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Walking in the Drakensberg Ranges on the Drakensberg Traverse trip. - Drakensberg Walking Tour, South Africa
Walking in the Drakensberg Ranges on the Drakensberg Traverse trip.
Chain ladders on the Amphitheatre ascent - not for the faint hearted! - Drakensberg Walking Tour, South Africa
Chain ladders on the Amphitheatre ascent - not for the faint hearted!  | Gesine Cheung
Walking the Drakensberg Traverse, South Africa - Drakensberg Walking Tour, South Africa
Walking the Drakensberg Traverse, South Africa

Drakensberg Walking Tour

A lodge based walking adventure through South Africa’s wild and majestic Drakensberg Mountains.

South Africa
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 6 reviews

8 Days from

$2930 USD

Trip Code: DKW
View dates to Book
Essential Information

Extra trip options & supplements

*Prices listed are per person

Single Supplement
$550 USD
Solo Traveller Supplement
$2230 USD
Duration
  • 8 Days
Activities
  • Day Walking
Accommodation
  • 7 nights hotel
Meals
  • 5 Dinners
  • 5 Lunches
  • 7 Breakfasts
Difficulty Grading  
4 / 10

Introductory to Moderate

Carbon Footprint  

82kg of CO2-e PP per day

(574kg of CO2-e PP entire trip)

Trip highlights

  • Hike to the top of the Amphitheatre, one of Africa’s most dramatic escarpments, and stand at the edge of the Tugela Falls, the second-highest waterfall in the world
  • Wake to mountain views at beautifully located lodges set deep in the Drakensberg
  • Walk among the Drakensberg’s rich wildlife and vibrant wildflowers at their best from October to February

Overview

The World Heritage listed Drakensberg Mountains are South Africa’s highest range and a haven for walkers drawn to its wild beauty. This dramatic escarpment is shaped by towering peaks, hidden valleys, golden cliffs and ancient ridgelines.

On a series of day hikes led by experienced guides, you’ll traverse sandstone gullies, wind swept ridges and trails alongside bird of prey and eland, Africa’s largest antelope. From our base at two well positioned mountain lodges inside the conservation area, we’ll tackle rewarding routes including the Cavern Big 5 circuit, the remote path to Goodoo Falls, and the highlight, an ascent of the Amphitheatre escarpment, culminating at the head of Tugela Falls, the second highest waterfall in the world.

From October to February, the grasslands come alive with a spectacular wildflower bloom. Expect to see aloe, arum lilies, orchids and everlastings and gladioli, with colourful bursts carpeting the hillsides.

Comfortable lodge accommodation, hearty meals and expert local guides make this a truly enriching way to experience the Drakensberg’s raw grandeur on foot.

Itinerary

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Upon arrival at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport, please make your way to the Information counter in the International Arrivals Hall where you will meet a representative from Safari Club Hotel who will arrange your complimentary shuttle. Check in and spend the rest of the day/evening at leisure. Overnight: Safari Club Hotel.

Meals: Nil

You will be collected from your hotel at around 8:00am and transferred to your lodge in the Drakensberg region (approx. 4 hours drive). Remainder of day at leisure. Dinner and overnight: The Cavern.

Meals: B,D

Hike from the Top Gate up through Sugar Loaf Gap accompanied by an experienced mountain guide. Part way up the Sugar Loaf itself, take a right-hand track that goes behind the peak. This leads to Cold Hill, ascending about 500 m. Follow the line of the fence and around Broome Hill. Cross the fence, and proceed down the slope of Plowman’s Kop for about 2 km, where the stream is seen on the right, nestling in the valley. Note: it is easy to make a mistake just after crossing the fence by following a strong contour path instead. Towards the end of Plowman’s Kop slopes, ease right, dropping gently into the valley, picking up the path to the lip of Goodoo Falls. Swim in the pools and have lunch at the top of the falls. Hike back to The Cavern the same way, or descend to Royal Natal National Park for a drive back to The Cavern. There is one longer feasible alternative. Climb out of the valley on the left side (if looking out over the falls). A strong path leads to the Mudslide (aptly named in summer). If time permits a small diversion can be taken by turning off the Mudslide path near the top, and climbing, on the right of the path, onto the very end of Plowman’s Kop. Brilliant views of the Amphitheatre and Dooley await. Look at the “cracks” in the rocks on the left hand side of the kop at the very end. These must be at least 300 m deep. Back down the Mudslide, using chain ladders as necessary. Turn left along the strong contour path at the bottom. Follow this past the Grotto, around Castle Rocks, around The Diamond and over Surprise Ridge, back to The Cavern. Dinner and overnight: The Cavern. NOTE - This trek can be quite strenuous and is very steep at times

