Duration:
4 –5 days.
Venue:
Central KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg
Mafadi has only in the last twenty or so years been officially recognized as the highest mountain in South Africa. Many older books give other mountains this credit. On official Government maps the height is given as 3450m. However the latest survey using the most up to date differential GPS equipment found it to be one meter higher than stated (year 2002). The summit lies exactly on the border between SA and the Kingdom of Lesotho.
This trek starts from the Nature Conservation office at Injisuthi wilderness area. The Injisuthi area is one of the best preserved areas of the uKhahlamba/Drakensberg Park. There are few paths and only one road giving access to the ranger station. The trek is a circular route that goes through large mountains and is usually covered in four days of hard walking or five days if taken at a leisurely pace. The starting point is 2,5 hours drive from Durban.
The Route:
The starting point is at an altitude of 1470m. On the first day a short hike of 4 hours brings one to “Marble baths Cave” where there is an amazing swimming area just below the cave. The Cave gets it’s name from the marble like rock which forms the swimming spot.
The next day “Leslie’s Pass” ascended. This pass is a long and rough hike and takes several hours to complete. The top of the pass is at 3050m and forms the top of the Drakensberg escarpment. Just beyond the top is a good camping spot if doing the trip over 5 days.
The trek then climbs up to the summit of Mafadi at 3451m. The summit consists of a large flat area the size of a football field.
The trail then drops down slightly to an overnight spot in the Upper Injisuthi Cave. This is arguably the finest cave in the entire range. It is well sheltered and has a spectacular view out over South Africa. The next day the route follows the escarpment edge for 2 hours walk and then descends the escarpment to overnight at “Centenary” the hut/bothy. The final day goes down into the great Injisuthi valley and back to the starting point.
This hike is best suited to people who have medium to high fitness and are accustomed to carrying a full backpack. Clients will be camping either in mountain tents or caves in a remote setting. Most of the walking is on good paths. No porters are available in this area.
The entire area is a proclaimed wilderness area and is also now a World Heritage Site. All the mountain streams may be used for drinking water without any purification needed.
When to visit:
This hike can be done at anytime of the year. It must be noted that from June till September are the colder months with night temperatures often below freezing. Snowfalls can also occur. During the southern African summer the mountains receive afternoon thundershowers and high daytime temperatures. However, cold, wet and windy weather can be encountered at anytime of year!
Guided hiking:
Peak High offers this hike at any time of the year. No set dates are used as each trip is individually put together. Parties can consist of one to as many as ten people in a group.
Unless porters are used, clients are required to carry their own backpacks, equipment and provisions for a 3-day round trip. Peak High can provide all communal equipment including stoves, pots, tents, cutlery, food and maps. Extra items such as sleeping bags can be hired for a nominal fee.
For more information visit www.peakhigh.co.za or contact Gavin Raubenheimer on gavin@peakhigh.co.za.
