Drakensberg

Destination

5 Days

Duration

710

Physicality

14-60

Age recommendations

Cultural Drakensberg Hike over 5 days

If you are looking for an incredible and secluded hike in the Drakensberg then the Mnweni hike is a must!! The tour not only includes some hiking in one of the most beautiful areas on the Drakensberg, but includes a smattering of a unique cultural experience as well.

The night before the hike is spent in a traditional Zulu village at the base of the Mnweni Pass situated about 40km from the town of Bergville. You will get to live like a local!! You will sleep like a Zulu. You will eat like a Zulu. This unique and interactive experience will add to the overall experience of your trek in these majestic mountains known as the ‘Barrier of Spears’ by the local inhabitants.

As for the hike itself, you will get to spend 3 days and 2 nights hiking and camping in the mountains. The route ascends the Mnweni Pass to the escarpment that separates South Africa and the mountain kingdom of Lesotho. We will camp at Ledgers Cave which is situated on the escarpment between the Rockeries Pass and Mnweni. Our descend takes us down the spectacular Rockeries Pass and back to the Mnweni Cultural Centre where we started 3 days before. The modus operandi on our Drakensberg hikes is to start hiking as early as possible in order to arrive at camp by about 15H00. This allows time for hikers to recover and build up energy for the following day. Our average speed on a typical Drakensberg hike is between 1.5km/h and 4km/h depending on the terrain and gradient.

Drakensberg hike with a cultural flavour!

*Tour price FROM R4800.00

Drakensberg FAQ

What food to take on a Drakensberg hike
What food to take on a Drakensberg hike - All you need to know One of the biggest questions we get asked- ‘what kind of food do I need for a Drakensberg hike ?’ We have been hiking in the Drakensberg for over 20 years and understand the crucial factor food and nutrition plays in a successful and relatively pain free hiking experience. We have included some ideas that we have picked up over the years to assist you with maintaining your strength and vitality in the mountains. The article includes an eating plan on how to maintain your weight
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5 tips for staying warm in the Drakensberg Mountains
5 tips for staying warm in the Drakensberg Mountains I have been around for 40 years and have been hiking in the Drakensberg mountains in South Africa for 20 of those years. And what have I learnt? Well they are quite simple really. They are only 3 guarantees in life. You are going to die. You have to pay taxes and there will be rain and mist when you go trekking in the Drakensberg. Wet clothing can be potentially dangerous as they conduct heat away from your body thus making you very susceptible to hypothermia-a life threatening condition that can
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Trekking equipment for the Drakensberg Mountains
Our advice on trekking equipment for the Drakensberg Mountains Making sure you have packed the correct trekking equipment for the Drakensberg Mountains can sometimes be a bit of a challenge. How much weight should I carry? What size backpack do I need? Do I really need my hairdryer? Most hikers have these questions leading up to a Drakensberg hiking adventure. We have been guiding hiking tours into the Drakensberg for over 10 years and not only that, in all types of weather conditions. And yes we have seen it all? We love our pre climb backpack inspection as we are
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Tips for hiking in the Drakensberg
Tips for hiking in the Drakensberg What to expect on a Drakensberg hike and how to prepare? A hike into the Drakensberg is not to be underestimated. We have been involved in organized hiking tours for over 10 years and have experienced most of what human nature and the mountains can throw at us. The most common question we get asked? How hard is the hike? How long is a piece of string? Until we actually get to hike with our clients or train with them we have absolutely no idea how hard the hike is going to be for
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Drakensberg Hike Fitness
How fit do I need to be for a hike in the Drakensberg? Drakensberg Hike Fitness - not only is this one of the most frequently asked questions about our hiking tours in the Drakensberg but is also a topic of concern for us as a guiding company as well. A lot of people underestimate hiking in the mountains. There are so many factors at play that the average person does not take into account when booking for a hike. We have written this article to hopefully give our clients a rough idea of what to expect, how to train
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Best time to hike Drakensberg
Best time to hike Drakensberg Hello!!! My name is Darren and I have been leading hiking tours into the Drakensberg for the past 10 years. In fact my first ever hike into these majestic mountains was at the tender age of 10. My brother and I spent a whack of time exploring these ‘Barriers of Spears’. My passion for the Drakensberg eventually blossomed into the creation of an Adventure Travel business. These are my thoughts on the best time to hike. A common question we always get asked: When I the best time to hike in the Drakensberg mountains, South
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Why climb mountains?
A idiots guide to what I think and why I climb Mountains. Climbing big mountains basically has the human experience condensed into a very, very small period of time. Maybe it’s a 3-week climb. Maybe it’s just a 3-day hike in the Drakensberg. One thing for sure is that all the core aspects of our personality come forward in a condensed and direct way. Everything is so intense and highlighted that it gives us an opportunity to really practice and shift and change behaviors if we desire to. What was that? If we desire to? Yeah so that’s where the
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Our tours begin and end in Johannesburg

