3 Day Drakensberg Tour from Durban – Sani Pass, Lesotho, Hiking & Midlands

3 Day Drakensberg Tour Itinerary

Day 1 – Durban to Underberg, Sani Pass & Lesotho

Your 3 Day Drakensberg Tour from Durban begins with collection from your accommodation in Durban, Umhlanga or surrounding areas.

Pickup is usually around 06:00 AM, depending on your location and the final tour arrangements.

From Durban, we travel inland towards the southern Drakensberg and the farming village of Underberg. The drive usually takes approximately 3 hours, depending on traffic and road conditions.

During the journey, your guide will share information about Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, the Drakensberg region, local history and the landscapes we pass through.

Sani Pass 4×4 Tour into Lesotho

On arrival in Underberg, we change into a suitable 4×4 vehicle for the journey up Sani Pass.

Sani Pass is one of South Africa’s most famous mountain passes, climbing dramatically from the KwaZulu-Natal foothills into the Kingdom of Lesotho. The route offers spectacular views, steep mountain roads, photo stops and a real sense of adventure.

Your guide will explain the history of the pass, how it was used in the past and why it remains such an iconic Drakensberg experience today.

Guests will pass through the South African border post and then travel through the mountain section often referred to as “no man’s land” before reaching the Lesotho border post.

Please note: A valid passport is required for this part of the tour. Guests are responsible for ensuring they meet any passport, visa or entry requirements for Lesotho before travelling.

Lunch at Masoba-Soba & Basotho Cultural Experience

Once in Lesotho, guests stop for lunch at Masoba-Soba, which offers beautiful views of the Drakensberg mountain scenery. Lunch is for the guest’s own account.

After lunch, guests visit a small Basotho village at the top of the pass. Where available and suitable on the day, guests may enter one of the local homes to learn more about Basotho culture, traditions and daily life in this high-altitude mountain region.

This is a wonderful opportunity to experience a different side of southern Africa, combining mountain scenery with local culture and history.

Descent to Underberg

In the afternoon, we begin our descent back down Sani Pass into South Africa.

After returning to Underberg, we check in at our accommodation in or near the village.

Dinner and overnight in the Underberg area.

Day 2 – Choose Your Drakensberg Experience: Kamberg Game Pass Shelter or Royal Natal National Park

Day 2 focuses on the natural beauty and cultural history of the Drakensberg Mountains.

Guests can choose between two excellent Drakensberg experiences, depending on their interests, fitness level and what they would most like to get out of the day.

The two main options are:

• Option 1: Kamberg Game Pass Shelter Hike & San Rock Art
• Option 2: Royal Natal National Park Scenic Hike & Short San Rock Art Walk

Both options offer a memorable Drakensberg experience, but they are different in style and focus.

Kamberg Game Pass Shelter is best suited to guests who are especially interested in San rock art, archaeology, cultural history and interpretation. It is a more culturally focused walk to one of the Drakensberg’s important rock art sites.

Royal Natal National Park is best suited to guests who want dramatic mountain scenery, waterfalls, forest sections and views of the Northern Drakensberg, while still including a shorter San rock art walk with interpretation.

An early breakfast or packed breakfast may be arranged, as both options require travel time and careful planning.

The final route will be confirmed according to guest preference, weather, availability, timing, guide availability and safety considerations.

Option 1 – Kamberg Game Pass Shelter Hike & San Rock Art

The Kamberg Game Pass Shelter hike is one of the most meaningful San rock art experiences in the Drakensberg.

This option is ideal for guests who enjoy history, culture, archaeology, mountain scenery and guided walking.

The hike usually starts from the Kamberg Rock Art Centre and leads through beautiful Drakensberg foothills towards the famous Game Pass Shelter. Along the way, guests can enjoy mountain views, fresh air, rivers, open grasslands and the peaceful atmosphere of the uKhahlamba Drakensberg.

