Learn how another culture Lives and other Drakensberg, South Africa Off The Beaten Path Tips

If you're in the Southern Drakensberg, take some time to travel up the Sani Pass into Lesotho, and go see how the Basotho people live. I went up and it blew my mind that people could survive in those conditions!

There are a few tour operators running out of Underberg, who will take you up in a 4x4, give you a guided tour of the village (where you eat home-made Basotho bread), and then will take you to the highest pub in Africa where you can get lunch.

It is a fantastic day out for the whole family. Do not attempt to drive up the pass in anything less than a pick-up truck. You have been warned...

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Several hotels offer excellent 4x4 trips, taking you to rock carvings, out-of -the-way bushman paintings, or just to great picnic locations. The drivers are very experienced, and take you on some hair raising routes. Fun for the whole family!

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Phone: 036 438 6270
Website: www.cavernberg.co.za

Champagne Castle (See Accomodation), offers a series of 5 hikes, called the Big 5. Ive done the Sterkhorn hike, while my dad has done all 5, more than once! Hikes range in length from an hour long, to 3 days long.

Be prepared for some rough going, as these hikes can be murderous! Every finisher gets presented with a certificate from the hotel, and people completing all hikes get there name on the honours board.

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Phone: 036 468 1063
Website: www.Champagnecastle.co.za

If you travel to The Cavern berg resort, it's well worth your while hiking up to Cannibal Cavern. This is where, during Shaka's reign, a small tribe of Zulu's lived in hiding, eventually having to resort to cannibalism to survive.

The cave has a 40 meter high roof, and goes back about 30 meters. There are a few rather worn bushman paintings, but exploring the cave finds the most wonderful things...

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Phone: 036 438 6270

If you are in the Souther Drakensberg, walk from Sani Pass hotel to the Bushman paintings in the National Park. Its a long walk (about 4 hours return), but the paintings are awesome! The trail starts on the first hole of the Golf course.

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If you plan to drive up Sani Pass, make sure you have a vehicle that can cope! I've heard of people taking normal cars up here, and i've seen a microbus coming down, but please, anything less than full 4 wheel drive is madness!

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Just down the path from Sungubala Mountain Camp is the Silent Woman, aka the "Pawpaw lady" (Use your imagination), a rock carving done by Willie Chalmers in the 60's. Still in beautiful condition, a very easy walk for the whole family, with a nice stretch of river next to it.

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Website: www.sungubala.za.net