Tuesday, 12 December 2023

Mashai Pass - Garden Castle Reserve - Drakensberg

Rhino Peak, SSouthern Drakensberg Wilderness

“ALL THAT AN OBSTACLE DOES WITH BRAVE MEN IS, NOT TO FRIGHTEN THEM, BUT TO CHALLENGE THEM.”
WOODROW WILSON


Mashai Pass - Garden Castle Reserve

Drakensberg

A few days ago I returned from the magnificent Garden Castle Reserve in the Southern Drakensberg. I had it all, daily thunderstorms, gale force winds and snow in the middle of November! Above all, I had a magnificently beautiful and wild wilderness all to myself.

The Mashai Pass route which eventually leads to the Rhino Peak is one of the most popular walks at Garden Castle Reserve. The path sometimes looks like a traffic jam on a national highway! Be it as it may, it is a beautiful route up to the escarpment and well worth the effort. And effort it does take as there is a continual altitude gain all the way to the top of the escarpment and from there to the summit of Rhino Peak.


Rhino Peak in the Southern Drakensberg Wilderness

So, let us take a photographic journey up this magical valley.

A huge sculpture created by Mother Nature in the Southern Drakensberg


Viewing the mountain at the back through huge boulders in the valleys of the Southern Drakensberg Wilderness


A beautiful view of the valley leading to Mashai Pass in the Drakensberg Wilderness


In the valleys below Mashai Pass, Drakensberg Wilderness


Close to starting the climb up Mashai Pass, Southern Drakensberg Wilderness


Low floating clouds in the valley below Mashai Pass, Southern Drakensberg


River scene on the trail to Mashai Pass, Drakensberg


Beautiful flowers on the side of the valleys at Garden Castle Reserve, Southern Drakensberg


Dust off your hiking boots and go and visit an extraordinary beautiful place. And remember, Mashai Pass is not the only route to walk in that wild wilderness.

We as hikers, explorers, and adventurers have the absolute duty to respect and protect our Wildernesses. Nobody else will do it for us. Take ownership!



The End.


Safe Hiking.


Willem Pelser


References and Acknowledgements

From the book – From my notebook

Photos: ©Willem Pelser

Compiled by: Willem Pelser


“Trail leads not merely north or south, but upwards to the body, mind and soul of man.”