At Game Pass Shelter, guests view ancient San rock paintings with interpretation from a guide. This site gives guests a deeper understanding of San beliefs, storytelling, spiritual life and the importance of the Drakensberg as a cultural landscape.

The Kamberg Game Pass Shelter hike usually takes approximately 2.5 to 3 hours, depending on walking pace, weather, trail conditions and the time spent at the rock art site.

This option requires a reasonable level of fitness and comfortable walking shoes are strongly recommended.

After the hike, we stop for lunch in the area. Lunch is for the guest’s own account.

Dinner and overnight in the Drakensberg region.

Option 2 – Royal Natal National Park Scenic Hike & Short San Rock Art Walk

The Royal Natal National Park option is ideal for guests who want dramatic Drakensberg scenery, waterfalls, forest sections, mountain views and a rewarding guided hike.

Royal Natal National Park is one of the most scenic areas of the Northern Drakensberg and is famous for views of the impressive Drakensberg Amphitheatre, beautiful valleys, rivers, forests and mountain landscapes.

This option usually includes a guided scenic hike of approximately 3 hours, starting from the Mahai car park.

The route follows a contoured hiking trail from Mahai, passing through beautiful Drakensberg scenery, with possible highlights including:

• Tiger Falls
• Lookout Rock
• Gudu Falls
• Forest sections
• Mountain streams and river scenery
• Views of the Northern Drakensberg and surrounding valleys

The hike follows a one-way route through the landscape before returning to the Mahai parking area, giving guests a varied and rewarding mountain experience without being overly extreme.

In addition to the scenic hike, this option also includes a short guided walk to view San rock art with interpretation. The San rock art walk is usually approximately 45 minutes round trip, making it a shorter cultural experience compared with the Kamberg Game Pass Shelter hike.

Guests still receive interpretation of the rock art and learn more about the original people of the Drakensberg, their beliefs, lifestyle and connection to the mountain landscape.

This option is a good choice for guests who want a balanced Drakensberg day combining mountain hiking, waterfalls, scenery, forest sections and a shorter San rock art experience.

After the hike and sightseeing experience, we stop for lunch in the area. Lunch is for the guest’s own account.

Dinner and overnight in the Drakensberg region.

Kamberg vs Royal Natal – Which Option Should You Choose?

Choose Kamberg Game Pass Shelter if you:

• Want a deeper San rock art experience
• Are especially interested in archaeology, history and cultural interpretation
• Want to visit one of the Drakensberg’s important rock art sites
• Are comfortable with a guided mountain walk of around 2.5 to 3 hours
• Prefer a hike focused more on culture, rock art and Drakensberg history

Choose Royal Natal National Park if you:

• Want a scenic Drakensberg hike of around 3 hours
• Want to visit Tiger Falls, Lookout Rock, Gudu Falls and forest sections
• Prefer dramatic mountain scenery and Amphitheatre views
• Want a shorter San rock art walk of around 45 minutes round trip
• Prefer a day that combines scenery, waterfalls, forest and culture

Both options are excellent, but they offer different experiences. Kamberg is more focused on San rock art and cultural history, while Royal Natal offers a scenic mountain hike with waterfalls, forest sections, Amphitheatre views and a shorter San rock art experience.

Important Day 2 Note

Day 2 is designed to be flexible so that guests can choose the Drakensberg experience that best suits their interests.

The Drakensberg is a mountain environment, and plans may need to change depending on weather, trail conditions, guest fitness levels, time available, guide availability and safety considerations.

Your guide will help plan the day so that the experience remains safe, enjoyable and suited to the group.

Day 3 – KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, Mandela Capture Site & Howick Falls

Day 3 usually begins with breakfast at the lodge or accommodation facility.

After breakfast, we check out and begin travelling towards the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, a beautiful region known for rolling countryside, small towns, farms, craft stops, restaurants and important historical sites.

Nelson Mandela Capture Site

We visit the Nelson Mandela Capture Site, one of the most important historical stops in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.

