HIKING

Take your bird and botany books with you and enjoy the beautiful mountain air.

The Lodge can also be reached by 4 x 4 vehicle via Ramatsilo gate. Off-roaders are a hated species up there, because of damage caused by driving where they should not go - please remember to be good ambassadors.

Booking for the Lodge in advance is advised, and can be done by phoning Maseru 09266-322876, confirming in writing by post to Igantia Nkuebe, Sehlabathebe National Park, P O Box 26, Sehlabathebe 630, and make allowance for the fact that they have mail delivered and collected there only once a week. Pack mules can be requested, but the service is unreliable.

You need valid passports for crossing the border at Bushman's Nek, and you must complete the mountain register at the Natal Parks Board Office. before departure. Start walking at 8 am in the morning when the border post opens.

The lodge provides beds and bedding, bathrooms and toilets, and full kintchen and dining amenities. There is no electricity. You must take all your clothing and food, remembering that it can snow anytime, with a cold wind that can kill by hypothermia, if you are not properly kitted out. Have a good accurate map, such as the one provided by Forestry for the Southern Drakensberg. The Lodge only accepts cash (S A Rands) for payment of accomodation, so take this with you. There are no shops in the Park.

If you are reasonably fit and willing to tackle an ascent of 700 m over 13 km distance, why not consider staying at the Lodge in Lesotho's Royal Sehlabathebe National park. This is an exceedingly beautiful and unspoilt part of the world, with an abundant floral kingdom, especially the orchids, which flower during the late Summer.

We stayed at Silverstreams in two of their Caravan Log cabins two days before departing on our expedition to Sehlabathebe National park as well as another night on our return before going home and are sharing this experience with you.

Dr Richard Clark share his hiking experience with us :

And then there is the ultimate wilderness experience, a hike to Thlabathebe where you can overnight; the steep haul up the Masubasuba Pass to the top of the escarpment between Hodgson Peaks; the trek along the escarpment edge to Rhino and the clamber down the Mashai Pass. Allow 4 - 5 days but you can shorten it by taking the LandRover trip to the summit of Sani Pass and starting from there. dont forget to sign the Mountain Register!

Book a cave overnight or take a tent. Contact Natal Nature Conservation 033 7020831 and ensure that you have a permit. You may NOT enter Rock Art Sites without a guide licensed by the KZN Conservation Services.

Whether you are a serious, seasoned hiker or someone who simply wants "a nice walk", we've got the right thing for you.  Hikes like the 4-5 day Giants Cup is famous for its magnificent scenery and mostly moderate gradients. Or explore the many hikes out of the Silverstreams area , or Garden Castle Wilderness Area

SILVERSTREAMS offer ideal accommodation  for Hikers or Backpackers in one of their Caravans with Log Cabins   or ordinary camping. sites.

The Sani Hiking Club can provide insider info, and a map of the popular DAY walks available from SILVERSTREAMS TRADING STORE .

This is great hiking, rambling and backpacking country. The 5-day Giant's Cup National Hiking Way Trail covers some 60km, starting at Sani Pass and heading south to Bushman's Nek ending at   SILVERSTREAMS RESORT CARAVAN PARK . For hikers and walkers who eschew organised trails, there are plenty of other options from 'bagging a peak' to scrambling up and down the BERG adjoining the SILVERSTREAMS RESORT CARAVAN PARK .

HIKING