uKhahlamba Drakensberg mountains, Hiking, Sightseeing and KwaZulu Natal Midlands Tour – Three Days/Two Nights.
Drakensberg Mountains/Lesotho hiking and sightseeing tour from Durban
Drakensberg Mountains into Lesotho 3 day hiking and sightseeing tour and the KwaZulu Natal midlands, Howick falls & Nelson Mandela capture site.
R 11 500 per person based on a minimum of 2 Clients.
R 19 900 Solo Traveler rate
OVERVIEW
The majestic, mostly untouched mountain range, the Drakensberg will be the main focus of this tour. We will be visiting sites of San-Bushman Rock Art, some of which date back 28000 years. The hikes can be tailored to fit fitness levels and needs and at the Royal Natal National Park, there are wheelchair friendly strolls to the beautiful cascades.
Africa’s highest mountain range south of Kilimanjaro, and the largest and most concentrated series of rock art paintings in Africa – making it a World Heritage site of both natural and cultural significance Both the Zulu name uKhahlamba (barrier of spears) and the Afrikaans name Drakensberg (dragon mountain) fit the formidable horizon created by the range situated just outside Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. A massive basaltic cap set on a broad base of sedimentary rocks belonging to the Stormberg series of 150 million years ago, the mountains are South Africa’s main watershed. For more than 4000 years they were home to the indigenous San/Bushmen people, who created a vast body of rock art – the largest collection in Africa. “The site’s diversity of habitats protects a high level of endemic and globally threatened species, especially birds and plants.”
WHY WE THINK YOU’LL LOVE IT
✓ Walking in the Drakensberg mountains with nature all around you is incredibly peaceful.
✓ Learning about the original South Africans and looking at their Rock Art paintings.
✓ Enjoying the majestic Drakensberg mountains which are over 3500 meters / 11500 feet high.
ITINERARY
Day 1
applies to pick-up’s and drop-off’s in Durban City or Umhlanga area, feel free to contact us if you are unsure as to whether your pick-up location is covered. Should your pick-up location not be covered, we will still collect you, however, there may be an additional charge dependent on where you are based.
06:00am to 09.00am
From time of pick-up, it is approximately a 3 hour drive to Underberg.
During transit, your guide will share a bit of history with you and you are encouraged to ask questions to reap the full benefit of the tour. Rest assured that you will travel in absolute comfort as Tim Brown Tours use a Toyota Fortuner, Toyota Quantum and VW Kombi to conduct all tours. This is subject to availability and Tim Brown Tours reserves the right to make alternative vehicle arrangements.
09.00am to 15.30am
Once you have reached your destination, we swap the vehicle into a 4×4 to begin our tour up Sani pass into Lesotho. During this time your guide will give you a background of what the Pass was used for originally and now today. Your guide will be open to any questions throughout and will stop at different points up the pass for Photographs and breaks to stretch your legs.
Upon reaching the South African boarder post your passport will be stamped and then there is an 8 kilometre drive which is called “No mans land”. Basically, an area which belongs neither to South African or Lesotho. There after we reach the Lesotho boarder post where passports are again stamped.
11:00am
We shall stop over for lunch at Masoba – Soba which offers break taking views of the Drakensberg. We will also visit the tiny Basotho village at the top of the pass and enter into one of the locals homes to learn a little more about the culture of the Basotho people.
14:00pm
We begin or decent from the Drakensberg mountain down back into South Africa and into Underberg.
15:30pm
Approximate arrival time in Underberg where we check into our accommodation in the quaint farming village. Dinner will be in the village.
Day 2
We will either take a packed breakfast or have an early breakfast as the drive to Royal natal National park in approximately 2.5 hours.
Once we arrive we will meet our San Rock art interpreter and hiking guide and do a 45 minute round trip hike to San Rock art with Interpretation and great views of the Northern Drakensberg/Amphitheatre.
10.30am
Depart for Giants castle stopping for lunch along the way or having lunch on arrival at Giants castle. This trip should take about 1.5 hours.
12.30/13.00 Lunch
We can then depart on a 1.5 to 2 hour hike to the Giants Castle San Rock art site
And interpretation it is an amazing site!
Alternatively if you would like to relax looking at the views of the mountain and the Bushmans river you may do so or could do a self walk down to the river.
