Drakensberg Grand Traverse

Hiking NOBO, the first stage of the trail begins at the lowest point in the range, Bushman’s Nek. There, you will pay 1 day of hiking fees (be sure not to pay for the full hike, as they do not have jurisdiction for the whole trail, but will happily take your money). The trail rapidly ascends the Drakensberg on a good trail. At the top, the trail vanishes, and the only trails encountered from this point are sheep paths. From the top of the Nek to Sani is a section with many, many Basotho Shepherds, and camping locations need to be carefully thought out.

Sani can be passed at the border control on the escarpment, or if you follow the inland route (it’s better), you will cross the Chinese-built tar road roughly 5 kilometers inland. For hikers doing the trail in 14 days, it’s advised to get food delivered to this point.

From Sani, the route passes over one big pass before climbing to the peak of the tallest mountain south of Kilimanjaro, Thabana Nhlenyana. There is a steep descent down the northern side and into a valley, which you will follow all the way to Giants Pass. This is a good bail point as it is just 17 kilometers down the pass to the nearest hotel (and buffet). However, it is very important that you do not camp on the Nursery Slopes or anywhere near the Giants Pass or Giants Castle. This area is notorious for cattle and drug smuggling as well as gale-force winds that regularly destroy tents.

Section 3 heads northward over a pass into the next valley. Camping can be found at the bottom, with two options for the next ~30 kilometers. 1: You can leave the escarpment and follow the river inland until returning to the escarpment near Mafadi Peak. This is longer but with fewer passes. 2: The escarpment can be followed over 3 passes. It’s a steep day, but the views are worth it when it’s clear. The route passes over Mafadi and down Ship’s Prow Pass, over another steep pass, and then along the longest “flat” section of trail to a beautiful valley full of swimming holes. The final section of this stage takes hikers up and over to Organ Pipes Pass, another good route for an emergency evacuation, as well as the second refuel point for hikers taking it slowly.

The section from Organ pipes to Mnweni pass can be done in a big day, tagging two peaks, and climbing 3 passes. This is the section that can be accessed by the incredible 3-4 day Bell Traverse (Organ Pipes variation). Or by the Mnweni-Rockeries loop. This is a remote portion of the Drakensberg, and bailing will require over 2000 meters of elevation loss and 20+ kilometers of hiking.

The final section has two primary options very similar to the previous big split on stage 3. The inland variation saves a bunch of elevation and is the preferred route for the FKT attempts; the escarpment option offers some unique views, but a detour is required to tag Mont Aux Sources before arriving at Tugela Falls. Camping at this final spot is well worth the risk, but make special note to try not to dig cat holes in this area, as it receives the most traffic of any portion of the range. Try to go sometime the previous day of hiking. From here, the descent is quick and on a very good trail. For the brave, there are the Chainladders, and for the nervous, there is a gully that can be descended instead.

Collection from the Sentinel carpark can be arranged with the help of Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge.

The best time of year to hike the Drakensberg Grand Traverse is April – May. Earlier in the year can be incredible, but violent storms happen most days. June – September is cold and dry (negative degrees most of the time – I have experienced -20 degrees up there before), making water harder to find when it’s not in the form of snow. October – December works but is often fairly dry as well, with storms later in November and all of December.

Keep in mind that the weather in the high mountains can change rapidly, and it’s important to be prepared for all conditions, including rain or snow. Always check trail conditions and local weather forecasts before starting a high-alpine hike, but note that the weather forecasts of the Drakensberg are nearly never correct.

The DGT is an unusually dangerous hike for the distance it covers. Things to consider are snakes, weather, local people, and technical terrain.

To prepare for these, here is a packing list of the essentials: (specific to April-May hiking)

• Clothing to handle -5 degrees to +30 degrees Celcius (rain, scorching sun, possible snow).
• Footwear you are confident in (a sprained ankle is very possible off-trail)
• Satellite Device, while there is a signal most days, when the clouds drop in, there can be no signal for weeks.
• Contact details for the rescue teams.
• Local maps (The Slingsby Maps are a must-have).
• A tent that can handle serious wind (think 60km/h when camped in a good location).
• Cigarettes or sweets as gifts for the Basotho herdsmen.
• Waterproof everything, you will get soaked.
• A guide.

The Drakensberg Grand Traverse is a strenuous trail for a number of reasons. First, roughly 70% of it is off-trail walking through low shrubbery and grasslands. Second, the passes are very steep, and the trail runs at an average of over 2000m above sea level. Third, there are no trail markers, and you must choose your own path. Finally, the Drakensberg has seriously unpredictable weather, lightning storms, 100km/h winds, and it has been known to snow every month of the year.