10 Tips to help you complete the Drakensberg Grand Traverse

Willem Boshoff shares some tips from his Drakensberg Grand Traverse (DGT) experience, and also gets some pro tips from accomplished Drakensberg hiker Jonathan Newman (first back-to-back DGT) and newly initiated DGT finisher Romy Chevallier, who completed a 13-day DGT in December 2017.

1. Plan Your Route

The official DGT has a defined start, finish and some compulsory peaks to tick off in between. Your route between these sections can vary, but given the magnitude of the endeavour, it’s recommended that you use the record route waypoints as a basis, with specific variations where you choose to do so (read more here).

A crucial part of planning is deciding how many days you want to complete the DGT in — having targeted overnight spots will help you stay on track. However, it’s recommended that you budget an extra day or two in case bad weather, injury or other adverse events slow you down.

It’s also important to be aware of your exit options along the way, as well as the routes to descend to lower ground in case of severe weather.

2. Choose the Right Season

The DGT can be done year-round, and each season has its pros and cons. Consensus is that spring (late August to October) and autumn (March to early May) are the best times of year. The ideal is to have sufficient daylight hours, warmer temperatures and a minimum incidence of bad weather. It’s also worthwhile to keep an eye on the long-term weather forecast (up to 10 days) to try and avoid major snowfall, especially during winter and spring.

Jonathan: For a speed hike (assuming you’ll hike sections at night), try and time your hike over full moon.

This screenshot of the weather forecast for Giant’s Castle Peak at 3315m (left) and the surrounding foothills at 1800m (right) shows that severe weather can occur any time of the year. In case of extreme weather, it’s useful to descend to lower ground, with about 0.8°C increase in temperature for every 100m descended.

3. Get Fit — and Then Backpack Fit

The DGT is hard — very hard when done unsupported. It’s important to get into good all-round shape; you’ll need endurance for the long distances, as well as strength to carry a heavy backpack and minimise injury risk. Start a proper exercise programme at least six months in advance, even if you hike regularly. Develop leg, core, back and shoulder strength alongside endurance and cardio training. Do a few long-distance trails with a heavy pack to ensure your body gets “backpack fit” and your feet harden.

Training hikes with a heavy pack will prepare your body for the DGT’s demands.

Jonathan: If you’re doing a speed hike, practice night hiking beforehand.

4. Fine-Tune Sharing and Weight Saving

Even a pack-animal like myself needs to plan and pack carefully to keep backpack weight down. If you do it unsupported, 10+ days of food will make up a large portion of your pack’s weight. The good news is that your pack will get lighter as you eat. Your target pack weight should be between a quarter and a third of your body weight.

• Don’t duplicate items that can be shared (like stoves, pots and first-aid kits).
• Plan, measure and pack lightweight meals.
• Decant just the right amount of consumables (toothpaste, soap, sunblock, etc.).
• Stick to the essentials only.

Romy: Why not get a porter for a few days? Our group employed two porters for the first four days to carry extra food. We also arranged a food drop at Sani Pass which helped keep backpack weight manageable. The current (2018) cost for a porter is around R700 per day, and they’ll carry up to 15kg. It’s also a great way to help the local economy!

5. Maximise Calories

Packing calorie-dense foods is key to sustained energy on the DGT.

You’ll definitely be hiking on a calorie deficit — this is your opportunity to smash all those diet plans and still lose weight! Focus on food’s calorie-to-weight ratio: fat (37 kJ/g) ranks highest, followed by alcohol (29 kJ/g), protein (17 kJ/g) and carbs (16 kJ/g). While you can’t just pack cream and whisky, aim for balanced meals with energy-rich foods. Research calorie values and optimise. Oily and fatty foods, dry grains and nuts are the most weight-efficient energy sources.

Calorie-to-weight comparison: focus on calorie-dense, nutritious trail foods.

6. Gear Up with Down (and Other Lightweight Gear)

It’ll be cold or freezing on the escarpment, so warm clothing and a below-zero-rated sleeping bag are essential. High-fill goose down has the best warmth-to-weight ratio, and combining a down sleeping bag with a down jacket can save a kilogram or two compared to synthetic gear. A sleeping bag with a comfort rating of around -5°C in winter and 0°C in other months is recommended. Remember, “comfort” ratings differ from “extreme/survival” ratings — read more here.

High-quality down gear saves weight while keeping you warm at altitude.

7. Sleep Like a Champ

For most mortals, the DGT is a 10+ day excursion. Not sleeping well will catch up to you, so invest in a good mattress kit. Comfort and insulation (R-value) are key. A combo of an inflatable mattress (for comfort) and a light gaper pad (for insulation and puncture prevention) works well. See this gear review for an excellent 600g combo with an R-value of 2.8. (R-value 2–3 is fine outside winter; 3+ for winter.)

8. Use Trekking Poles

Trekking poles help transfer weight to your arms, improve stability and reduce injury risk. A no-brainer — and the scientists agree.

Picture credit: Romy Chevallier

9. Body Care, Mental Preparation and Comforts

Picture credit: Sarah Lowe

In addition to physical exertion and the elements taking their toll, looking after your body helps maintain a good headspace. Some tips:

• Pack moisturiser for lips and face, and use a moisturising sun lotion on your body.
• Use a thin layer of anti-chafing cream on hotspots (toes, heels, hips, thighs, underarms, etc.). Romy: Walking long stretches on pathless slopes caused blisters in places I never had them before — pay attention to hotspots and carry proper blister care.
• Stretch and massage tired muscles daily (budget 10–20 minutes). Jonathan: Rubbing tired feet improves circulation and recovery. Do it daily to prevent sore feet.
• Romy: Use good-quality socks! Your shoes will get wet at some point — quality wool socks help prevent chafing and stay fresher longer.
• Jonathan: The DGT is more psychological than physical — prepare mentally for long, monotonous sections like the Jarateng, and stay positive.
• Romy: Study your map each night to mentally prepare for the next day’s route — especially climbs.
• Romy: Reward yourself daily with a treat — a hot chocolate, flavoured drink or snack.

10. Be a Team with a Captain

Picture credit: Sarah Lowe

Team dynamics are critical — a good sense of humour, camaraderie and sharing are essential. Who you do the DGT with is more important than how many you are. Smaller groups are easier to manage; larger ones enhance safety and allow flexibility in case of injury. It’s useful to appoint a captain to navigate, set the pace and decide when to start and stop — even if the group makes decisions together, it helps to have someone who can make the calls when everyone is exhausted.

Do you have other tips that helped you complete the DGT? Share them in the comments below!