DRAKENSBERG (Dragon Mountains)

Walkers on a busy road.

Drakensberg

Coming from Durban we took the N3 motorway north. It’s a four lane truck road leading from the largest port in Africa in Durban to Johannesburg a metro of 10 million. It has heavy traffic and winds through steep hilly country. We stopped in Howick to shop at Pick and Pay. In the parking lot we met a very friendly man who lined us out on some spots in the Drankensberg Mountains and also recommended a stop for coffee on the “Midlands Meander”, a byway of artists’ studios spread across the country side. Our recommended stop for coffee was called Piggly Wiggly which was much better and more upscale than the name implies.

We drove on until dark and stayed at Insokana Lodge in the central Drankensberg Mountains (Dragon Mountains). Our host Michel had three white German shepherd dogs to greet us. The lodge is nice and as a true luxury we had a heater in our room still it was frosty outside. 

Inkosana Lodge

People walking on the road at sunset. There are alot of pedestrians in South Africa.

Entrance to the Central Drakensberg

Next day we hiked in the “Monks Cowl” section of the Drankensberg, which is a world heritage site. The mountains there reach about 3200 meters (10,500 feet). We walked up to about 6000 feet to Blindman’s Corner, a nice walk. 

Mt Chaklin near Blind Man's Corner.

 

Next day we drove up to Royal Natal National Park and walked in the northern Drankensberg. We hiked ‘the Gorge’ to the Amphitheater. We attempted to wade through a slot canyon called ‘the tunnel’ but when it came to a full swim we gave up, it was just too cold. 

Royal Natal National Park

Sheri wading in the frigid "Tunnel".

The Amphitheater - Royal Natal National Park

Cheese sandwich on a warm rock after the "Tunnel"

Strangler Vine

Pedestrians near Royal Natal National Park

HOWICK

After all this exercise we drove back south to a farm outside of Howick where a good friend of ours in Bend connected us with Claire, a friend and coworker. Claire set us up in her guest house (literally an entire house), where we had a cozy fire and cooked up a good meal and took a bath since there wasn’t a shower.

Claire is quite busy but she carved out some time for us. We walked on a beautiful warm day up into a patch of native forest on her land with her dogs and a student she’s mentoring. Her place, which is called Misty Meadow Farm, is also home to her parents, sister and brother who all have separate houses, and also a bunch of black people who live and work there. They raise cows, sheep, have greenhouses, and gardens. She says they’re starting to create a community home school and have the goal of having the whole place be self-sustaining. It was very nice and we really appreciated the opportunity to stay there.

Claire's house and friendly pack of dogs

Curtis, Claire, and Sheri at Misty Meadows Farm