Your journey
Plan your Berg trip
The Drakensberg rewards a little preparation. Use this guide to choose when to go, where to stay, and what to bring.
Start here
Build your trip
Itineraries
How long to stay
Quick escape
3-Day Weekend
A long weekend is enough for a single region. Stay at Champagne Valley, walk the Monk's Cowl trail and see the rock art at Injasuti.
- ·Day 1: Arrive, settle in, afternoon walk
- ·Day 2: Full day hike, Monk's Cowl or Cathedral Ridge
- ·Day 3: Rock art & leisurely return
Full experience
7-Day Classic
A week lets you cover two regions and include a Sani Pass day-trip. The standard Drakensberg holiday.
- ·Day 1–3: Northern Berg, Amphitheatre and Tugela Falls
- ·Day 4: Transfer to Central Berg
- ·Day 5–6: Cathedral Peak, Giants Castle
- ·Day 7: Sani Pass day trip, depart
Grand traverse
14-Day Deep Dive
For serious hikers: cover the full escarpment from north to south, including the 5-day Grand Traverse route.
- ·Day 1–2: Acclimatise, Royal Natal
- ·Day 3–7: Grand Traverse (Sentinel to Garden Castle)
- ·Day 8–10: Central Berg & rock art
- ·Day 11–14: Southern Berg, Sani Pass, rest
Not sure what you want yet?
Request a custom trip on your own dates
Tell us your trail, dates and group size. We'll match you with an available guide and tour operator, who will confirm and send a quote before you pay anything.
Need to know
Essentials
Getting there
Fly to Durban (King Shaka) or Johannesburg (OR Tambo). From Durban it's a 3.5-hour drive to the Northern Drakensberg, 2.5 hours to the Central Drakensberg. Car hire is recommended.
Entry & permits
A daily conservation fee applies in all KZN Wildlife reserves. Hiking permits for overnight trails must be pre-booked. No entry visa required for most nationalities for stays under 90 days.
What to bring
Layers are essential at any time of year, because temperatures drop fast above 2,000 m. A waterproof shell, broken-in hiking boots, sun protection and a 2-litre water capacity are the minimum.
Safety
Never hike alone above the escarpment. Register your route with the camp office. Carry a whistle, first aid kit, and a charged phone. Afternoon lightning is common in summer, so be off exposed ridges by 1 pm.