Drakensberg is made for adventures. Fondly known as ‘the Berg’, the mountains are a breathtakingly beautiful series of mountain peaks that forms the border between KwaZulu-Natal and Lesotho. These enchanting mountains, centrally positioned on the eastern side of South Africa, are a favourite adventure destination for South Africans and international visitors alike.
Enjoy an exhilarating 5.4 km downhill descent on the monster mountain scooter, crossing steep terrain, meandering grasslands and an indigenous forest. A free 4×4 ride takes you to the top of the hill. Scooters are non-motorized making this Eco-friendly. These Swiss-designed scooters are used in the Alps during the summer season on the ski slopes when the snow is gone.
Experience the awesome thrill and peaceful serenity of hot air ballooning on the edge of the Drakensberg mountains. Giants Castle, the Champagne Valley, the Kamberg Vallay. The hot air balloon take-off is from a site in or around the Kamberg Valley and within sight of Giants Castle. You will meet at the hot air balloon launch site approximately 30 minutes before sunrise, your pilot will then give you a safety briefing. Once the hot air balloon is heated and you are in the balloons basket you will enjoy a flight of around an hour. After helping to pack the hot air balloon you will return to a location close to take off point for an Alfresco breakfast and Champagne.
Situated in an indigenous forest of the Central Drakensberg, in the shadow of the towering Cathkin Peak, the Drakensberg Canopy Tour® awaits you. Boasting Africa’s first elevated rock face walkway with a good mix of both cliff face and treetop platforms, and cable slides over the forest up to 60 metres high, the Drakensberg Canopy Tour® must automatically go to the top of your “must do” list.
Experience nature like never before as you slide through the forest canopy and enjoy a unique birds-eye view on the world around you. Set within the magnificent Blue Grotto forest, the Drakensberg Canopy Tour® is guaranteed to take your breath away.
Drakensberg horse trails and horse safaris that are offered that are as good an experience as they come. The Drakensberg Mountains presents splendid opportunities for both the experienced and the beginner to ride this magnificent countryside on horseback and spend the day exploring the mountains.
Almost all the resorts in the Drakensberg offer guided horse trails, and several include overnight adventure rides for groups of five or more.
Horse trails through a game reserve brings you closer to game than you can possibly achieve on foot. Imagine that incredible feeling as you move amongst a large herd of giraffe or wander with a white rhino across open savannah. Or simply view a large herd of impala against a backdrop of shimmering water and mountain at Spioenkop Dam.
Based at Cathedral Peak and Dragons Peak , take a one hour or a fifteen minute helicopter flight, sip a glass of champagne on top of the peaks, or enjoy a high altitude picnic lunch.
Fly to the battlefields in Northern Natal and get met by a guide who will tell the story or get flown to a number of golf courses in the area.
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Let your imagination fly and we’ll take care of the rest.
Berg Adventures conducts overnight hiking trips exclusively in the uKhahlamba Drakensberg World Heritage Site, or as it known to us locals as the “Berg”.
The Berg consists of the High Berg and the Lower Berg, each with its own beauty, ruggedness, challenges and spectacular views. Hiking in the Berg, is very different to many other hiking venues as here YOU are very alone, you may not even see another person for days.
It is all about solitude and wide open spaces, where you can free yourself from the rush of everyday life, and take time to reflect and ponder about what life is really about. Take the time to explore and find rest for your soul.
Quad bike trails are popular in in the Drakensberg and Natal Midlands. Its little wonder what with the open spaces, beautiful landscapes and sunny weather. Quad bike trails are on offer where you bring your own quad or you can rent quad bikes too. Quads make for a great day out even better a weekend getaway.
All Out Adventures Guided quad bike out rides. A stunning quad experience, which includes a briefing and a scenic guided quad bike outride along the either the Puterill’s Stream or Tugela River Trail. The trails covers a range of exciting terrain, including a river crossings and hill climbs. This is a great introduction to quads for new riders, without being too dull for those with some experience. All riders receive a briefing and must complete a basic competency test before departing on the ride.
Sani Pass Hotel
Four River rafting Quad bike outrides. Guided Quad Outrides:The group will be met by an experienced guide that will give a safety briefing and instruction on how to use the bikes. The bikes that we use are Automatic thus allowing novices to get the hang of riding quite quickly. Then the group will head off with the guide leading the way on an enjoyable ride with natural obstacles for the group to test their talent. This activity is for those clients that are 16 years & older (when using our quad bikes)
Four River rafting Quad Tracks. This is an adventure filled activity for kids and adults of any age. On offer is a 850m big track and a 150m small track. Ideal for families with littlel kids.
