08 December 2007    to      09 December 2007

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This weekend we did a hike that would finally take us to the top of the Drakensberg by what is probably considered the shortest route, namely via the trail that starts from the Sentinel car park close to the Witsieshoek Mountain Resort. We got to the Witsieshoek Mountain Resort in dense fog later than we had anticipated due to a gigantic traffic jam in Harrismith. Petro and Kerneels arrived a bit later. The so called hiking hut that we had booked was closed and totally dilapidated so they gave us one of their Rondavels to stay in.

Next morning we took a drive up to the Sentinel car park to check out the weather, but the fog was way to thick to attempt the walk to the top of the Drakensberg, so instead we went back to the Witsieshoek Mountain Resort and decided to do part of the trail that leads from the Witsieshoek Mountain Resort to the Royal Natal National Park.

Despite the very wet mist this trail was absolutely stunning!

Eventually after getting as far as the picnic spot we turned back, but this trail is definitely worth doing all the way to the Royal Natal National Park.

Next morning it had cleared up sufficiently to attempt the trail and climb up the famous chain ladders.

The start went off well with little streams of water everywhere....

however....a short while later the mist started rolling in again. Fortunately not wet this time.

Some of the incredible scenery as we headed up the trail.

Eventually we got to the famous chain ladders. They are quite an experience and there are two of them to the top!

Here Silvia gets to the top of the first one.

Finally we reached the top in thick mist.

A waterfall dropping many meters down from the top into a gorge.

Here and there the mist lifted a bit and we followed the source of the Tugela river to the point where it drops over the cliff of the amphitheater at Royal Natal National park.

Petro and Kerneels having a drink from the clean water.

Eventually we reached the edge where the Tugela river drops 900 meters down to the Royal Natal National park and beyond.

The whole cliff was covered in mist so unfortunately we could not see what could have been a spectacular view from that height.

After a lunch break here we set off back again as the clouds were getting thicker and we did not want to get caught in any bad weather up here.

Along the way down the mist started lifting bit by bit.

We took a detour to the lookout point which was worth the effort every bit.

From here we could see the whole amphitheater before us, and what a view that was!