POISONOUS SNAKES OF THE DRAKENSBERG MOUNTAINS

 

  

“There are monsters in this here world, my sweetie.

They are called humans“

 

    Poisonous Snakes of the Drakensberg Mountains                               

It is wise for people who hike the Drakensberg to become familiar with the types of snakes they are likely to encounter. The usual fear of snakes can be greatly reduced by the ability to distinguish between the dangerous and the harmless varieties. Many snakes are killed purely because they are snakes, even though they perform a vital service to man by reducing the number of rats, mice, slugs and many other pests.

Whether or not one is likely to encounter snakes while hiking, depends upon the time of the year, time of day, and the weather. During the winter months, particularly after snow has fallen; it is unlikely that snakes will be encountered. It is common knowledge that snakes hibernate during the winter months. However, this does not mean that snakes will not be seen during this time. During certain mild winters, especially on warm winter days, snakes appear and bask in the sunshine, but at this time of year they are sluggish.

Hikers are more likely to come across snakes in summer, particularly on hot days after a wet spell.

Most snakes are harmless and will try and get out of the way, but if a poisonous snake happens to be basking in the sun there is a good chance of being bitten if by chance one stands on it. Vibrations are normally picked up by the snake’s ribs, which contact the ground, and are transmitted to the inner ear. In this way it receives the warning and rushes off to safety. People walking barefoot run a greater risk of standing on a snake, than the hiker with his heavy boots which give the warning. Arboreal snakes do not receive the same warning as those living on the ground.

The early Natal Settlers treated snake bite by scarifying the tissue around the puncture. They then poured gunpowder into the wound and set fire to the powder! Do not try it today!

The early Basotho believed that a dangerous snake, called “kuane”, lived between the horns of the eland, and a legend still exists in Lesotho of a snake, presumably a Berg adder, which is capable of jumping over a horse.

Puff Adder (Bitis Arietans)

The puff adder is the most dangerous snake found in the river valleys and grasslands of the Little Berg, but is seldom found higher than 1800-2 000 meters. A mature adult is about 1 meter in length, is fat and has a flat triangular head. The color varies from yellow to brown on which there are chevron-shaped black cross bands on the back and tail. On top of the head there is a black patch which is separated from another patch on the snout by a narrow pale bar. There is also a black bar behind and in front of the eye.

Sluggish by nature, it loves to bask in the hot sun, on paths, rocks and small clearings in the grass and also under vegetation. Before striking the puff adder inflates itself and puffs loudly to warn any intruder. Note that the puff adder will not move away! Although it appears to be slow moving, it is amazing how quickly it is able to strike. It usually lunges forward, or even sideways, with mouth wide open and it sinks its very large fangs, which measure up to 25 mm, into the lower leg, then it immediately releases its fangs and prepares for the next strike, seldom holding onto its victim. The bite is extremely painful and is followed by shock, nausea, vision becomes blurred and balance is also affected. Smell and taste may also be affected. If untreated, unconsciousness and cardiac arrest follow, resulting in death.

Like other members of the adder family the puff adder is nocturnal – so a word of warning to climbers and hikers returning late at night from a climb or hike!

Berg Adder (Bites Atropes)

Peculiar to mountainous areas this adder is often seen on walks and climbs and can be found anywhere in the Berg, but is more commonly seen on the High Berg above 1800 meters. About 30-50 cm in length, it has atypical adder head with nostrils directed upwards and outwards.

The berg adder is slate gray to dark brown but lighter brown varieties are found. On its back there are rows of black triangular or semi-circular patterns edged in a lighter color with the apices of the patterns pointing towards the vertebral midline. Below the base of these triangles is a longitudinal line, light in color, running almost the length of the body.  Below the line is another row of black patterns. On top of the head is a black arrow-shaped mark with the point between the eyes.

This aggressive adder is often seen on the paths, rocks or at the base of plants and grass. Its first warning is a hissing noise followed by an energetic strike throwing its body forward at the same time. Care should be taken whilst moving through dead wood or alpine heath as berg adders are sometimes found at the base of the plants. A bite on the finger will create a problem at high altitudes.

The venom is more neurotoxic than haemotoxic and the usual polyvalent anti snakebite serum is contra-indicated. No tourniquet should be applied. The onset of symptoms at high altitude is quicker but the bite from the berg adder is not likely to be fatal if the necessary precautions are taken. If the victim’s condition deteriorates cortisone is recommended.

