South Africa
GASTRONOMIE
CATHEDRAL PEAK
NATURE RESERVE
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LOCATION : Central Berg
ENTRY FEE : 40 ZAR (3€)
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PARKING COST : 50 ZAR (3€)
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OPENING HOURS : 6am-6pm
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INFO : www.sa-venues.com
Covering 32,000 hectares, Cathedral Peak is a nature reserve renowned for its escarpment of peaks spreading from Royal Natal National Park to Giant's Castle. Located in the Central Berg, not far from the town of Winterton, the nature reserve counts numerous free standing peaks, such as Cathedral Peak (3,004 m), the Bell (2,930 m), the Horn (3,005 m) or the Cleft Peak (3281 m). Cathedral Peak Nature Reserve is considered to be a paradise for hiking and one of the best part of Drakensberg for backpacking or rock climbing. The magnificent mountain scenery, the scenic view of the surrounding lowlands and the beautiful waterfalls made Cathedral Peak Nature Reserve a must for hiking enthusiasts. The mountain ranges are a habitat for numerous plants and animal spices. There is no way you wont see at least a baboon or a deer crossing your path during your hike.
To access the park you need to pay an entry fee of 40 ZAR, and you have the possibility to park your car closer to the strating point of the trails for 50 ZAR. We definitly recommand to park your car inside the nature reserve : first of all because the entrance parking is quite far, and second of all because you will get of voucher of 30 ZAR in the Hotel's bar (a fresh drink is really welcomed after a day of hiking). If you don't want to spend a fortune on spleeping inside the park, the town of Winterton is the perfect base. There is only half an hour driving to get to Cathedral Peak and the road is quite a experience. Driving into the dirt roads of the area, you will pass remoted traditionnal Zulu villages and the view on Cathedral Peak will unfold itself gradually as you get closer to the park.
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There is over 20 hiking trails in the reserve, both for beginners and experienced hikers. Some of the trails can be combined to become a longer hike, and the accessibility of the trails make it is easy to do few of them in a day. The trails are listed on a well-made map that you can get in the Cathedral Peak Hotel reception :
Hiker's Gravesite : 20 min, easy
Belinda Falls : 30 min, easy
Lake Jarred View Point : 30 min, easy
Gold Course Walk : 40 min, easy
Ashlea's Amble : 40 min, easy
uMlambonja Riverside Walk : 40 min, easy
uMlambonja Valley : 1h30, easy
uMhlonhlo Valley : 1h30, easy
Doreen Falls : 1h30, easy
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Oqwaleni Fern Forest : 2 hours, moderate
Blue Pools : 2h30, moderate
Albert Falls : 2h30 moderate
Lake William : 3 hours, moderate
Neptune's Pool : 4 hours, moderate
Rainbow Gorge : 4h30, moderate
Mushroom Rock : 3 hours, difficult
Ribbon Falls : 3h30, difficult
One Tree Hill : 3h30, difficult
Baboon Rock : 4 hours, difficult
Cathedral Peak : 9-10 hours, difficult
We hiked four of these trails and it was without a doubt our best experiences in the Drakensberg (highly recommended !!!) :
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Combination between Doreen Falls + Albert Falls + Ribbon Falls
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Doreen Falls : It will take you less than 1 hour (accessible for the whole family) to get to the small Doreen Waterfall and its pool where you can have a swim if you are not scared of very cold water !
Albert Falls : The hike from Doreen Falls to Albert Falls is a steep half an hour climb. Once you get to Albert Falls you need to o back on the same road to Doreen Falls (it's really quick because it's downhill).
Ribbon Falls : From Doreen Falls, it takes around 2 hours to get to Ribbon Falls (there is many stops on the road to admire the landscapes and you will want to catch one's breath!). You need to know that the trail can be sometimes dangerous. The path can be really narrow on the edge of the mountain hills, and sometimes it feel like it's missing a leather when you have to climb. The way back goes much faster because it's downhill (around 1 hour).
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This beautiful hike offer views on a breathtaking scenery, especially in the section around Ribbon Falls where you can get a scenic view of the surrounding lowlands.
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Mushroom Rock Trail
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The trail to get to Mushroom Rock is quite a climb (400 meters high from the strating point of the trail) ! But the rewards of the dramatic panorama views on the reserve is more than worth it. It took us a bit more than 1 hour and a half to climb to the Mushroom Rock and less than an hour for the way back. Once you get to the Mushroom Rock, you can extend the hike with a 20 min walk (passing around the rock) to have a good view on Cathedral Peak, the Bell and the Horns. We didn't find the path, or at least the path you found next to the rock was way too dangerous to walk on. However, just behind the rock (on the opposite side of the arrival) the impressive panorama view on the mountain range make this spot a perfect place for a pic nic.
