiking abilities, you can even try to complete the ultimate ‘Cathedral 4 Challenge’ – four different trails of different lengths and intensities, from 1.5 to 4hrs each. These trails take you through forest, falls and rocks and trying to do them all in one day can take up to 10hrs, so it’s only for the brave! You can also spread them out and do some today and some tomorrow, if you so choose.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Cathedral Peak Nature Reserve
Distance: Flexible
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6 Tackle Cathedral Peak

Today, we suggest doing the guided hike from your hotel up Cathedral Peak (please check and book in advance to make sure it is operating on your chosen date). It is a challenging hike that climbs a 3004m high peak, including some scrambles up steep rock faces and narrow ledges (guides supply ropes), but those who complete it will be rewarded with magnificent views and a great sense of accomplishment.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Cathedral Peak Nature Reserve
Distance: 19km, 9-10 hours
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 7 Goodbye Drakensberg

Today, you will say goodbye to the mountainous landscape you have called home for the last week, and be transferred to Johannesburg’s or Tambo Airport for your flight back home or onwards to your next adventure.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast