Hiking in the Drakensberg (page 2 of 2)

s:The Tugela Gorge hike is relatively easy (14 km and about 500 m of elevation gain), and the end of the hike—especially the ladder and "tunnel"—is pretty fun.

That’s *relatively* easy for a sedentary traveler. The end of the hike can only be done when the water level allows it. As for the ladders, they’re regularly washed away.

Check with the rangers on-site to know the current conditions on the day, not what they were months or even years ago.

Thanks Attila.

I realize our choice isn’t really strategic after all.

Oh well, it’ll give us a chance to go back and compare different seasons ;-)

By the way, I was wondering if the climate in neighboring countries—Namibia in particular—is also better in February/March?

We were planning to go to Namibia in May 2020, but this time I’ll take the time to think it through and pick the ideal period :-)

Have a great day

Over the last 45 days, I’ve only had 2 days of bad weather, including one here 3 days ago. Mostly, it’s been gorgeous.

Yeah, but it's extreme in South Africa. In 45 days, including Lesotho and Swaziland, I only saw about 5 or 6 other backpackers. And in France, even if people drive to the mountains, many still hike. Not the case in the Drakensberg.

Pretty tough for a sedentary traveler.

And for my sister-in-law, it’s totally impossible... You shouldn’t confuse hiking with a Sunday stroll...

The end of the hike can only be completed when the water level allows it. As for the ladders, they’re regularly washed away.

No need to climb the ladder, and if there’s too much water in the "tunnel," just take off your shoes. If there’s *really* too much water, just take the trail that branches off 1 km earlier to the left—it leads straight to the base of the waterfall. (It’s not mentioned in the description; you just have to analyze the terrain.) The description says you have to reach the foot of the Tugela Falls...

Check with the rangers, not here, to know the conditions on the day, not what they were months, years, or decades ago.

That’d require them to have gone recently...

. In 45 days including Lesotho and Swaziland, I only saw about 5 or 6 other backpackers.

The country isn’t really suited for public transport like in Asia or some European countries.

What’s more, taking the bus, taxi, etc. is often more expensive than renting a car.

The Baz Bus, designed for tourists without a car, is also pretty pricey.

It mainly serves the coast, too.

Plus, you’re not traveling at the best time for hiking since it’s winter.

That said, the crowds you find in the big alpine sites in summer are a long way off in South Africa...

Good news for hikers.

You often talk about stepping out of your comfort zone. For you, that might mean a 55-kilometer hike with 3,000 meters of elevation gain. For many others, though, it’s just about leaving the car behind.

Those people reading this could find themselves in serious trouble by following your advice.

Especially since, in this case, you’re making it sound like the hike is risk-free when it’s already claimed lives due to weather conditions.

I know that when you say *easy*, I have to translate it as *not obvious*. And *moderate* means *out of my reach*. *Very easy* might be doable for me. Think about those who don’t know you.

Would you have told your sister-in-law it was easy?

Well, before you know the person you’re giving advice to, assume they’re your sister-in-law—and that she might read this forum and take *easy* to mean *easy for everyone*.

You often talk about leaving your comfort zone.

You must be confusing me with someone else—I don’t think I’ve ever used that phrase. In any case, it’s never been a goal in itself. On the other hand, the pull of the unknown (that’s not the case here) has pushed me out of my comfort zone several times. But not in the Drakensberg!

I know that when you write "easy," I have to translate it as "not obvious."

When I say "easy," I’m writing for people who talk about hikes... For those who aren’t into hiking, I don’t say anything. My sister-in-law doesn’t hike. A one-kilometer walk on flat terrain is her absolute limit, but she wouldn’t ask about hikes in the Drakensberg if she were traveling to South Africa. All the hikes listed in the Drakensberg parks show the average walking time and elevation gain (which, in my opinion, is pretty accurate, so it’s aimed at the average hiker). These hikes are day trips, so you don’t have to carry a heavy backpack. The Tugela Gorge hike is on a perfectly marked trail with no risk of getting lost. For an average hiker taking their time, it takes about 5 to 6 hours max (for roughly 14 km), with an elevation gain of 500 to 600 m and a gradual ascent without steep slopes. So, it’s at most a "moderate" hike. The person I replied to mentioned hikes of up to 8 hours; the ones I suggested are under 8 hours, and I specified that for the second one, you shouldn’t be afraid of heights and should have sure footing... though in my opinion, this hike is well within their capabilities in terms of time and the fairly moderate elevation gain.

Well, before you know the person you’re giving advice to, consider them like your sister-in-law and assume she might read this forum. If she sees "easy," she’ll think it’s easy for everyone.

Contrary to what you might think, I don’t give the same answers—or answer the same way—to identical questions on the same topic depending on who’s asking... certain details (previous questions, general interest in hiking, mountains, specifics about walking time, etc.) help me get a sense of the person.

What I *do* regret, though, is that the person in question (Langme) didn’t take the time to respond to those who made the effort to give them information!

Topics aren't just read by the people who start them. They can even resurface years later.

Anyway, I'm neither a walker nor a hiker, and that doesn't stop me from considering a 15-kilometer hike with 500/600 meters of elevation gain. I'm not the only one in this situation. Every day on vacation, I come across "Sunday hikers" like me—worse than me, actually, given their systematic use of racing shoes and trekking poles where they aren't needed. I think some will end up using them in the city.

For all these people, please don’t exaggerate how easy these hikes are.

This is a forum, we express different opinions, and that's normal, including about the difficulty of hikes. By the way, in South Africa, they exaggerate with their safety advice and instructions (like being forced to hike in groups of 2, 3, or 4 minimum in some countries)—it's easy hiking compared to many other places in the world.

It’s actually easier than some hikes I’ve done in Norway or Switzerland, but that doesn’t mean it’s risk-free—especially the gorge route that ends in a bottleneck. There’s no EDF dam, but the same kind of thing can happen.

Even an easy trail can turn into a real challenge if the equipment is damaged or depending on the season.

Tugela in March during the rainy season is nothing like Tugela in the heart of the dry season.

Plus, there used to be banditry near the Lesotho border. The safety warnings are still in place.

When it comes to safety, it feels like this is becoming the norm everywhere in developed countries.

Ever since people start tackling Mont Blanc in t-shirts and nearly flip-flops, authorities figure it’s better to overdo precautions than not enough before it blows up in their faces...🤪

To add to my info in this thread, I also hiked from Bushman's Nek to Sehlabathale Park in Lesotho—I really enjoyed it too (and then continued by minibus to Qacha's Nek, another spectacular route).

Hi, We did the 7-hour hike in Royal Natal Park called Tugela Gorge. We went in July 2018, and during the southern hemisphere winter, it’s not as lush as some photos online make it seem. The trek to the foot of the ladders is intermediate+. According to all family members, later in the season, locals visit the site after the rains, and then everything changes—but it’s hard for tourists to plan for that. Safe travels, Marc

Hi Elisabeth,

I’d love to go hiking in the Drakensberg with a guide. Could you let me know which agency you used for the organized hikes? Thanks. Tatyana