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We recommend that you book a self-drive car for this Drakensberg Active Escape. Having a car means you can easily reach the starting point of the various hikes and activities. Contact us for our competitive car hire rates. However, we can also arrange road transfers from Durban OR Johannesburg – details on request.
Day 1:
Drive from Durban (3 hours) or Johannesburg (3 ½ hours), to Cavern Drakensberg Resort. Named after the "Cannibal Cavern", it is situated on 3000 hectares of private mountain reserve adjacent to the Royal Natal National Park Amphitheatre - a World Heritage Site. Spectacular mountain scenery and a cosy family hotel will be your surroundings for the next few days.
Dinner and overnight: Cavern Drakensberg Resort. (D)
Day 2, 3 & 4:
This hotel offers guests daily guided hikes to such wonderful destinations as Thonsela Cave, Cannibal Cavern, Echo Cave and Sungubala amongst others. For the more energetic, walks are organized to the Tugela Gorge and to the top of the Amphitheatre (see below for descriptions of each walk). Each day, a shorter and a longer walk is offered, led by experienced mountain guides. All guided walks visit places of beauty and historic interest. Lone Rock, with its exquisite bushmen's paintings, or the popular “Breakfast Walk” (ending off with a scrumptious breakfast, overlooking the picturesque Cavern Valley) are just two of the walks offered. Other, more strenuous hikes, are:
• The Amphitheatre Ascent (2930m) - Grade C
This involves a full day and hikers leave at 6:30am after a continental breakfast. Drive 120 km (own transport) to the Sentinel Car Park. Toll and hiking fee payable. Hike via the Zig-zags and contour path to the chain ladders. Up the ladders and descend to the top of the Tugela Falls for a picnic lunch. Home via the chain ladders or the Gulley.
• The Tugela Gorge - Grade C
Drive to the Royal Natal National Park (25 km - own transport) and to the Tendele Car Park. (ZAR25.00 per person entrance fee into the Park). Hike from the car park along the Tugela Gorge on a fairly easy gradient to the Tugela Gorge (7kms to the gorge, 1630m). The energetic can continue boulder hopping up to the base of the Tugela Falls. Picnic lunch at the Gorge.
• Test your walking skills against the legendary Big 5 Hike - Grade D
This hike takes you up Hlolela (500m and approximately 2 hour climb, 2127m) via Scilla Gulley and then on to the Bridge of the Battleship. From Battleship down towards Venus Bath for tea and then on to the pimple of Sugar Loaf. then hike to the top of Cold Hill. Descend from Cold Hill via the Devil's Staircase and Cavern Gap to Cannibal Cavern for lunch. After lunch hike along Surprise Ridge to Camels Hump and then home. The hike is approximately 16kms and takes the average hiker 8 hours. There are escape routes back home!
• Goodoo Falls - Grade C
Hike from the hotel up through Sugar Loaf gap, along Cold Hill (ascend approximately 500m) and round Broome Hill and down to Goodoo Falls. Brilliant views of the Amphitheatre and Main Berg. Swim in the pools and have lunch at the top of the falls. Hike back to the Cavern via
the Crack or descend to Royal Natal National Park for a land rover transfer back to the Cavern. Approx. 8 hours.
• The Sungubala Challenge - Grade B
An all day hike with some steep sections and "Bundu" bashing in places. Hike into the Sungubala valley, past Jackal Hill and to the northern side of Sungubala mountain. Ascend through the Juluka "the big sweat" pass and on to the top of Sungubala Mountain (2133m). Hike along the edge of Sungubala and descend to the Troglodytes for lunch. Home via Sugar Loaf gap. Approx. 17 kms.
• The National Park Grotto, Serpentine and Shell - Grade B
An all day hike departing from the hotel. Hike via Surprise Ridge into the Park, along the contour route and have a dip beneath the Diamond and Castle Rocks in the mountain stream. Lunch at the Grotto. Visit the Serpentine and the Shell. Ascend through the Hole in the Wall to the Broom Hill / Cold Hill saddle. Hike to the top of Cold Hill (2100m) and descend via Sugar Loaf gap.
Grades of Climbs
• A - Reasonably flat undulating terrain
• B - Climb, but on grassy slopes
• C - Climb, but on rocky terrain or up loose rocks
• D - Climb, but up steep chimneys or gulleys, where a slip could be dangerous
• E - Climb where one should be roped for safety due to the hazardous nature of the terrain
The hotel also offers an extensive range of sport and recreational facilities in addition to the guided walks: horse trails through splendid scenery and trout fishing in five well stocked dams.
Dinner and overnight: Cavern Drakensberg Resort. (B,L,D)
Day 5:
Leave after breakfast and head back to Durban OR Johannesburg. (B)
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