Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa
1 - 9 November 2024
6 days of backpacking & landscape photography in one of the world’s most dramatic landscapes
Drakensberg Mountains Landscape Photography Adventure November 2024
Total 7 nights/8 days (5 nights/6 days hiking) 1 - 9 November 2024 | £1595pp
Join me and a small group in the beautiful Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa for a 5 night/6 day (7 nights/8 days total trip) guided backpacking and photography adventure like no other. Below you will see a rough itinerary of the all-inclusive trip which should give you an indication as to the kinds of places we will be visiting (needless to say, awe-inspiring and dramatic!).
The Drakensberg Mountains are a UNESCO heritage site and host some of the most remote and stunning hiking routes found anywhere, a perfect location for a wilderness experience and world-class photographic opportunities. This trip undertakes the epic Northern Traverse, or roughly 75km of hiking through incredible mountain scenery. Much of the walking will be done on the Lesotho Plateau at 3000masl, so a good level of fitness is required. The trip will be limited to 5 participants (plus me, our guide, and 3 porters, total group of 10).
Key Information
Dates: 1 - 9 November 2024
Duration: 7 Nights / 8 Days
Accommodation: Tents
Physicality: Challenging (long distances at 3000masl)
Group Size: 5 Clients
Price: £1595 (£300 Deposit)
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Qualified mountain guide and wilderness first responder
Return transfers to & from Johannesburg/Drakensberg
Accommodation at Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge before the hike (dinner and breakfast included)
Accommodation at Didima after the hike (dinner and breakfast included)
All park fees and hiking permits
Lunches, dinners, breakfasts and various hot drinks on the mountain
3x porters to carry food, tents, sleeping bags or small dry bags
Equipment including tents, sleeping bags, sleeping mats, backpacks and eating utensils, if needed.
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This allows us plenty of space on location for photography and at camp, as well as a more intimate setting to get to know each other!
Standing Guard
North Peak Campsite with Double Rainbow
Transcendent
Monuments
Shrouded Giants
Photographing Sunrise Glow
Iridescent Greens
Barrier of Spears
Riptide
Hidden Depths
Go With The Flow
Lucid Dreams
Itinerary
We will be walking the famous ~75km northern traverse, a shorter version of the Grand Traverse which walks across the entire Drakensberg range. The northern traverse explores the most dramatic scenery in the Northern Drakensberg, including Mont-aux-Sources, Cathedral Peak, Tugela Falls (second highest waterfall in the world), Mweni Pinnacles, North Peak, South Peak, Cleft Peak, and Rockeries Pass. Below is a standard 6 day itinerary provided to me by our guide, but we will add extra small hikes at sunrise/sunset to access particular features for photography. The extra day to complete the traverse (usually done in 5 days) also has the side benefit of shortening a few of the day’s hikes!
Day 1: Meet at OR Tambo Johannesburg Airport in the morning and transfer to our accommodation at Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge for the night before starting the hike. (Extra bags with non-valuables can be left in the vehicle for safe keeping while we are on our hike).
Day 2: Start the hike up to Mont-aux-Source & Tugela Falls via the chain ladders. Camp at Bilanjil Falls with spectacular views to Tugela Falls. Approx. 7.5km, 600m alt.
Day 3: Hike towards the escarpment appox. 14km, 600m alt. over a number of notable ridges and waterfalls to camp at Madonna and Her Worshippers.
Day 4: Hike along the escarpment edge to a view over the Mweni Pinnacles before hiking passed the Mweni Cutback, the source of the Orange River, and Rockeries Pass. Appox. 14km, 400m alt. Campsite near North Peak.
Day 5: Hike along the Mweni Saddle, approx. 15km, 400m alt. with the possibility to summit North & South Peak depending on fitness. Camp near Twins Cave at the start of the Bell’s Traverse.
Day 6: Continue along the escarpment to Cleft Peak spending the night in Roland’s Cave.
Day 7: Descend down Organ Pipes pass via the Camel, ending at Cathedral Peak Hotel. Stay a well-deserved night at Didima Lodge to wrap up the trip!
Day 8: Transfer back to Joburg to fly home.
A rough map of our 75km Northern Traverse route, along with notable features. Image: Google Earth
Early morning crepuscular rays over a cloud inversion
Experience-First Adventure
This trip is intended as an experience-first adventure. What does this mean? It means we will be spending time in one of the most beautiful and remote places on planet Earth! While we are all keen photographers, an equal weighting should also be placed on the opportunity to appreciate nature, get to know each other better “around the campfire”, and take a breather from modern life. Along the way we will also have the opportunity to interact with Lesotho Shepherds and share in a bit of their culture. I have found that these kinds of experiences out in nature are amongst the most life-fulfilling, and so I want to share that with others too.
“We stood around the fire, a leopard called followed by the bark of a baboon. No sounds of humanity. We have not seen another soul for a while just the soul of this place, the soul of Mother Nature. We told each other our highlights from that day. Mine was feeling wholesome- wholesome with my friend’s company and how they all appreciate the natural world. We all had gratitude in the small things, stopping to watch fish swim, falcons hunt swallows and watch the dance of two Black eagles soaring above us. It was as exciting as seeing a leopard for the first time. Conversations were all relevant and meaningful. That to me is living a good life. “
- Jessica Shillaw, Londolozi Game Ranger
Views over Cathedral Peak and Organ Pipes Pass
Photography over Mont-aux-Sources, Amphitheatre, and Tugela Falls.
Further Details
It goes without saying that walking at high elevations (3000m+) through mountainous terrain can be arduous at times, especially with the added weight of camera gear! Thankfully we will have the help of 3 local porters to aid in carrying gear and setting up camp (this also contributes to the local economy). Inclement weather can happen at any time of year, but early November is considered one of the “best” and most stable times prior to the summer storms. In addition to your camera gear, I can provide a list of recommended hiking items to bring - sun protection is vital at this time of year! Tents, backpacks, sleeping bags, mattresses, and cooking equipment can be borrowed from our guides if necessary.
The following are not included in the price:
Flights to and from Johannesburg
Any necessary visas or other travel requirements (please check via your government website)
Insurance
Tips for guides/porters
Additional food & drink (alcoholic beverages for instance)
Flights from Europe to Johannesburg often range from £600-700 return, whilst from elsewhere it can be slightly more expensive. We will all aim to land in JHB the morning of 1 November 2024, before a 4.5 hour drive to our accommodation in the Drakensberg. Return flights should then be booked for the afternoon/evening of the 9th March, after our final night in Didima. Participants will be added to a group chat where we can organise specific logistics.
A £300 non-refundable deposit is necessary to book your place, with full payment due 8 weeks prior to the start date. Please refer to my standard booking terms and conditions unless otherwise stated. I also understand that it is a long way to come for a week of hiking! Extending your trip is one possible way to make the most of it. There are lots of great options, from visiting Cape Town (just a short internal flight from JHB) or heading out to Kruger National Park (approximately 4hrs drive from JHB) for some wildlife.
I’m extremely excited to return to the Drakensberg and looking forward to the adventure with all of you! Any questions just send me a message.