#NorthernDrackensburg Three Tenners South Africa PT 5

DRAKENSBURG MOUNTAINS

After a torturous drive (someone – not me – badly programmed the GPS ) we arrive in the dark and rain to our hostel in the Northern Drakensberg mountains. It is like no hostel I have stayed at. Amphitheatre Backpackers. It is very smart and trendy – in superb expansive grounds with stunning views. There is a jacuzzi in the bar in constant use by the travelling youngsters. It is more expensive but we have no regrets coming here but personally I have mixed feelings. However this is an aside! The Drakensberg mountains!

The Drakensberg’s are an extensive mountain chain. They are South Africa’s highest. Much of their length is designated as a world heritage site. Unlike most mountain chains they were not formed by crashing tectonic plates and pushed up as say the Alps or Himalayas but created by a crack in the earth’s crust formed by parting tectonic plates. The crack was filled by an outpouring of molten rock which when cooled left a hard basalt ridge. This happened many millions of years before the Alps or Himalayas were created making the Drakensberg some of the world’s oldest mountains. Over the subsequent millions of years a combination of glacial and particularly water erosion has shaped the Drakensberg to what they are today – fantastic shapes, soaring cliffs and staggering beauty. It makes the Drakensburg a world class place to hike and trek in.

We had three days in the Drakensberg. We were amazingly lucky with the weather. I will write subsequent blogs about our treks to Sentinel Peak and Tugela Falls and to Lesotho. Now I will write about our initial trek under our own steam. We set out for Rainbow Gorge in the Cathedral Peak area.
The hike was described as “strenuous”. There was a beautiful drive to the start at the up market Cathedral Peak Hotel. The reality – our first hike in SA. We were blown away by the scenery. We were in awe. We were trekking as three brothers in South Africa. We had made it happen. We each had cameras. Every few yards was a better picture. The light was constantly changing. Hot. The trail was initially straightforward but became more complicated and less defined and eventually more tiring. We decided against the necessary river crossings to get to the gorge and eventually made the right decision to trek back. We got back at 5. My bruvs were knackered but in great spirits. We would later realise we had only scratched the surface of what the Drakensberg could offer but we enjoyed a challenging but wonderful day. Some mob photos below.

Me feeling elated to be here.

Mike gasping

Rob and Mike feeling the heat.

#Pilanesberg Three Tenners SA Pt4

Our third day in SA was an organised day safari to Pilanesberg National Park about 2 hours north west of Johannesburg and rather incongruity close to the hedonist development of Sun City but you would not know so. We travelled with Felleng Tours run by husband and wife team Agnes and Rudie. They were great. (see my separate blog.)

Pilanesberg is basically a collapsed volcano now set aside for free ranging and protected natural wildlife. Mike and I had previously been to the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro and it was truly wonderful - humbling. Pilanesberg is much smaller - it is managed - it is not big sky Africa but by any standards it is a wonderful place and a fantastic privilege to be able to spend a day there. Africa's animals are in their natural habitat living free. Pilanesberg Reserve takes advantage of incredible natural geography/ geology and it is a fantastic initiative to set aside this massive area entirely for the animals without the conflicting needs of farmers and protected from wicked poachers.

Here is a downloaded description of Pilanesberg.

The Pilanesberg Game Reserve is located in North West Province in South Africa, west of Pretoria. The park borders with the entertainment complex Sun City. The park is currently administered by the North West Parks and Tourism Board.

The area is fringed by three concentric ridges or rings of hills, of which the formation rises from the surrounding plains. Pilanesberg is named after aTswana chief, Pilane,^[1] the 'Pilanesberg Alkaline Ring Complex' is the park's primary geological feature. This vast circular geological feature is ancient even by geological standards as it is the crater of a long extinct volcano and the result of eruptions some 1,200 million years ago. It is one of the largest volcanic complexes of its type in the world, the rare rock types and formations make it a unique geological feature. A number of rare minerals occur in the park. Pilanesberg Game Reserve rates high amongst the world's outstanding geological phenomena.

Here are some photos I took today ( mob camera only - better to come when I can download from my main camera.) However the best ones will come from Rob I am sure. He will be rewarded for bringing his top notch SLR and he really enjoyed himself putting it to full use. It was an incredible day. A great privilege.

Three Tenners on  safari

Ostrich burger for lunch. Please note from farmed Ostrich and not from the Reserve. Delicious non the less.