Kloof To Cliff!
go! - South Africa|December 2020/January 2021
It’s easy to forget that the Drakensberg isn’t just a KZN thing. Hike up high and down low on the High Five Trail in Mpumalanga.
Mia Louw
Kloof To Cliff!

Have you heard about the network of hiking trails and base camps between eNtokozweni (Machadodorp) and eManzana (Badplaas)? There’s Mount Komati, Oom Paul, Bloutrein, Bermanzi… and the most diverse of them all, the High Five Trail, previously known as the Num-Num Trail.

My husband Hancu and I hiked this four-day trail twice in one year and we’ve done a few of the nearby day hikes, too. On all the trails, you feel the wind on the Highveld plateau, scramble down the escarpment and rest in the shade of forest giants. The kor-kor of a purple-crested turaco will follow you through the forest as you sidestep tree roots. Look up and you might glimpse the red flash of the bird’s underwing. Cape vultures ride the thermals high above the mountain slopes while a brown-hooded kingfisher goes ki-titi-ti from its perch overlooking the babbling waters of the Komati River…

DAY 1 8,6 km (+/- 4,5 hours) King’s Highway

Mount Komati to Candlewood

We’re already running late. Despite the fact that Pieta Wessels from Escarp Hiking Trails warned us that we’d have to hike about six or seven hours on the first day, we only manage to leave Mbombela (Nelspruit) late in the morning and arrive at the Mount Komati base camp around noon. We hit the trail right away.

We should really have come a day earlier – more time at this scenic camp next to the Komati River would have been nice.

We set off on the so-called King’s Highway next to the river, hopping over rocks and strolling through grassland and pockets of forest. After about 45 minutes, we walk through a stone kraal hidden among the trees, then the trail gradually makes its way to the top of the mountain.

Denne historien er fra December 2020/January 2021-utgaven av go! - South Africa.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra December 2020/January 2021-utgaven av go! - South Africa.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA GO! - SOUTH AFRICASe alt
Rolling out the big guns
go! - South Africa

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.

time-read
2 mins  |
June/July 2024
TAKE A HIKE
go! - South Africa

TAKE A HIKE

The beautiful agony of Tienuurkop

time-read
3 mins  |
June/July 2024
Time out in Dullies
go! - South Africa

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.

time-read
4 mins  |
June/July 2024
Gallivanting in the Galápagos!
go! - South Africa

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...

time-read
9 mins  |
June/July 2024
BURCHELL AND THE COUNTRY OF THE BUSHMEN
go! - South Africa

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.

time-read
10+ mins  |
June/July 2024
Long live the Hibiscus Coast
go! - South Africa

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.

time-read
8 mins  |
June/July 2024
The island at the end of the earth
go! - South Africa

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.

time-read
10+ mins  |
June/July 2024
A day on the road
go! - South Africa

A day on the road

You never know what the road will bring. Toast Coetzer heads south on the N1 and discovers South Africa.

time-read
5 mins  |
June/July 2024
The wilder shore
go! - 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...

time-read
10+ mins  |
February/March 2024
A river runs through it
go! - South Africa

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.

time-read
10 mins  |
February/March 2024