
Easy Hiking Trails in the Drakensberg
The Drakensberg Mountains offer many hiking trails and there is something for everyone. This is a list of the easy hiking trails in the Drakensberg Mountains. I am defining an easy trail as being shorter than 4 hours and without too much elevation and where the paths are wider and the routes are more obvious. These easy Drakensberg hikes are perfect for anyone who wants to spend time in the mountains and experience the spectacular views that the Drakensberg while strolling along in an easy pace. The nicest thing about hiking trails in the Drakensberg is that there are so many easy hiking trails that can be identified
Easy hiking trails in the Drakensberg
- Ploughman’s Kop is a quick up and down hiking trail in the Royal Natal National Park starting fro Mahai Camp. Magnificent views of the Amphitheatre. It’s 7 km in all, takes about 3 hours, with a steep ascent and descent up the kop (meaning “head”, or hill), but it passes some great swimming locations.
- Tugela Gorge starts Tendele car park in Royal Natal Park. It’s 12 km there and back and once you get to the little chain ladder turn around and head back. Of course you could go further and get to the base of the Tugela Falls the second highest waterfall in the world but that does involve some clambering and wading through the river and this is about easy Drakensberg hikes
- Rainbow Gorge Start from Didima Camp makes this hiking trail an easy 7 km round trip. The walk basically follows the Ndumeni River upstream, kicking into a narrow gorge where, at the the right time of day, water dripping down the sides throws up sparkling rainbows. Even without the rainbows though, it is beautiful and what makes this trail great is that you get to spend some time out of the sun.
- Sterkspruit Falls: This moderate walk starts at the Monks Cowl entrance . Take the well marked path down to the falls. 1 to 2 hours. Robin Hood forest on to Crystal Falls. Take The Sphinx path. After a short walk you will come to the turn off the forest and the fern forest. The Sphinx path continues on to Crystal Falls. 2 to 3 hours. You can make this an easy round carrying on from Sterkspruit Falls, onto Nandies Falls and Back to the Entrance. 3 to 4 hours. Take the path to Sterkspruit falls. Before the falls turn up the river and follow the signs to Nandies Falls. Spend some time at the rock pools on the way.
- Main Caves An easy 40 mins hike This easy hike leads from the Giants castle camp, along the river near the edge of a forest, up to the large caves, which are crucial archaeological sites and have been turned into a museum showing the Bushman’s way of life. Tours are conducted throughout the year every hour on the hour.
- World’s view is an easy 3 hrs hike (7 kms) which starts at the Giants castle picnic area. take the concrete path down to and across Bannerman Bridge. Follow the path to below Sugarloaf Kop and on up to World’s View and return the same way.
- Caracal Cave The cave can be reached via a relatively easy walk from the Highmoor office. Most of the easy 2 hour hike is flat and there are spectacular vistas of the Drakensberg Mountains.
- Game Pass shelter The trail to Game Pass Shelter is a two-and-a-half, to three hour guided walk, via the spiritually moving Waterfall Shelter. The bushman rock art at game pass shelter is nothing short of spectacular and is really not to be missed under any circumstances.
I would really like to do relatively easy hikes so that I can get to enjoy the scenery and will probably be on my own. What would the accommodation costs be for somewhere nice with easy walks nearby
Good advice is to stay at somewhere like http://www.antbear.co.za. Lots of great hiking options both at the lodge and at Giants Castle. The staff will give you great assistance as to which hikes to do, will give you maps and its an area where you can easily hike alone. But you might well find that there are other guests staying that you connect with and do something together.