5 Reasons to Summer-Hike in the Drakensberg

Conventional wisdom holds that the best time to hike in the Drakensberg is in spring or autumn – sufficiently long days, mild weather, the bright greens of spring (or alternatively the deep yet fading greens of autumn) and most importantly a diminished chance of thunderstorms and heavy rain, makes this prime Drakensberg time. September to early November and late March to May I would say.

Summer wildflowers paint the Drakensberg in brilliant colour.

Winter brings its own magic. Except for the occasional cold front, the days are clear and pleasant (ideal for long walks) and the landscape is covered in hues of brown and yellow with sub-zero temperatures on the escarpment.

High summer, however, is something special in my opinion – notwithstanding the obvious negatives (discussed below), here are the reasons why I have hiked in the Drakensberg in December more than any other month of the year:

Sunrise above a sea of clouds

Moisture-rich air results in clouds – lots of it. At night, the cool air settles and vast banks of clouds drop down to the Little Berg and KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. If you are on top of the escarpment, you will be anything between 500 and 1000m above the fluffy white sea. Seeing the sun rise above the clouds is a spectacle you will never forget – the only downside being the 4am wake-up time.

Sunrise above the clouds – one of the great Drakensberg experiences.

Greener than you can imagine

I love greenery on terra firma – trees, grass, moss, reeds, you name it. In summer, the Drakensberg teems with green; the kind of green that makes you think pictures are photoshopped. It is also well noted in psychological literature that green – green landscapes in particular – has a calming, de-stressing effect, as well as being associated with increased creativity and a sense of well-being. Also, it is just so incredibly beautiful!

Verdant valleys and slopes after the summer rains.

Waterfalls

Due to the summer rains, the rivers flow stronger. This might result in difficult river crossings and increased effort going up river beds, but the waterfalls are bigger, more spectacular and more plentiful. Nothing like mountains decorated with glistening ribbons of flowing water after the rain.

Summer rains transform the Berg into a land of waterfalls and pools.

Long days

The long daylight hours are especially useful for long hikes. It’s easier to get up early, and you can put in a full day’s hike and still be able to set up camp in daylight and have some time to chill and explore. It is pretty grim to wake up in the dark and/or set up camp in the dark. Another bonus is the ability to dry out wet or washed clothes within a day.

Long daylight hours leave time for goofing around.

Swimming

Mountain streams are always cold, and on the escarpment the water is either freezing or frozen-over outside the summer months. Also, in drier months there might only be stagnant pools of water, which relegates water usage to consumption purposes only. The streams are still pretty chilly in summer but it is bearable, and there’s the upside that your body will warm a bit quicker afterwards. Nothing like getting properly clean after a long, sweaty day of hiking.

Cool off after a long day of hiking in crystal-clear mountain water.

The negatives

Lightning storms: Much like shark attacks, the danger of lightning is usually overestimated. It is, however, a very real danger in the Drakensberg, and I recommend that you read our article on Lightning Safety.

Fog and visibility: The rising clouds often become a thick fog on the escarpment, which may result in you walking for half a day or more with very little visibility. On the escarpment and in Lesotho a GPS device and accurate coordinates are a must. Also, when hiking in a group, make sure that you stay together.

Thick fog on the escarpment can reduce visibility to just metres.

Flooding: Occasionally, heavy rains will render the streams in the Little Berg impassable, trapping hikers. There are also some passes that are prone to flash flooding. The streams normally run down after a day or two and will become passable again (unless there’s more rain).

Heavy summer rains can quickly swell the mountain streams.

What’s your favourite time of year to hike in the Drakensberg and why? Please comment below.

The Drakensberg at its greenest and most alive.