DAY 1
Mnweni Cultural and Hiking Centre to Mnweni Valley (11km)
It’s a 90-minute drive from the Cathedral Peak Hotel to the Mnweni Cultural and Hiking Centre. I’m guiding a small group: photographer Scott Ramsay and honeymooners from the USA, Felicia Hsu and Chen Xie. At Mnweni we meet Leonard Hlatswayo, the manager of this community-run tourism initiative, my co-guide Caiphus Mthabela and our porters Sabelo Zwane and Ntokozakhe Hlongwane.
We settle our permits and make final adjustments to our packs before loading them onto a roof rack; we’ve arranged a lift on a bakkie part-way up the road to shave a little distance off the day.
After about 15 minutes we’re dropped off in the foothills. Starting low in the valley, the path weaves between homesteads. Friendly faces peer out from rondavel doorways; smiles accompanied by enthusiastic waves. Cattle gaze as we shuffle along. They’re at home here; we’re still settling into our stride.
Soon we pass the last rondavel. The Mnweni River is ahead, with the Mnweni Pinnacles beyond. These basalt-black needles stand apart from the cliffs of the main escarpment. Straining for the sky, they hint at the severity of tomorrow’s ascent.
Dark clouds are gathering above the pinnacles, but for now we enjoy the sunshine and gentle inclines of the lower slopes. It’s late summer; the grass is psychedelic green, the river rushes past and the air is hot and humid.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة February/March 2024 من go! - South Africa.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة February/March 2024 من go! - South Africa.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Rolling out the big guns
If you're still scanning the horizon for a Chinese automotive invasion you're looking the wrong way. It's already happening, and the new GWM Tank is the off-road spearhead into the highly lucrative and hotly contested lifestyle market.
TAKE A HIKE
The beautiful agony of Tienuurkop
Time out in Dullies
A long weekend in Dullstroom is just long enough to make you realise you need to spend several more weekends here! There's food, drink, art and action in abundance. Here's your guide.
Gallivanting in the Galápagos!
The Galápagos Islands are on many a traveller's wish list. They were on Hanlie and Vivian Gericke's too, even though the price of visiting made their eyes water. Was it worth it? Read on...
BURCHELL AND THE COUNTRY OF THE BUSHMEN
How many times have you driven through a landscape and wished you could have seen it centuries ago? In 1811, the English artist and explorer, William John Burchell, travelled through South Africa. Join us as we follow in his footsteps.
Long live the Hibiscus Coast
The KZN South Coast is a national treasure. It's still the place to go if you want a classic seaside holiday complete with warm waves, cold beer, soft serve and good vibes. Here's your guide.
The island at the end of the earth
Imagine adlace-with the cleanest air arid:the clearest seawater, where_no human.oranimabwants to:harm you: A placewhere the climates balmy. year-round:-with a sekrhistory ahd wwild scenery. A place like this:exist8” and it’s called St Helena.
A day on the road
You never know what the road will bring. Toast Coetzer heads south on the N1 and discovers South Africa.
The wilder shore
The final leg of a 30-day trek across East Africa sees lan Tyrer and the Africa - Wild & Untamed crew explore both shores of Lake Malawi. Get ready for an overloaded ferry, a croc attack and being surrounded by elephants...
A river runs through it
Sabie is onthe Drakensberg escaromentialongMpumalanga’s famous Panorama Route. Want a weekend away surrounded by forests and waterfalls? Here's wnat you need to know.