The Berg adder lives on rodents and lizards.

 

Rinkhals (Hemachatus Haemachatus)

A dangerous poisonous front-fanged snake, commonly found all over the Berg and Lesotho from the river valleys to the summit plateau. It is easy to recognize because as one approaches it rears, cobra fashion, with hood expanded, and is capable of spitting its venom into the eyes of anyone who ventures to near.

It usually adopts this fierce attitude but is too keen to slip away. Also take note that they sometimes play dead! Do not approach or touch in this instance. During mating season they are particularly aggressive and it is wise to give them a wide berth.

The Rinkhals is about 90-120 cm in length, and varies in color from black to dark brown, often with irregular cross bands which are also variable in color. The older specimens are usually very dark. When it rears, usually two to three pale bands can be seen on the throat. The fangs of the Rinkhals are fairly short but are highly specialized, enabling it to  eject venom by spitting as well as inject whilst biting.

The venom is neurotoxic and a bite from the Rinkhals must be treated as a serious emergency. If the Rinkhals happens to spit into the eyes, they should be washed out immediately with water.

Night Adder (Causes Rhombeatus)

 

Seldom seen but this does not mean that they are rare in the Berg. The night adder is nocturnal by nature and it is possible that there are many more than estimated. They have tendency to be attracted to damp places where they feed on frogs, rats and mice, which satisfy their healthy appetite. Sometimes they are seen basking on a rock, enjoying the early morning or late afternoon sun, usually in the river valleys.

The average size is 60 cm and the color varies from dark grey to light or dark brown, or even pinkish brown, with typical dark rhomboidal irregular markings. On the back of the head there is a characteristic dark V pattern, the apex of which is between the eyes.

Not nearly as poisonous as the puff adder, the bite from the night adder is seldom fatal to humans. The fangs are supplied with unusually long venom gland. Normally the night adder is docile and tends to slither away to safety, but if provoked adopts an aggressive attitude.

 

 

 

 

 

 There are some simple precautions to take that can help you avoid getting within striking range:

      

The leader, and especially the person immediately behind him / her, should be constantly on the lookout for snakes during the hot summer months and in early autumn (when they go on a feeding frenzy in preparation for their winter hibernation).  Often the leader will disturb a snake and it may go into a defensive pose ready to strike at any further threat, which is very likely to be the next hiker in the queue!  Beware of small or sudden movements, and large contrasts in color.

   The poisonous snakes mentioned above do not like to be disturbed or interfered with, and will try to give you plenty of warning of this.  An aggravated Puff Adder or Rinkhals will make a loud, drawn-out huffing noise (haaaaaaaaaa), and the Rinkhals will also rear its head and form a flattened hood which can extend a considerable distance down its body.  This noise is usually sufficient to grab anyone's immediate and undivided attention!  Beware of the Rinkhals - it can spit a lot further than it can strike!  The generally smaller Berg Adder will usually make a higher-pitched hissing noise.  Young Berg Adders appear to squeak.

Except for the fat and sluggish Puff Adder, most snakes will be terrified at your approach and will try to make a quick getaway.  If you are walking in single file, this gives them an almost 360 degree choice of route.  If you are walking in line abreast, this choice is drastically reduced to less than 180 degrees.  The Puff Adder and Berg Adder adopt a defensive coiled posture if they feel they cannot escape in time, while the Rinkhals will rear up and flatten its hood.  The adders can strike at an alarming speed, straightening one or more of their coils in the process and thus extending their reach, then immediately reloading their "spring" for the next strike which might follow almost instantly!  Do not approach a coiled snake!

The leader can find a walking stick or pole useful in thickly grassed or overgrown areas where he cannot see his own feet.  Poking the stick ahead of him, he can give any snake better warning of his approach and allow more time for them to attempt an escape.

Avoid walking in dongas (eroded paths) where a snake might be able to strike you at thigh height or even higher.

  Always wear ankle-height hiking boots.  Open sandals provide no protection from snakes whatsoever.  The author prefers to wear full-length snow gaiters as well for various reasons, one of them being better protection from snakes.  Never assume it is safe to walk around barefoot or in sandals outside your cave or tent!

 When scrambling up or down steep slopes, check carefully where you put your hands.  Berg Adders are fond of lying on small rock ledges, and climbers are the most frequent victims of their bites.