18:30
Dinner and overnight at Giants castle resort.
Option 2.
06:00am – 09.00am
We will either take a packed breakfast or have an early breakfast as the drive to Royal natal National park in approximately 2.5 hours.
Once we arrive we will meet our San Rock art interpreter and hiking guide and do a 45 minute round trip hike to San Rock art with Interpretation and great views of the Northern Drakensberg/Amphitheatre.
10.00am
Begin a 3-4 hour guided contoured hike from Mahai looping around in a horse shoe shape to Tiger Falls, Look out rock, Gudu fall and forest before arriving back at Mahai.
14.30pm
We depart to grab a late lunch in the area before departing for our accommodation facility near Bergville. Dinner will be at the lodge.
Day 3
08:00am
A slightly later start with breakfast at 8am at the lodge.
09.00am
If we did not do the Giants castle San Rock art hike on day 2 we will meet our San Rock art interpreter and hiking guide and begin the hour to 1.5 hour hike to the San rock art display at Giants Castle cave.
10.30am
Return to the lodge and check out if we haven’t done so already and then depart for then Midlands.
12.00pm
We will visit the Nelson Mandela Capture site and explore the amazing Apartheid Museum before stopping for some lunch in the area.
14.00pm
We will visit the Howick Falls a 100 meter high waterfall which is very spectacular. The quaint town of Howick also has a number of small craft shops and a shop selling vintage/Antique items ranging from furniture to World war clothing, ammunition, medals and old coins.
15.30pm
We will depart for Durban approximately 1.5 hours drive.
HISTORY
Africa’s highest mountain range south of Kilimanjaro, and the largest and most concentrated series of rock art paintings in Africa – making it a World Heritage site of both natural and cultural significance Both the Zulu name uKhahlamba (barrier of spears) and the Afrikaans name Drakensberg (dragon mountain) fit the formidable horizon created by the range situated just outside Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. A massive basaltic cap set on a broad base of sedimentary rocks belonging to the Stormberg series of 150 million years ago, the mountains are South Africa’s main watershed.
For more than 4000 years they were home to the indigenous San/Bushmen people, who created a vast body of rock art – the largest collection in Africa. “The site’s diversity of habitats protects a high level of endemic and globally threatened species, especially birds and plants.”
PLEASE NOTE
- Group Rates are available on request.
OPTIONAL EXRAS
Optional extras may include:
- 3-hour open vehicle game drives – R650 per person, per drive
- Elephant interaction experience – R1,000 per person
- Zulu cultural village experience – R1,000 per person
- Cat rehabilitation centre visit – approximately R450 per person, paid directly to the centre
- Additional activities depending on availability, timing and guest preference
Optional extras are for the guest’s own account and should be discussed before or during the tour. Prices are approximate, subject to change and subject to availability.
INCLUSIONS
- Safari lodge accommodation
- Breakfasts and dinners at the lodge
- Entrance fees
- Listed activities
- Transport from Durban and return
- Professional guide
- Limited bottled water
- 2-hour St Lucia boat cruise, weather permitting
EXCLUSIONS
- Lunches
- Beverages such as beer, wine, cold drinks and additional bottled water
- Optional 3-hour open vehicle game drives at R650 per person, per drive
- Optional elephant interaction experience at R1,000 per person
- Optional Zulu cultural village experience at R1,000 per person
- Optional cat rehabilitation centre visit at approximately R450 per person, paid directly to the centre
- Items of a personal nature
- Gratuities
- Any items not listed under inclusions
IMPORTANT NOTES
- Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed, as Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park is a natural wildlife reserve.
- Closed-vehicle game drives with your Tim Brown Tours guide are included in the safari package.
- Open vehicle game drives may be available as optional extras and are for the guest’s own account.
- Optional extras and prices are subject to availability and may change without notice.
- Lunches are generally for the guest’s own account.
- The St Lucia boat cruise is weather permitting.
- Packed breakfasts may be arranged on early safari mornings to maximise time in the reserve.
- Safari days are planned with guest safety, guest comfort and guide alertness in mind.
- Pickup and drop-off outside standard Durban areas may carry an additional charge.
- Vehicle type may vary depending on availability and group size.