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| Cathkin peak and its other companions just before dark. |
Charly from Belgium was coming to South Africa to take part in the Big Five Marathon in the Entabeni Game Reserve. But he wanted to take the challenge a little further and hike to SA’s highest peak a few days after the marathon. He admitted it would have been better if he had had a few more days rest in between. He had done Kilimanjaro by 3 different routes and according to him that was a child’s play in comparison with Mafadi.
If you would like to do this hike contact us at info@spanafrican-adventures.co.za or have a look at our website www.spanafrican-adventures.co.za for other exciting options.
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A panoramic picture of the escarpment in the Injisuthi Area, with the Injisuthi Triplets, Red Wall and the Lesser and Greater Injisuthi Buttress.
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On the big climb of the first day on our way to Centenary Hut
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Charly keeping the smile despite the strenuous effort.
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Our campsite by the Centenary Hut.
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Early winter is the burning season in the Drakensberg. The park is divided into different sections that are rotationally burned on a biennial basis.
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Following the contour path on our way to Judges Pass.
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Up Judges Pass. The smile is still there.
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The path was iced up in some sections so some care was needed.
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Somebody had been through the snow before us. We just had to follow their footprints.
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On the southern slope before the hanging valley where our cave was. Fortunately the snow was quite hard and didn’t demand any extra effort from us.
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On top of the saddle at last! The cave was not far from there.
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Sunrise from Upper Injisuthi Cave.
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Upper Injisuthi Cave, our cosy shelter. At 3300m it’s the highest cave in the Drakensberg.
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On the Mafadi platform, at 3450m above sea level, with all the southern snowy slopes in the distance covered in 4 week old snow.
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Despite the freezing winds the vistas were well worth it.
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An unusual for winter layer of clouds was quickly rising.
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The head of Leslies Pass. It’s hard to believe it’s possible to walk down there.
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I was worried about the pass being full of snow but it wasn’t too bad after all.
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Once we were past the top section the pass was free of snow.
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Something different: the escarpment casting a shadow on the clouds.
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The final metres of Leslie’s Pass.
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The scary looking Leslie’s Pass in full display
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The clouds quickly dissipated during the evening and this is how it looked the next morning.
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The escarpment in that typical pinkie light after sunrise.
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Looking back to where we had come from.
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The Ape and Old Woman Grinding Corn in the background.
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The confluence of the Injisuthi River and the Marble Baths Stream.
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