Snakes are most active at night, since this is when their food - consisting mainly of frogs and rodents - is also most active.  In summer, snakes tend to spend the daytime heating themselves in the sun in preparation for their night-time hunting activity, or - if it is very hot - lying up in shade somewhere.  It makes sense, then, that snakes are more likely to be encountered at night, or in the early morning or late afternoon.  Avoid hiking at night!

 Snakes hibernate in winter but they do not go into deep hibernation like mammals.  On a hot winter's day they may leave their burrows to sun themselves, so be especially careful in such conditions.

Always check the ground in the area where you are about to sit very thoroughly.  Stamp around a bit before you sit - this gives a snake further warning and the flattened grass will make it easier to check the area.  More than one hiker has been struck on the backside by an irritated little Berg Adder, which can easily be mistaken for a twig!

As terrifying as it sounds, if you get almost to within striking distance of a Puff Adder of Rinkhals, it is best to freeze!  Snakes do not really want to bite you - they prefer to keep their venom for catching food, and you're too big to eat!  These snakes have poor vision and are best at detecting movement.  If you keep still they will usually calm down and move off, although they might still adopt some form of defensive posturing like huffing.  This is exactly how they react when confronted by large animals such as the Eland.

These snakes might appear aggressive but they will not chase you even if they could!  Given half a chance they prefer to disappear from site within as short a time as possible.  If the snake is at a safe distance, simply stop and make way for it.  Then make a wide berth around the area where you last saw it, and remember to tell the others at the back of the line what area to avoid!

 Never attempt to catch or pick up a snake.  The Rinkhals is usually so reluctant to bite that it may even feign death, but this act will be abandoned if you pick it up!

 

 First aid

The method for treating snake bite victims has changed considerably over the years.  Indigenous peoples have used the cut and suck method for centuries, apparently quite effectively despite the considerable danger to the person doing the sucking, although it has been suggested that this treatment is largely psychosomatic since there is very little scientific evidence that it may actually work.  The carriage of a snake bite kit containing antivenin was for years considered to be the safest option, but antivenin has a short life-span in warm weather and its effects can be every bit as devastating as the bite itself in people who are allergic to it, especially when improperly administered.  Recent evidence suggests that the longer the use of antivenin is delayed, the more likely there are to be complications, since the body - already trying to deal with the poison - may be overwhelmed by the appearance of yet another invasion.  The use of a tourniquet is considered to be ineffective and potentially aggravating, especially in the case of cytotoxic (cell-destroying) poisons.

 

The reason for the changing treatment of snake bite is that the exact mechanism by which poisons spread through the body is not clearly understood, but the latest research seems to suggest that the slow-acting (viz. cytotoxic) poisons are usually distributed through the lymphatic system.  The cytotoxic poison itself is usually quite viscous (i.e. syrupy) and its distribution requires that it be diluted in the tissue fluid.  Whether it spreads through the lymphatic system or the circulatory system, it is obvious that any activity on the part of the victim will assist in its distribution.  While this may be desirable in the case of a virulently cytotoxic poison such as that of the Puff Adder, it merely speeds death in the case of a Mamba bite!

 

First Aid courses now teach the use of a pressure bandage, where broad crepes bandage is wrapped around the affected limb to restrict the spread of the poison.  This bandage should not be tied so tightly that it severely restricts the blood supply to the extremities of the limb.  Some snake handlers recommend that a bandage not be used at all if the bite site is very painful, since this is indicative of a cytotoxic poison whose restriction to the area of the bite will assist it in destroying body tissue there! 

 

Cytotoxic poisons may also cause rapid and severe local swelling, so unless it is regularly loosened to allow for the swelling, a bandage will eventually cut off the blood supply.  An action that has been part of every treatment, however, is the calming and immobilization of the bite victim.  

 

 Treatment for snake bite is controversial, but the golden rule is to do nothing – especially if you are not sure what to do, or what specie of snake is involved. If possible one person should go for help. Then treat the patient symptomatically, which means addressing problems, like difficult breathing, loss of sight, or the use of a limb, as they occur. Mainly you should keep the victim breathing and reduce shock as best you can. Keep them warm and hydrated, but never with alcohol. If you do decide to carry anti-venom serum, consider taking antihistamine and cortisone as a general treatment for all types of poisonous bites (to stem the body’s reaction). Only administer a serum if you are certain of the species and you definitely know which serum to use. Giving the wrong serum means the victim gets a double whammy of poison!

