I recently guided two Drakensberg Adventures’ clients on a five day expedition, the primary objective being to climb the highest point in Southern Africa (Thabana Ntlenyana 3482m). A secondary objective was to gain some ‘sense of place’ and background to the area.
Wil and Bert had already climbed the highest point in North Africa (in the Atlas Mountains), the highest point in West Africa (Mount Cameroon), the highest point in East Africa (Mount Kilimanjaro)……..twice, and now wanted to complete their collection!
The summit of Thabana Ntlenyana is in Lesotho’s Maluti Mountains about 5kms from the edge of the Drakensberg Escarpment. After driving up Sani Pass in a Drakensberg Adventure’s 4×4 on the first day, we hiked to the Masubasuba area on the edge of the Drakensberg and had a late picnic lunch on the southern Hodgson’s Peak (3256m)
On the following morning we walked across to the escarpment edge near the peak of Phinong before driving on into Lesotho for a night at ‘No 10 Riverside’ the home of Ntate Thabiso Nkune and family. We included a trip to the town of Mkhotlong, a cultural visit to a nearby village and their traditional healer.
On the fourth day we woke up at Sani Top Chalet before sunrise to tackle Thabana Ntlenyana from Kotisephola (or Black Mountain Pass) a total distance of 24kms. There was thick white frost and ice everywhere, and the first sun on the millions of jewel-like icy reflections was especially beautiful. The hike took us just over eight hours and we were back at Sani Top Chalet in time to drive back down into South Africa.
On the last day we walked from Sani Lodge Backpackers to ‘The Marching Men of Khanti’ an impressive and evocative San or Bushman Rock Art site in the ‘Little Berg’.
Philip Grant
May 2011
Useful contacts http://www.drakensbergadventures.co.za
Feedback
Dear Philip,
How is life in the Drakensbergen these days?
We had a safe trip home and went back to work again. But our heads are still full of the wonderful memories of our stay in the beautiful Drakensbergen and Maluti mountains. We would like to thank you once more for your pleasant and inspiring company and for your willingness to share your remarkable knowledge of the mountain flora, fauna, geology, Basotho culture, Bushman rock art and African history. Having a guide like you was definitely a big added value to our trip. I guess people who do self-guided hikes can have a nice time too, but they don’t really know what they are missing.
I do hope your health will allow you to continue hiking for many more years to come.
Until we meet again,
Best regards,
Wil Resing (Brussels)
also on behalf of Bert Kamphorst (Utrecht)
Southern Secrets Hiking 