(SELF DRIVE OPTIONS AVAILABLE)

Day 1

Travel day. Our scheduled trekking tour of the Drakensberg starts at 08H00. You will be met by your guide, load up the vehicle and take the 5 hour drive down to the Mnweni Cultural Village. Upon arrival, we meet the locals who will take us to our humble dwellings for the night. The rest of the day is all yours. We will have a pre hike briefing followed by a traditional Zulu dinner cooked by one of the village “Gogo’s (grandmother in Zulu). We end the night with some incredible drumming around a fire.

Day 2

After breakfast at 07H30, we hike to the base of Mnweni Pass. The hike today is not too strenuous and we are looking at about 5 hours of hiking covering about 10km. We set up camp at the base of the Pass allowing us to be fresh for the ascent the following day. Once camp is set up, we have dinner and relax.

Day 3

After breakfast we start our ascent of the beautiful Mnweni Pass. The height gain today is just over 1000m and is basically straight up. Yes today is going to be tough, but we promise you the reward will be well worth the effort. This part of the Drakensberg is rated by local hikers as one the most secluded and beautiful areas of the Drakensberg. Some of the main peaks to look out for include the Inner and Outer Mnweni Needles as well as Pinnacles. Our campsite will either be in Ledgers Cave or in the valley below it. As with most of our hiking tours, we follow the plan of leaving camp early and getting into camp early. That gives hikers the afternoon to recover for the following days hike.

Day 4

After breakfast, we begin our descent back into South Africa via the Rockeries Pass which is situated about 2km from our camp site. The route down is pretty steep. There is nothing technical about it and ropes are not needed, but it may still be slow going as we are going to drop nearly 1000m in altitude over about 3 km. We should be down by about 14H00. We then take the 1 hour drive through to the Amphitheatre Backpackers Lodge where we spend the night. Accomodation will be in a basic twin sharing room

Day 5

After breakfast we take the 5 hour drive back to Johannesburg. Back by about 15H00.

Incredible Drakensberg Scenery

The Drakensberg is a world heritage site

Isolated hiking experience

Reach the escarpment that forms the border between South Africa and Lesotho

Authentic South African hiking experience

2 nights Cultural experience in a traditional Zulu Village

INCLUDED

Return transfers Johannesburg to Mnweni Cultural Village Return (unless self-drive option selected)
Hotel Pick Up
1 nights’ accommodation in a traditional Zulu village
Dinner at the village

1 nights’ accommodation in the Amphitheatre Backpackers

Dinner on the last night at the Backpacker
3 Nights’ accommodation in tented camps in Drakensberg
All climbing permits
Tents, sleeping mats, cooking and eating utensils
Breakfasts and dinners on the mountain
Basic first aid kit
Guide for the duration of the tour
Dedicated Trip Planner
Local Taxes

NOT INCLUDED

Flights and airport taxes
Hiking Equipment (can be hired)
Items of a personal nature
Visas for South Africa
Health requirements (if any)
Optional but highly recommended travel and medical insurance.
Snacks, personal medicine
Meals & drinks not specified

<strong>Drakensberg</strong> FAQ

Mnweni Hike 29-31 January 2021

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What you need to know about a 3 day Drakensberg Hike The pick-up location for the tour? The pick-up location for the tour is “THE

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Your body at altitude

What to do in an emergency in the Drakensberg

How to Handle Emergencies in the Drakensberg

What food to take on a Drakensberg hike

Drakensberg Hike Fitness

5 tips for staying warm in the Drakensberg Mountains

Trekking equipment for the Drakensberg Mountains

Tips for hiking in the Drakensberg

Best time to hike Drakensberg

Why climb mountains?

Iron Deficient Anemia

HACE explained by South Africa Adventures

When things go wrong – HACE

When things go wrong - HAPE

Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS)

Preparation for high altitude trekking

Your body at altitude

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Tour Reviews

5.00 based on 0 reviews

David john

April 17, 2017

One of the most scenic hikes i have ever been on. The hike lasted 3 days and 2 nights covering 42km of sheer awesomeness. Our guide was incredible and made our hike something to remember forever. I reckon this is the best hike in the drakensberg.