 

The problem faced by hikers when confronted with a poisonous snake bite is that help is often far away, and a helicopter evacuation may not be possible because of the weather or the time of day.  A cell-phone can prove useful if you are carrying the necessary telephone numbers, but cell-phone coverage in the Drakensberg is very poor due to the mountainous terrain.  It is essential to send someone to call for help, preferably carrying a cell-phone and armed with the telephone number of at least the nearest access point. Positive identification of the snake will help determine the best course of action to take, but do not go out looking for it or attempt to kill it!  If in doubt about the type of snake, rather err on the side of caution and treat the incident as an extreme emergency.

 

But forget about the things that grovel on the ground and lift your eyes to the heavens, from whence cometh the most beautiful sights of the mountains – the birds. You are very likely to not ever see a snake. I saw one snake in 3 years of heavy terrain, hiking off footpaths and in total wilderness areas! Enjoy the hike!

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

References and Acknowledgements
Snake Photos – Google Photos / Snake Institute
Snake Information - “A Cradle of Rivers, the Natal Drakensberg” – David A Dodds
Best Walks of the Drakensberg – David Bristow

Legends of the Drakensberg

 

 

  

“PROUD TO VISIT THE MARGINS OF DEATH”

                                 ER

Legends of the Drakensberg

Once in a while the mountaineering world throws up a climber who, with no training or experience, produces the most sensational climbs from the very start of his climbing career, individualists who break all the rules, and yet who “get there”. Of such was George Thompson.

   Thompson was quite the most extraordinary climber ever to visit the KZN Drakensberg. He was a New Zealander who came out to this country in the early 1940’s. Fair haired, wiry, tough, he pitched up one day at Cathedral Peak Hotel and asked for a job. George was bricklayer by trade, and a deal was made. The only problem was that he had a bad heart, but he set to work. He was about 40 years of age.

   George had never climbed a mountain in his life before, though in New Zealand, where he was a keen fisherman, he used to descend difficult rocks to out-of-the-way fishing spots. In the intervals of building he would look up at the majestic peaks around him, and he soon decided to have A crack at them. He did not know the first thing about mountaineering. He did not know that you should never climb alone. He did not even know that you should always use a rope, especially for the descent, until the fellows of the Natal Mountain Club got hold of him and taught him. But he tackled alone, and without rope, and conquered, peak after peak in the Drakensberg that had never been climbed before.

   In spite of his bad heart he had tremendous energy and stamina. He was known to set out from the hotel at first light with a couple of companions, climb several peaks steadily, and without a break throughout the day, and arrive back just before dark. His companions were exhausted, but George promptly attacked a four-course dinner, and then danced well on into the small hours.

   His most remarkable climb was undoubtedly that of the Column. Have you ever seen the Column? It towers up, a terrifying 500 meters, from the Tseketseke valley, 500 meters of sheer, incredible rock, like a huge, protruding fang. Half-way up the face is protracted on all sides by a tremendous overhang. It had never been climbed, and according to every knowledgeable expert, never would be.

   One day in December 1945 George decided to have a go at it. He persuaded another young fellow to go with him, and together they made their way to the foot of the peak. Arrived there, his companion took one look at the staggering precipices towering into the sky above them, and said “Not on your life! You can break your neck if you want to, but not me!”

   So George proceeded to climb the peak alone, and without rope. Slowly, inch by inch, he worked his way up the sheer face of the peak, up and over the overhang, across the final slabs with scarcely a toe-hold, while his friend watched, spell-bound, from down below. At last he heaved himself over the final rocks on to the summit, and stood there, the first human being to do so, a tiny speck against the sky.

