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Added by Jopie, at 09 June 2016
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9 Reviews
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26 January 2018
The place is run down. We took shuttle from Witsieshoek to get to Sentinel Car Park. I wouldn't attempt this with a normal car.
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01 January 2018
Run down,dirty, no flushing toilets,rubble everywhere
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06 November 2017
This post is about the drive to the car park and the actual hike itself.
You will first come to a gate for Witsishoek Mountain Lodge. The fee for a car is R45. It’s then about a 12km drive once through the gate. The first 5km is paved (stones). You then hit the dirt track - this lasts for about 5km, then the last 2km is back to paved. The dirt trackIt’s passable in a sedan (I was driving a Benz c-class) but no matter how careful you are you are bound to scrap the bottom at least a couple of times. I’m used to driving on old logging roads in Canada and it’s the scraping was close to unavoidable. There are a multiple cringe inducing moments but overall you can make it. About half the cars in the parking lot are sedans/small cars.
The hike is R75 per person, which you pay at the hut. I’m not sure if there are washroom facilities there, but the attendees must have a place to go.
The hike round trip took me a bit under 4 hours, which included a 30 minute stop at the falls to admire the view and eat. Two hours up and 1.5 hours down. I would say I’m above average to high fitness level. I stopped frequently at the jaw dropping views to take pictures.
The first 20 mins of the hike is on laid out stones (flat-ish). You then hit the switch backs. There will be a junction at about 45 mins where it says “viewpoint” or “summit”. The viewpoint is a 5 minute detour and worth it. Then back track to the junction and head to summit continuing on the switch backs. The next 45 mins is essentially a path along the mountains with relatively limited elevation change. You then hit the chains. I hate heights and it got me a bit nervous, but doable. Once on top, it’s about another 30 mins through a wide open area to the falls.
Unfortunately I did this in early November and the fall was dry so no water. But! Still 100% worth it.
Went back the way I came. Make sure to tell down when hitting the chains to make sure no one else is coming up! Have an awesome time!response / report this review -
24 October 2017
Great day hike! The hut at the car park is currently being redone.
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16 March 2017
Great place for hiking, 3 hours to the amphitheatre, 2 hours down. The 7 km dirt road is doable, we used a small vehicle, just take it slow. By the way, the last 3.5 kilometers is a paved road again.
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04 March 2017
There's a reason it's the most popular hike in Drakensberg! It's absolutely stunning. One of the top three hikes I've ever done. I see from pictures that it can be a dry lifeless landscape and I think I prefer the green carpets that rolled before us at the beginning of March.
We opted to not take the tour from our Lodge but to attempt it on our own. While it's totally doable the dirt road is terrible. If you're in the cheapest rental car, take it slooow!
The hike can also use some signs. We took a lot of detours that wasted time.
We climbed the ladders up but later learned that guides take you up some gorge earlier on and then down the ladders. Too bad we missed that.
If you go to the waterfall on the right of the ladders there doesn't appear to be a trail and you must return and head left or go into uncharted shrubbery (which is what we did). If it rains there is a cave by the falls that you can hide in (like we had to). Temperatures can drop dramatically so bring layers.
There are people living up on the plateau and they will occasionally approach you for money or food.response / report this review -
03 February 2017
Beautiful road, can be done in a sedan if careful and in daytime. There is camping (dorm beds) - and it's supposedly open 24h. This info would have helped us a lot when we were there!
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20 December 2016
safe and convenient place to park your car if you are going to hike the Berg We did the dirt road in a 1990 Jeta 2 so it can be done with out a 4x4 but would take a 4x4 next time.
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16 June 2016
Agree with the other two guys. I made it up in a Merc once but only because I grew up in Zululand and have done a lot of dirt road driving. I would not do it again as quite hairy, one mistake and you can catch your axle or your undercarriage badly on the rocks or worse and most would consider it 4x4 track. Would definitely have taken the Witsieshoek ride if I had known about it. Worth the effort to get there though!
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