The Drakensberg is not a place that needs much introduction. It is big, dramatic and tends to make you feel tiny. The mountains rise in great fluted cliffs, the valleys seem to go on forever, and there is always another peak sitting in the distance looking as though it would like you to climb it.
The landscape here can be demanding enough without adding a heavy backpack to the equation. That’s where slackpacking comes in.
Depending on the route, days in the Berg can involve everything…
The Drakensberg is not a place that needs much introduction. It is big, dramatic and tends to make you feel tiny. The mountains rise in great fluted cliffs, the valleys seem to go on forever, and there is always another peak sitting in the distance looking as though it would like you to climb it.
The landscape here can be demanding enough without adding a heavy backpack to the equation. That’s where slackpacking comes in.
Depending on the route, days in the Berg can involve everything from easy valley walking to serious climbs and long mountain traverses. You may start among flattish green grasslands,
cross streams, walk beneath sandstone cliffs and then finish the day with a view that makes everyone suddenly very quiet.
The Northern and Central Drakensberg have some of the best-known walking country, with routes that take advantage of mountain lodges, guesthouses and trail accommodation. The exact experience varies enormously, so it pays to know what sort of walking you are signing up for.
And then there is the weather. The Berg is variable, capricious and at times extremely grumpy. A sunny morning can become a chilly, wet afternoon, particularly in the higher country. An afternoon thunderstorm feels like a war zone. Here you may relinquish your pack but good boots, warm layers and rain gear are not optional.
Drakensberg slackpacking with the adventurers edge still firmly intact.
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