Date: June 22, 2019
Location: Royal Natal National Park, South Africa
Distance: 12 km RT
Elevation Gain: 472 m
Highest Elevation: approx. 3000 m
Time: 5.5 hours
This trail is also called Sentinel Peak trail. After looking at online photos, I altered our South Africa itinerary to hike this trail. It did not disappoint. The TH was a challenge to reach. It is on Eastern side of Drakensberg mountain range requiring a big detour, then the dirt road to TH was rough – high clearance vehicles highly recommended or catch a shuttle at Witsieshoek Mountain Resort. The objective is the buttress plateau shown above and below.
The trail was paved partially and very easy to follow. Even at the June low season, there were plenty of hikers on route.
Baboons on trail
The rungs of ladders looked intimating. It has 2 sections and about 40-50 steps in each.
The plateau was reached, and amphitheater, on the other side of the plateau, was 20 minutes brisk hike away. Below, 1/2 frozen head of Tulega Falls, followed by the Amphitheater.
Tugela Falls, the second tallest in the world at almost 1000 m, was a frozen trickle on this day.
Returning, climbing down the ladders was easier for some of us, but more challenging for others.
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