Drakensberg Walking Tour

On arrival at Durban Airport in the late morning, you are met by our walking guide.
 
You leave Durban and head for the Drakensberg Mountains stopping en route at the Valley of a 1000 Hills or Howick to enjoy your picnic lunch or tea (depending on flight times).

The Drakensberg Mountains consist of gigantic basalt peaks and buttresses, towering sandstone cliffs with hidden valleys, grassy slopes and pockets of indigenous forest supporting a rich diversity of plant life. It offers a superb range of mountain walking. You are staying for 3 nights at the Cathedral Peak Hotel, one of the most famous of the traditional Drakensberg mountain hotels.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner

Today you enjoy either a shorter 2-3 hour walk up the scenic Umhlambonja Valley or the steeper hike up Mountain Rock with a picnic lunch en route. Returning to the hotel in the early afternoon, the rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy some of the many sporting facilities that the hotel has to offer including horse-riding, tennis, bowls and a 9 hole golf course. Dinner is at the hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner

Today you enjoy one of the loveliest walks in the Central Drakensberg up the Rainbow Gorge (5 to 6 hours)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner

Today you enjoy an optional 1-2 hour early morning walk prior to a late breakfast. We then depart to head to the Northern Drakensberg area. You visit the Didima rock art centre  and the Zulu Weaving centre en route before continuing to the Cavern Hotel for two nights.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner

Today you enjoy one of the classic walks of the Drakensberg with a hike up Tugela Gorge.

The huge amphitheatre in the Royal Natal National Park, with its 500m high cliff-face is probably the most photographed feature of the Drakensberg Mountains.  A walk along the nearby Tugela Gorge winds above the river, through valleys of Yellowwood trees and protea savannah. Interesting natural phenomena such as the Policeman’s Helmet, the Devil’s Tooth, the Toothpick and the Tugela waterfall make these walks an unforgettable experience.

This superb gorge walk follows a distinct path which winds gently up the valley on the slopes above the Tugela river with views of the top peaks.  The path rises at a gentle rate through the Protea savannah and Afro-montane forest.  The exact length of the walk depends on the fitness and inclination of the group as it is a linear walk. The shorter version takes about 4 to 5 hours and you turn around at the point where the gorge narrows and the going gets tougher

If you continue the path joins the river bed where the trail becomes rougher involving river crossings on stepping stones and boulder hopping.  At the beginning of the main gorge, you have excellent views of the Inner and Outer Towers, Devil’s Tooth and its Toothpick. The longer hike will take approx 6 hours
Meals Included: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner

This morning we enjoy an early morning hike (2 to 2½ hours) to Cannibal Caves to view some of the ancient rock art of the Bushmen people. This is an excellent finale to the holiday. You return to the hotel for a late breakfast and to freshen up before returning to Durban Airport for your onward travel arrangements.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch