It's worth posting this image as well - taken the previous day and looking North instead of South, this image spurred the goal of taking a series of 1:1 images across my #Backpacking trek through the #Drakensberg range.
#mountains #monochromemonday #artphotography #photography #landscapephotography #lpw #southafrica
Small waterfall near the top of Icidi Pass in the Mnweni area of the Drakensberg.
#Drakensberg #southafrica #mnweni #hiking #wanderlust #waterfallwednesday
Standing at the top of Madonna pass. The Madonna and her Worshippers are the set of fluted basalt columns emerging from from the pass.
Further back are two prominent peaks known as the Mnweni Needles. In the distance there are some rounded peaks known as the Puddings.
To the right of the Needles a plateau is visble. The big, prominent column behind the plateau is called Mponjwane. It is connected via small neck quite some scramble down from the main escarpment. It is a classic rock climb on basalt rock.
Some smoke arises from the steep edges about one third down. This is probably due to a lightning strike igniting dry brush.
#MountainMonday #hiking #wanderlust #drakensberg #mnweni #southafrica
Day 5 of our Mnweni traverse and I had to make a call. We were scheduled to walk for 7 days, but bad weather was moving in which included high winds again as well as the possibility of driving rain.
The decision was made to descend from the escarpment using the well-known Rockeries pass and camp further down at the Nguza campsite,m where we should be sheltered from the wind.
Thus we left Ledger's Cave and in the drizzling rain made our way over to Rockeries pass. Luckily this pass is one of the easiest in this area. We got to the campsite at around 10:30 and had some elevensees. Instead of setting up camp in the drizzling rain, we decided to continue on for another 3h and walk out.
We struggled to reach the local transport that was supposed to pick us up two days later to reschedule - there is basically no mobile reception.
However by a stroke of luck we arrived at the pick up point near to the time that the locals school finished and shortly after our driver arrived with a bunch of school kids that he had to drop off. Voila! We had a ride back to where our car was parked at the Mnweni Cultural Centre.
What an amazing trip in such an amazing place in the world.
Day 4 of our Mnweni traverse in the Drakensberg and we woke up to a cold morning after a sub-zero night. Most of this day involved navigating around a very deep mountain cutback known as the Mnweni Cutback. The wind was tough in any exposed area, especially where the path we took went into the South African side of the watershed.
We had lovely lunch on a slope which was protected from the wind and then proceeded to take water from the source of the Orange River. The latter is the buggest river that flows through South Africa and originates from Lesotho where it is known as the Senqu. Although the river originates as a series of small streams in the basin between the Mnweni and Rockeries passes, we think we found the highest the best flowing stream this time, which in our opinion could be considered the true origin.
We eventually made it to our overnight spot - another rock overhang known as Ledger's Cave. And to see the sunrise from this cave, see this posting: https://loops.video/v/fntoop6eJk
When the clouds lifted from the valley below in the very late afternoon, we were afforded some amazing views over the northern parts of the Mnweni range, but we could even see the flat-topped hills of Harrismith in the distance.
It was a bit of a sentimental time too as I have the feeling that there are parts of this mountain range I would not get to see ever again from this side.
Day 3 of our trip involved moving south across the Drakensbers's Mnweni escarpment. Much of the walking in these parts involves switching between side of the watershed and thus being either in South Africa or Lesotho. There are now border fences here and the border itself is only marked with cairns. This is free roaming at its best. One can walk where ever you want.
We woke up to a great sunrise with the blanket of clouds below us. Then
our day took us past many other passes, including Icidi, Madonna and Fangs. None of these are as hard and techinical as Ifidi Pass, but they should still not be underestimated.
We eventually made camp next to a river somewhere between Fangs and Rwanqa passes.
Just finished an amazing hike in the Drakensberg. We did most of what would be known as the full Mnweni traverse.
Our first two days were concerned with ascending to the escarpment to about 3100m using a classic, but difficult pass known as Ifidi. This also forms the most northern part of the Mnweni area.
The first day we walked to a cave which marks the approach to the pass. The second day was the hard day. There are few paths scattered around the area, most which seem to lead to bundu bashing or steep grassy slopes.
We eventually just returned to the stream bed and boulder hopped all the way up to the pass proper.
The latter is where the pass comes to its full "enjoyment" - all-fours in many places. Close to the top there is one place where we had to haul the bags and another where we just passed them up. The terrain at this point was wet and the scrambles became real short wet rock scrambles with the risk of injury.
We eventually topped out in howling wind (50-70km/h). It was cold enough that I had to wear my shell jacket over my puffer jacket. We eventually made our way to another rock overhang where we spent the night.
It was a hard day and we had to take many breaks, but it the kind of memories one can carry to the end of days.
[29 avril 2026 - la photo du jour]
🇿🇦 Photo du 28 octobre 2023 au Drakensberg en Afrique du Sud. Strate géologique visible. ⛰️
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[April 29, 2026 - photo of the day]
🇿🇦 Photo from October 28, 2023 at Drakensberg in South Africa. Geological strata visible. ⛰️
https://unoeilsurlaterre.com/afrique-du-sud-2023/drakensberg#27761
#Drakensberg #Geology #TextelA #AIText #UnOeilSurLaTerre #AnEyeOnEarth
The Drakensberg is no joke after all the rainfall it received over the first couple of months this year.
A friend stood on a rock on a small embankment when it gave way and she tumbled into a small river gashing open her arm in the process. She reckons she got displaced about 4m and was thankful none of the other rocks fell on top of her.
She had to walk out to only get it stitched up back in civilisation two days later.
Geoffrey Giebelhaus
Schalk Cronjé
Un œil sur la Terre
Unescostamps