Cliffdale Quads Quad bike trails offered for the ultimate getaway for the Quad lover – at very economical rates. You bring your own quads and you ride the quad bike trails unguided. The whole farm is yours for the weekend, and gates are colour-coded for you to know where to go. There are dongas for you to play around, steep mountains and rivers to test your quad bike skills and 250km of dirt roads, with 3 passes into KwaZulu-Natal (Colin-, Normandien- and Mullerspas). Cliffdate also has a very beautiful and scenic 4×4 route, suitable for 4×4, 4×2 and quads. Accommodation is available at the Cliffdale Sandstone Lodge
Drakensberg Quad Tracks Drakensberg Quad Tracks operate from Cathedral Peak Hotel in the Central Drakensberg. They offer various fun activities suited for everyone, whether it be families at leisure or corporate companies looking for a nice break from the stresses of work.
The Drakensberg offers 4×4 ofroading and 4×4 trails that are amongst the best in the South Africa. Natural obstacles – steep slopes, rock steps, sand river crossings, mud shale slopes will challenge all 4×4 enthusiasts. Or if you prefer the less rugged, make it an easy outing, using a map of the Drakensberg region and GPS co-ordinates to explore all that the Drakensberg Mountains has to offer.
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Abseiling, although a relatively “old” adventure sport, it is still a favourite amongst adrenaline seekers. It is practised in a controlled environment which makes it a very safe activity, yet stepping backwards over the edge and descending down the cliff will give you an adrenaline rush! Abseiling down the cliffs of the Drakensberg is something that you need to tick of your bucket list!
The sweeping views of the Drakensberg are best enjoyed from the air on a Paragliding Adventure. Paragliding gives you the chance to join the eagles of the sky in the simplest form of flight. A paraglider gains height by flying thermals so you get a very good idea of what it feels like to soar like a hawk! Flying on a paraglider means unobstructed views, which is great since the Drakensberg is on of South Africa’s most scenic regions.
Wild Sky Paragiding School is run by Hans and Ria Fokkens. They offer tandem flights, courses and guiding. With our vast experience and good safety record you will be in great hands learning to fly here. The backpackers’ lodge is set at the foot of Amahaqwa (Bulwer) Mountain, which is a world-famous flying site, with both thermic and smooth ridge soaring conditions. It is a perfect paragliding training ground.
The Tugela River starts it journey in the mighty Drakensberg where it plunges 947 metres down the Tugela Falls. This river is the largest in Kwa Zulu Natal and adventure seekers come here for a fun filled action packed White Water River Rafting Adventure with rapids ranging from Grade 1 to 5. You can also test your rafting skills on the Injusuti River, Bushmans River and Umkomas where nail biting twists and turns are sure to keep your adrenaline pumping!
The Drakensberg is a mountain wilderness area. The long, bushy walk-ins and unpredictable weather mean that it’s the preserve of serious mountaineers. The Drakensberg is a huge escarpment nearly 200km long. It consists largely of basalt formed by the outpouring of molten lava. Unlike the clean layers and horizontal cracks found in sandstone, the basalt has weathered into rounded overhangs, lichenous blocks and vegetated gullies that take some getting used to. The high altitude and heavy rainfall also mean that weathering has taken its toll – the rock is often crumbly so caution is required when climbing here. In fact local climbers will often quip that the best holds are the tufts of grass that adorn most routes.
But don’t let that put you off. The nearly 3000m-high peaks beg to be climbed. Topping out on one of the ‘Berg summits is a very special experience, well worth the toil. Most of the classic routes are on the free-standing peaks. They include the Bell (one of the easiest climbs, accessed from Cathedral Peak), Devil’s Tooth, The Column, Monk’s Cowl and Giant’s Castle. There are also excellent climbs on the Sentinel. There is no bolting allowed. The most popular routes have abseil chains for safety reasons.
Most climbs require overnight stays, either in caves or tents. Climbers must obtain permits from Ezimvelo KZN Wildlife and sign the appropriate mountain registers before setting out. Always go prepared for foul weather and watch out for thunder and lightning storms in summer.
In winter there is also good ice climbing, particularly on the south face of Giants Castle and at Sani Pass.
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