Meals: B,L,D

This morning we ascend for approximately two hours up to Hlolela (2127m), via Scilla Gully, and then on to the formation known as the Bridge of the Battleship. From the Battleship we will hike via several steep ascents and descents, taking the Devil's Staircase en route to our lunch stop in a large cavern. After lunch and a short break, we will hike along the ridges and then down to our lodge. There are several options to shorten the walk today if weather or energy levels require it. Today is the best chance to see Eland, the largest of the antelope family. Imposing and elegant, both males and females bear tightly spiralled horns, those of the males being heavier. The range of habitats we traverse and the ever-changing views today are also highlights. Dinner and overnight: The Cavern. NOTE - The next 2 nights we will be staying at a simple mountain lodge with limited storage space. If you have any excess luggage it can be stored tonight and will be collected at the end of Day 7 on our vehicle transfer back to Johannesburg.

Meals: B,L,D

The terrain today is undulating with a few steep slopes and some fairly easy scrambles. There are several paths leading behind some hills to Sugar Loaf Gap. Vultures often soar over Sugar Loaf, with two species found here. The Cape Vulture is endemic, found only in this area of southern Africa. They are gregarious creatures and while they spread out to forage, each can see the next and they will all arrive at a carcass within a few minutes. The Bearded Vulture (or Lammergeyer) is solitary, preferring old kills and even dry bones that other scavengers cannot manage. If the bone is too big to swallow, the Lammergeyer carries it high in the air and drops it on a big rock to crack the bone open. If we are very lucky we may witness this process. The rusty colour of the Lammergeyer is derived from iron-rich rocks and must be renewed after every moult to impress the opposite sex. From Sugar Loaf Gap, the path to our mountain lodge is undulating and rises slowly on the ascent towards it. Overnight and dinner: Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge.

Meals: B,L,D

After breakfast at the lodge, we will be transferred by vehicle to the Sentinel carpark. The trek today is strenuous and the paths on the escarpment are at times indistinct so we must adhere to our guide's instructions. We will commence along a well- maintained path which ascends gradually towards the base of the Sentinel Massif. From here, the path passes below the Western buttresses, with the land sloping steeply to the north and east. There are wonderful views of the Malutis and the Witsieshoek plateaux. After about 3 km we will reach a section of the track with chain ladders. After negotiating two stages of the rock wall, it is only a short scramble from there to the top of the escarpment where we will spend the better part of the day in exploration. Weather permitting, we will walk to the edge of the Amphitheatre, where the Tugela Falls (second highest waterfall in the world) cascades 948m over the cliff-face into Tugela Gorge. This is a truly impressive sight. We will also explore other trails to interesting vantage points along the Amphitheatre escarpment. From elevations around 2500m the surrounding landscape is spectacular. Our return route is again via the Gulley of the Chain Ladders. After an exciting day we meet our vehicle for the transfer back to the mountain lodge where we can reflect on the challenges of the day. Overnight and dinner: Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge.

Meals: B,L,D

The hike to Mahai Camp is reasonably energetic, involving gentler hills rather than craggy mountains. The route is very scenic with waterfalls, paths skirting sandstone cliffs, and stands of yellowwood forest as we cross the Mahai river. (Please note: there is a compulsory 120 ZAR per person park fee payable locally at the exit gate for Kwazulu-Natal National Park. This cannot be paid in advance and is NOT included in the trip cost). The transfer vehicle will meet us while we enjoy a picnic lunch. We will drive to our first lodge, collect our stored luggage, and continue to our hotel in Johannesburg. Overnight: Safari Club Hotel.

Meals: B,L

Safari Club Hotel will provide a complimentary transfer for you to Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport, where trip concludes.

Meals: B

Map

Elevation

The map and elevation chart are for illustrative purposes only and meant to provide general guidelines.

Ready to start your adventure?

348 scheduled departures between 11 Aug 2026 and 30 Nov 2027.