This site marks the area where Nelson Mandela was arrested in 1962, an event that became a major turning point in South African history. Guests can explore the museum and view the powerful sculpture that has become one of the Midlands’ most recognised landmarks.

Please note: The Nelson Mandela Capture Site Visitors’ Centre is usually open from Thursday to Monday, with last entry before closing, and is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. If this part of the tour falls on a Tuesday or Wednesday, or if opening hours change, we may still stop at the sculpture and outside areas where possible, but the museum / Visitors’ Centre may not be available.

Lunch is usually enjoyed in the Midlands area and is for the guest’s own account.

Howick Falls

After the Mandela Capture Site, we visit Howick Falls, a beautiful waterfall near the town of Howick.

The falls are approximately 100 metres high and are one of the most popular natural attractions in the Midlands. Guests may also have time to browse nearby craft shops or enjoy the atmosphere of the village, depending on timing.

Return to Durban

In the afternoon, we depart the Midlands and return to Durban.

The drive from the Midlands back to Durban usually takes approximately 1.5 hours, depending on traffic and road conditions.

Drop-off will be at your accommodation or agreed location in Durban or surrounding areas.

Accommodation

Accommodation is included on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis.

Accommodation may vary depending on availability, routing and the final itinerary, but the aim is to provide a comfortable base in the Underberg and Drakensberg regions.

The focus of this tour is on scenery, mountain experiences, culture, history and exploring the Drakensberg region rather than luxury accommodation.

What Makes the Drakensberg Special?

The Drakensberg is one of South Africa’s most impressive mountain regions.

Known in Zulu as uKhahlamba, meaning “Barrier of Spears”, and in Afrikaans as Drakensberg, meaning “Dragon Mountains”, this mountain range creates one of the most dramatic horizons in southern Africa.

The region is famous for:

• Towering mountain peaks
• Scenic valleys and rivers
• Waterfalls and forested areas
• Ancient San rock art
• Hiking trails and viewpoints
• Birdlife and mountain wildlife
• Cultural and historical significance
• Peaceful natural surroundings

For thousands of years, the Drakensberg was home to the San people, who left behind one of the largest and most important collections of rock art in Africa.

What’s Included

• Dinner, bed and breakfast
• Entrance fees
• Listed activities
• Transport from Durban and return
• Professional guides
• Limited bottled water

What’s Excluded

• Lunches
• Beverages such as beer, wine, cold drinks and extra bottled water
• Items of a personal nature
• Gratuities
• Any items not listed under inclusions
• Any additional activities not included in the confirmed itinerary

Important Notes

• A valid passport is required for the Sani Pass / Lesotho section of the tour.
• Guests are responsible for checking visa and entry requirements for Lesotho before travelling.
• Hiking and sightseeing routes may change depending on weather, trail conditions, availability and safety.
• The Nelson Mandela Capture Site Visitors’ Centre is usually open Thursday to Monday and closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. If the tour falls on a closed day, the itinerary may be adjusted and the museum / Visitors’ Centre may not be available.
• Some activities may be shared with other paying guests not travelling with Tim Brown Tours.
• Lunches and drinks are generally for the guest’s own account.
• Group rates are available on request.

Why Book with Tim Brown Tours?

Tim Brown Tours is a KwaZulu-Natal based tour company offering guided safaris, Drakensberg tours, cultural experiences and day tours from Durban.

With over 20 years of guiding experience, Tim Brown Tours understands how to plan tours that are relaxed, informative and memorable.

When booking this 3 Day Drakensberg Tour from Durban, guests benefit from:

• Over 20 years of guiding experience
• Local KwaZulu-Natal knowledge
• Comfortable transport
• Carefully planned itineraries
• Flexible hiking and sightseeing options
• Experience with international travellers
• A personal, professional approach
• A strong focus on guest safety, comfort and experience

This tour is ideal for travellers wanting to explore the Drakensberg Mountains, Sani Pass, Lesotho, San rock art and the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands in one well-planned 3 day itinerary.

Frequently Asked Questions