South Africa

Drakensberg Mountains
Tsitsikamma Coast
Harkerville Coast

Drakensberg Mountains

The chain ladders that lead to the top of the escarpment on a six day hike through the Northern Drakensberg mountains in February

Chain ladders on the hike up to the Amphitheater in Drakensberg

Pushing up with your legs is the key here, pulling with your arms takes the ladder off the wall

Arriving at our first camp below Sentinel Peak

Theft is still possible in the Drakensberg depending on who you ask (2017). I wanted the safety of the group and went with Alex Nail

Tugela Falls in Drakensberg mountains, South Africa backpacking trip

Tugela Falls, second highest waterfall in the world (3,000ft+)

We had short distances to cover during the day, usually through open fields without a trail

Icidi pass sunrise in Drakensberg South Africa hiking trip

We would wake up early daily to see the sunrise near our campsites like this one at Icidi Pass

Fangs pass hike in Drakensberg mountains South Africa

On the third day we reached Fangs Pass, one of highlights of the trek

Madonna and her worshipers

Mweni Pinnacles

Hikers on the move in the Drakensberg Mountains

Lightning is probably the most dangerous aspect of the hike as the venomous snakes seen at lower elevations do not live on the top of the escarpment

Mweni cutback on the Drakensberg hike in South Africa

The Mweni Cutback

Rockeries campsite in South Africa on Drakensberg backpacking trip

Approaching the final camp near Rockeries Pass

Tsitsikamma Coast

Otter Trail

The Otter Trail starts at Storms River Camp and ends in Nature's Valley (5 days, 27 miles)

The waterfall on the Otter Trail in South Africa

I took it slow the first day with little ground to cover to reach the first hut stopping at the waterfall

The first hut on the Otter Trail hike along the South Africa coast

There are four huts on the Otter Trail with small distances to walk each day

Coastal rocks on the Otter Trail at sunset through the smoky conditions hiking in South Africa

Sunset along the coast near the Ngubu Huts

Hikers leaving the hut on the Otter Trail in South Africa

Gerrith and Cindy were early risers, I would go back to bed once they left

Large insects

Smoky sunset near the Geelhoutbos

Genets lined the trees around the campfire at Scott Huts

Tannin gives the rivers a brown color. Not thought to be harmful, although some of the major rivers are polluted from towns upstream. They gave us a list of rivers to avoid at check-in (2018)

Stairs along the coast on the Otter Trail walk in South Africa

Day three was the most scenic, my favorite stretch of the trail

Oakhurst huts from across the Lottering River

Sunshine returns on the Otter Trail in South Africa

The sun returned on day four, which is planned around a low tide crossing of the Bloukrans River

Waiting for the tide to go down..

The large group had done the Otter six times and had never seen the river more than knee/ankle deep. This time was different due to a neap tide

The sandbar goes all the way across when taking route C, the easiest route in high water with no swimming involved. I took route C to route D. Gerrith and Cindy followed my lead taking route C then swimming to route B. I wanted to avoid route A as the current was strong, but the others had no choice since they were not comfortable climbing

Hikers coming across the Bloukrans River on the Otter Trail in South Africa

The group of six were the last to cross. The leader here pulling them into the "A" gulley and out of the ocean current

Coming out of the Bloukrans River in South Africa on the Otter Trail hike

Climbing out of the gulley

Hikers on the Otter Trail in South Africa along the coast

The weather was perfect on the late evening walk to the final hut

Sunset over the rocks on the Tsitsikamma coast on the Otter trail hike in South Africa

Sunset from the cliffs above the Andre Huts

Dolphin Trail

The Dolphin trail is the slackpacking route along the Tsitsikamma coast. It also starts at Storm’s River Camp like the Otter trail but goes east instead of west

Baboon at the trash can at Storms River camp

Baboons know their way around camp

Day one of the Dolphin Trail in Tsitsikamma National Park South Africa

The Dolphin Trail has two days of hiking and three nights at lodges, the first hiking day is mostly through the forest on high ground. We saw snakes, monkeys and more baboons

Ruth found a porcupine quill

The lodges would cook breakfast and dinner and have activities such as concrete golf

Dolphin trail hike along the Tsitsikamma Coast in South Africa

On the second day of hiking, the trail was along the coast

Tsitsikamma coastal hike on the Dolphin trail

Our group with the guide in the lead

Swimming pool along the Indian Ocean on Dolphin Trail in South Africa

We found a perfect swimming hole. The Swiss girls were afraid of the ocean so I swam alone

Harkerville Coast

The two day Harkerville Coast trail was the most adventurous of the ocean treks

Chain section of the Harkerville coast hiking trail

Chains, ladders and boulder hopping

Ladders and orange rocks on the Harkerville coast hike in South Africa

A rugged coastline that must be hiked with at least two people for safety concerns I believe

Harkerville coast hiking trail in South Africa

I hired a guide to meet the two person requirement

Walking along the Harkerville coast in South Africa

The huts were empty, the reward for the extra effort

Harkerville Coastline

Robberg Nature Preserve

I stopped and did a day hike around Robberg Nature Preserve on the return trip to Cape Town

Robberg Nature Preserve loop hike, the island section

"The Island" is the best spot near the end of the loop. There is a beach here where you can cool off.

Cape Town

African penguins at Boulder Beach in South africa

A quick visit Boulder Beach to see the African penguins