   If the ascent had been extraordinary, the descent, without rope, must have been terrifying, even for a man of George’s iron nerve. Soon after he left the summit on the way down, he lost his route. He found himself on a narrow ledge, less than a meter wide, with no way down from it and no way of reversing his climb and climbing back. He was alone, on top of a most exposed, detached peak, without a rope, and a sheer drop of 500 meters below him. The only hope was another ledge, about 3 meters below him, equally narrow. He knew he would have to jump it, and he knew with cold certainty, that it would be almost impossible to keep his balance once he landed on the ledge. But below that was a small bush, in a chimney, 12 meters down. He calculated that if he went over the ledge he might manage a “controlled fall”, with arms and legs pressed against the walls of the chimney, and that with luck he might be able to grab the bush as he falls past it. He didn’t liked the look of it, but said to himself, “George my boy, the longer you look at it, the worse it gets, so – just you jump!” He jumped, landed on the ridge, grabbed at a tuff of grass, which came away in his hand, and slid right down into the chimney. But as he went down he was able to grab at the small bush, and this saved him. He had sustained a nasty cut on the leg and was badly shaken, but that didn’t worry George! Calmly he continued his descent.

   His next pitch was an “F” standard grass pitch, 45 meters long, and horribly steep (an “F” standard grass pitch is more dangerous even than “F” standard rock, for rock is at least firm, while a grass slope at that angle offers neither foot nor hand-hold.). This was nearly as unpleasant as the chimney down which he had fallen, but he managed it, and then continued steadily on down severe rock until, several hours later, he was down and off the mountain. Two years later Jannie Graaff called the Column “In all probability the most difficult peak in the country.” And it had been climbed by a novice, solo, and without a rope!

   The Column taught George a lesson. It was after this that he began to learn the technique of roping, and soon he became an expert.

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.

References and Acknowledgements

From the book – “Barrier of Spears” – RO Pearse

Photos:  ©W Pelser

Compiled by:  Willem Pelser

Organ Pipes Pass - Central Drakensberg

 

 

"Some passes lead to summits. Organ Pipes leads to wonder."

 

Organ Pipes Pass

Central Drakensberg

The Stairway to the Cathedral

 

"Some passes take you to the escarpment. Organ Pipes takes you into the heart of the Drakensberg."

The Beginning

Every great mountain has its gateway.

For Cathedral Peak...

that gateway is the Camel.

The journey begins at Didima Camp, where the trail gradually climbs through montane grassland beneath towering cliffs. At first, the mountains seem distant.

Then, almost imperceptibly...

they begin to close around you.

Ahead stands one of South Africa's most recognisable mountains—

Cathedral Peak.

 

Why "The Camel"?

One of the Berg's most famous landmarks is the broad ridge leading toward Cathedral Peak. Seen from the right angle, it resembles the back of a kneeling camel. The resemblance is so striking that early hikers gave it the obvious name. For over a century, thousands of boots have crossed its "back."

Today...

The Camel has become almost as famous as Cathedral Peak itself.

 

A Geological Symphony

This is one of the finest places in the Berg to understand how these mountains were born.

Nearly 183 million years ago, enormous volcanic eruptions covered southern Africa with layer upon layer of basalt lava. These successive flows cooled into the hard, dark rock that forms today's escarpment.

Over millions of years, water, frost and gravity carved away the softer weaknesses.

The result...

The magnificent basalt buttresses of Cathedral Peak. The Organ Pipes themselves are spectacular examples of columnar jointing. As the lava cooled, it contracted into tall polygonal columns.

Nature built a cathedral. The basalt became its organ.

The Organ Pipes

Nothing prepares you for seeing them in person. Towering vertical columns rise hundreds of metres into the sky. Standing beneath them...

you understand immediately why they were named.

They resemble the giant pipes of a church organ. When mist drifts through them...

it almost feels as though the mountain itself is breathing.

 

The Pass

Unlike steep gullies such as Fangs or Corner...

Organ Pipes Pass is surprisingly logical. The route follows grassy slopes before entering rocky sections that wind naturally toward the escarpment.

Although never technically difficult...

It demands fitness. The altitude gain is substantial. The final approach always seems one rise further than expected.

 

Windy Gap

One of the best-known landmarks is Windy Gap.

Anyone who has stood there knows exactly why.

Even on calm days...

The wind often accelerates dramatically through the gap. It is here that many hikers first glimpse the vast Lesotho plateau beyond.

 

The Escarpment

Suddenly...

The climbing stops. The horizon opens. Behind you...

The cliffs fall away towards KwaZulu-Natal.

Ahead...

Lesotho stretches into infinity. Many hikers simply sit in silence. No words are needed.

 

Cathedral Peak

Although Organ Pipes reaches the escarpment...

Many continue to climb Cathedral Peak itself.

