Monday, February 6, 2012

Mafadi with Bradley, Ruan, Peter and Donovan - January 2012

The escarpment illuminated by the first beams of sunlight
The first hike in 2012 was Mafadi, our most popular hike in the Berg. Bradley, Ruan, Peter and Donovan, 4 fun-loving law students from Pretoria, made up a super vibrant party. It was their first trip to the escarpment so this was a great adventure for them, a great way to charge batteries before the start of their final year at university.

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.

Our campsite by the Centenary Hut. We had walked in the mist most of the day

In the evening started to clear up, which allowed for the first vistas of the escarpment

It got better and better

Finally we could appreciate what a fantastic campsite we were at

The clouds hovering around us made it even more photogenic

Our lightweight shelter for the following 3 nights

What followed was a festival of colour

It was as though the sky was on fire

Last tea before bed

Sunrise at 5:30am

Not a cloud in the sky

panoramic shot of the escarpment

From Giants Castle Ridge to the Trojan Wall

From the Triplets to Cathkin Peak

Break at the bottom of Judge's Pass

Judge's Pass: 700m in 2.3km

A local Basotho with his Basotho pony

Views from 1000m high basalt cliffs

Our campsite by the Injisuthi Triplets

5:15am before sunrise - The Corner sticking out of the escarpment

I stuck my arm out to take this pciture on the edge of the escarpment

As close as you can get

Sunrise of the 3rd day

sunrise by the Corner

It takes a little longer for the sunlight to reach the valleys in the Little Berg

Eastern Injisuthi Triplet

Upper Injisuthi Cave

The group on top of Mafadi

Panorama from the roof of South Africa

Contemplation at 3450m above sea level

Our first Basotho shepherd

A sheep leader

Wild flowers growing out of the basalt rock

Another young shepherd. Basotho in their late adolescence are sent to the mountains as an initiation into adulthood.

A break above the Lesser and Greater Injisuthi Buttresses

Following the edge of the escarpment down to the top of Leslie's Pass

The Basotho shepherds are always accompanied by the loyal dogs.

Intercultural picture at the top of Leslie’s Pass, before going back to the South African side of the Drakensberg.

With a total descent of 1000m in 2.6km, Leslies Pass makes you wish you were going up instead.

Fortunately, at the bottom there are a few rewards

Our campsite at the bottom of Leslies Pass

A break in the bushy section from the bottom of Leslies Pass to Marble Baths

Marble Baths - How cool is that?

This one deserves a close-up

An another one!

Peter enjoying the jacuzzi-like Marble Baths

Relaxing before the final 8km back to camp

The end - From left to right: Bradley, Ruan, Peter and Donovan, 4 intrepids soon-to-be lawyers from Pretoria.

2 comments:



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  2. Thanks Anatswanashe for your comment. I'm glad you're enjoying my blog. I haven't written for a while, mainly due to time, but maybe your encouragement might change that :-)

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