Namahadi Peak (Drakensberg) Jul 2005

I drove to the JSE on Friday afternoon where Al and Zelda were waiting. We left soon after 4pm. The traffic was the same as always through Jo’burg and we took the alternative route to Warden. We arrived in Harrismith at 19:30 and had dinner at the Spur. We drove into the municipal caravan park just after 20:30 and got ourselves settled. We found a tree with some leaves on to sleep under as I thought we should try to keep the tent relatively dry. When we got up the next morning the thermometer read -6.2 degrees C.

Day 1 (9 July): We left Harrismith just after 6am and got to Sentinel car park just after 7am. I boiled some water for coffee, then we packed and were on our way at around 8am. It was very cold and we all started the hike with fleece jackets and long pants. Into the first zig-zag we walked into the sun and shed some layers for the first time. We made good time past the upper zig-zags and were soon on the contour path. Then the chain ladder came and went and at 10am we were standing at the large cairn at the top. I had a good look at the maps and started off in a westerly direction. Having reached altitude quickly and still feeling a bit chilled, we took our time up the long incline to the ridge leading down from Mont-aux-Sources. Getting to the saddle at around 11:30 I decided to continue to a little rock band a little more than a kilometer distant for lunch. After lunch we contoured around the first ridge and caught sight of what could have been Namahadi peak. After another contour through a large bowl I realized it was too close to be Namahadi. Then there was a long climb up an attached peak and on the way we had awesome views over the northern escarpment. Past the long climb we had to contour yet another salad bowl before getting up to a saddle and seeing for the first time the real Namahadi peak – it was still quite a way to go. As we trudged along at a gentle gradient to pass another ridge I decided that we should rather set up camp soon and climb the peak later, rather than trying to get up the peak with packs as I initially thought would be the best. So past the last ridge, with Namahadi peak straight ahead of us, we quickly found a suitable spot for the tent. Al offered to go and collect water while Zelda started the cooking and I pitched the tent. The idea was that we have an early dinner of hot food, wash up before it gets cold, and then climb the peak in dusk and early evening, returning to the tent for pudding. Al returned in good time with plenty water and we were able to wolf down some Mince Mate before 16:30. After a quick wash-up and dressing up for the expected cold, we walked up to the summit of Namahadi peak. The view from the top was good and we stayed quite a while, waiting for the sun to set. We got back to the tent before it was dark enough for torches and I quickly boiled some water for tea while all of us had pudding. In the tent we took great care to hide our valuables and boots inside. The packs were tied together and to the tent just in case. As everything got quiet I was sure I heard footsteps but later realized it was my heart beating against the fabric of the sleeping bag. Even so, I slept badly and got surprisingly hot in the early morning hours.

Day 2 (10 July): I woke everyone up at 6am. The coldest temperature during the night was about -5.5 outside and -3 inside the tent – not really as cold as I hoped. But as we made breakfast and waited for the sun to rise, the temperature dropped to a chilly -10.7! We managed to pack up quickly and were on our way just after 07:30. Because we had more descending than ascending to do, I expected to finish earlier than the previous day. Feeling strong, I pushed hard past the three bowls and even with short stops in between, we stood on top of the saddle at 09:30 and at the top of the chain ladder at 10:00! That meant we hiked 10km in 2.5 hours! Then I got the itch again to get back and after a break below the chain ladder we started moving fast. We passed a few people along the way but barely stopped to say hi. We were back at the car park at 11:15! We packed up and left for some greasy food in Harrismith.

It was a good long hike with the very notable peak of Namahadi to bag. Although not difficult at all the peak is quite remote and so far away from the usual hang-out at the Tugela falls that I suspect very few people ever see it. I expected there to be no snow but I was pleasantly surprised to see remnants of old snow in a few permanently shaded spots. The cold was not bad at all and I’m hoping that the next few winter berg hikes will be even colder.