The summit has inspired generations of mountaineers since the first recorded ascent by members of the Mountain Club of South Africa in 1917, using what has become the standard route involving exposed scrambling and ladders near the summit.

Standing there...

You are surrounded by some of Africa's greatest mountain scenery.

 

The Bell Traverse

No story about Organ Pipes is complete without mentioning perhaps South Africa's most famous mountain traverse.

The Bell Traverse links Cathedral Peak with the Cathedral range in a spectacular route beneath soaring cliffs.

It is not technically extreme. But it demands confidence. Exposure accompanies every step.

Many experienced hikers regard it as the finest traverse in southern Africa.

 

San Heritage

Long before hikers...

The San knew these valleys intimately.

The Didima region contains one of the richest concentrations of San rock art in the Drakensberg. Nearby rock shelters preserve paintings that are hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of years old.

These paintings are far more than decoration. They record spiritual beliefs, hunting traditions and ceremonies.

Whenever we walk these valleys...

We are following paths that people walked long before there were maps.

Flora

The Cathedral Peak region is a botanist's paradise.

In summer:

• Red hot pokers blaze across the slopes.
• Wild gladioli emerge after rain.
• Helichrysums perfume the air.
• Giant lobelias cling to rocky ledges.
• Proteas dominate the lower slopes.
• Delicate orchids appear where water seeps across the grasslands.

After a summer storm...

The mountains become a living garden.

Fauna

The wildlife remains remarkable.

Among the regular inhabitants are:

·       Bearded Vulture (Lammergeier)—one of Africa's rarest birds, often seen soaring effortlessly beneath the cliffs.

·       Verreaux's Eagle patrols the rock faces.

·       Eland, the largest antelope in Africa, still graze these slopes.

·       Troops of Chacma baboons inhabit the cliffs.

·       Rock hyrax (dassies) bask among the boulders.

And, if fortunate...

You may glimpse the shy Grey Rhebok on the higher grasslands.

 

Incidents and Mountain Rescue

Organ Pipes has seen its share of emergencies. Not because it is unusually dangerous. But because it is so popular.

 

Weather

The greatest hazard remains the weather.

Dense mist can engulf the escarpment within minutes. Navigation becomes difficult. Summer thunderstorms produce intense lightning. Winter brings snow and ice.

Falls

Although the pass itself is relatively straightforward, hikers venturing onto Cathedral Peak or the Bell Traverse have suffered falls over the decades.

Several rescue operations have involved climbers stranded on exposed sections of Cathedral Peak.

 

Exhaustion

Many parties underestimate the distance.

Attempting Organ Pipes and Cathedral Peak in a single day has led to numerous evacuations for exhaustion, dehydration and injury.

 

Helicopter Rescues

The Didima area has become one of the classic operating grounds for Mountain Club of South Africa Rescue teams working alongside the South African Air Force and later civilian helicopter services.

Strong winds, cloud and steep terrain have often made these rescues challenging. Every successful rescue is a tribute to the skill and courage of the crews.

First Ascents

Unlike technical peaks, passes rarely have a "first ascent."

For thousands of years, shepherds, hunters and San people moved through these mountains. The first recorded European exploration of the Cathedral Peak region occurred during the nineteenth century.

The first documented ascent of Cathedral Peak itself came in 1917, but the Camel and Organ Pipes route almost certainly saw human footsteps centuries before that.

There are mountain journeys.

Then there are pilgrimages.

Organ Pipes belongs to the second.

Nobody walks this route unchanged.

You begin beneath forests.

You cross the Camel.

You climb toward giant basalt organ pipes.

You emerge onto Africa's roof.

It is a journey through geological time.

Through human history.

Through your own thoughts.

 

"Organ Pipes Pass is far more than a route to the escarpment. It is one of the Drakensberg's great pilgrimages. Beginning on the broad back of the Camel, the trail climbs beneath towering basalt columns sculpted by volcanic fires nearly 183 million years ago. Along the way lie echoes of the San, rare mountain wildlife and the ever-present challenge of Berg weather. Those who reach Windy Gap and step onto the escarpment discover not only one of South Africa's finest mountain journeys, but also a place where geology, history and wilderness come together in perfect harmony."

 

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.

References and Acknowledgements

From the book:   Drakensberg Wilderness – A Solo Journey Through Paradise –                               W Pelser

Photos:  ©Willem Pelser

Compiled by:  Willem Pelser