Drakensberg Scenic
Durban –Sani Pass – Midlands Meander – Giants Castle – Golden Gate National Park
(6-Day Tour)
Day One – Sani Pass
We depart Durban on an early start to make the most of the days’ sight-seeing, travelling on the edge of the "Valley of 1000 Hills" and then past the capital city of Pietermaritzburg. We travel inland, to the foothills of the Drakensberg Mountains on the scenic route through the frontier towns of Bulwer, Underberg and Himeville. Here we transfer to our 4X4 vehicles for the ascent up the Sani Pass and into Lesotho. Breathtaking scenery and alpine conditions dominate this truly magnificent corner of this province. Once we have entered Lesotho we will stop off at a Basutho village where one can learn more about the life of these very friendly people, in this, one of the world’s poorest countries. Lunch will be at the “highest pub in Africa”, the Sani Top Chalet. We will also have some time here to walk along the edge of the escarpment for stunning views into KwaZulu Natal, before descending the pass to our overnight-preferred accommodation in the area. *NB.Warm clothing is a must, no matter the season of the year! You will also need valid passports for the crossing into Lesotho. The ascent of the pass is subject to the prevailing weather conditions.
 
Day Two and Three – Giants Castle
From our overnight accommodation we travel via the Midlands Meander route to our next overnight destination at Giants Castle in the central Berg, arriving late afternoon.
Should you be a keen photographer or birder, or just enjoy watching beautiful rare birdlife, then the Lammergeier (Bearded Vulture) Hide the next morning is a must. We would be taken to the hide high up in the mountains where we set out food in the form of bones and meat to attract the raptors. Most of the morning would be spent here, observing and photographing before arriving back at the camp in time for lunch. After lunch we would take a 45-minute walk to “Main Caves” to view the San (or Bushman) rock art, which is many of hundreds of years old, legacies left here by the Stone Age people.
Day Four and Five – Golden Gate
From Giants Castle we make our way to the Golden Gate National Park, which is in fact situated in the Free State Province of South Africa, just across from Zululand. We will spend two nights at the Protea Hotel Golden Gate Mountain Resort which offers 34 standard hotel rooms and one suite, with 34 two-bed roomed self-catering chalets also available.
Being in a National Park, the resort offers a host of activities and leisure facilities including hiking and nature trails, game viewing and lookout points. Sporting facilities include horse riding, jogging tracks, tennis, bowls as well as a games room, with snooker, table tennis and a pool table. Facilities at the Protea Hotel Golden Gate Mountain Resort include a restaurant and bar, coffee shop and curio shop.
For the more adventurous (and fit) clients we have an option the next day of doing the “Sentinel” hike. Where the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho meets QwaQwa and the Royal Natal National Park, you will find the Sentinel Hiking Trail, your password to breathtaking scenery and awesome adventure in the Drakensberg Mountains.
Hikers can be sure of spectacular sights, such as Devil's Tooth, the Maluti Mountains, Drakensberg Amphitheatre, Mount-aux-Sources, Sentinel, Broom Hill and the Mahai Waterfall.
It takes a little over two hours to hike from the Sentinel car park (reached after driving along one of the highest roads in southern Africa that is accessible by ordinary vehicle) to the bottom of the Chain Ladder. The Chain Ladder was installed by the Natal provincial authority in 1930, a sensation at the time. It obviates the need for a strenuous 150-meter gully climb - an impossibility in snowy conditions, when the gully would quickly become blocked up. Once we have summitted the chain ladder we are at the top of the Amphitheatre and at the source of the Tugela River, looking down into KwaZulu Natal.
Other options would be to spend leisure time in the Golden Gate National Park on game viewing or, hiking. The hotel also offers a host of activities such as tennis, bowls, horse riding, but please note that this for your own account.
Day Six
After breakfast the next morning we will depart the Golden Gate National Park for your drop off point at your overnight accommodation in Durban or the Durban airport. Please note that we can also drop off in Johannesburg or you can extend your tour to link up with our Battlefields Tour or the Itala Game Reserve Tour.
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