  • Departs 11 Aug 2026 – ends 18 Aug 2026 (8 days)
  • Departs 12 Aug 2026 – ends 19 Aug 2026 (8 days)
  • Departs 13 Aug 2026 – ends 20 Aug 2026 (8 days)
  • Departs 14 Aug 2026 – ends 21 Aug 2026 (8 days)
  • Departs 15 Aug 2026 – ends 22 Aug 2026 (8 days)
  • Departs 16 Aug 2026 – ends 23 Aug 2026 (8 days)
  • … and 342 more departures.
View dates to Book

What's included?

Included

  • 7 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 5 dinners
  • 2 nights hotel in Johannesburg on a twinshare basis
  • 5 nights lodges in Drakensburg on a twinshare basis
  • English speaking local walking guides in the Drakensberg
  • National park and conservation fees

Not included

  • Flights
  • Travel Insurance
  • Visas
  • On Day 7 - compulsory 120 ZAR per person park fee payable locally at the exit gate for Kwazulu-Natal National Park. Also payable on Day 3 if you decide not to do the return hike back to the Cavern. This cannot be paid in advance and is NOT included in the trip cost.
  • Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
  • Bottled water, aerated and alcoholic drinks
  • Items of a personal nature
  • Tips

Reviews (6)

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what a fabulous adventure, the landscapes breathtaking, the walking was comfortable, fun and challenging. Accommodation was excellent. Guides were friendly and informative, I felt safe at all times.

Stephen|NSW, Australia
3 Nov 2025
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Really well organised trip with reasonable quality accommodation. The drakensburg walks were great with super knowledgeable guides. Overall a really good trip to an amazing location.

Aoife|United Kingdom
19 Aug 2025
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Magnificent landscape and challenging hikes. This is definitely a challenging itinerary; however, the views are worth it. We experienced outstanding service and flexibility that ensured we were able to fully enjoy our hiking adventure in the Drakensburg.

Neil Davis|Richmond, VIC Australia
2 Nov 2024
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Trip turned out to be different to trip notes. Trip notes mention limited luggage storage from hiking day 3 to hiking day 5. It turned out no luggage transfer at all and I ended up trying to carry everything I would need for 3 days in my 24 litre day pack. If we were told about this, I would have prepared a bigger day pack and prepared differently.

Qiaoling Kardashinsky|Hazelwood Park, SA Australia
19 Jun 2024
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The hikes were great, the accommodation was fine, the transfers worked, but the description of the trip is in need of an update.

Firstly, the National Park entrance fee, mentioned on the last hiking day, is 120 Rand per person, not 30 (if you are an Australian). You will also need to pay this on the first hiking day if you decide not to do the return leg back to the Cavern.

The write-up mentions day 4 as being strenuous, but actually this was the easiest of the first 4 hiking days that involved ascents. The "Big 5" hike on day 2 was the most strenuous, with 18km and close to 1000m ascent in total, and a scramble up a gully.

On the first hiking day, on the guides advice, we did not return to the Cavern, but did some exploring around the Grotto and then walked down to the National Park. There is another option to do a circular route back to The Cavern via the Hole in the Wall track which the guide said we were capable of doing, but we had booked the return transport from the National Park.

It should be mentioned explicitly in the notes that on the 3rd hiking day you will need to pack and carry whatever you need for the day 3,4,5 hikes and the 2 night stay in between. Day 3 is a 700m ascent. The reason given for the need to carry the extra gear is "lack of storage space" in the small hotel, but the real reason is that while the hike between the 2 hotels is 14km, driving takes over 120km, so logistics are difficult.

The last hiking day is a 700m descent and our guide took us down via The Crack route which involved ladders. We were down in less than 3 hrs, because the guide had other work in the afternoon.

The guides as The Cavern were great. The guide on days 4,5 was so-so. He spent most of the time on day 4 chatting to a couple of young girls that joined the walk, but the track was so easy we really didn't need his services anyway.

Peter Kardashinsky|Hazelwood Park, SA Australia
11 Jun 2024
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A nicely varied itinerary in two of South Africa's more desirable locations. An excellent way to combine active travel with wildlife viewing and great accommodation. Five stars!

Mark Daffey|Oak Park, VIC, Australia
4 Nov 2016

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