Northern Drakensberg
Nestled in the rolling hills and valleys at the foot of the mighty Northern Drakensberg lies a collective of landowners and lodges united by a shared vision. Together, they have established the Northern Drakensberg Nature Reserve—6,000 hectares of protected land between Royal Natal National Park and Sterkfontein Nature Reserve resulting in 18000 ha of continuous protected land—dedicated to preservation, rewilding, and the long-term health of this remarkable landscape.
As custodians of this space, we invite you to experience its magic through our slack packing routes, which link the lodges within the reserve. These trails offer an immersive journey through unspoilt nature, paired with warm hospitality along the way. Choose from our tried-and-tested routes or let us tailor a journey to suit your group.
A 4 night slack packing route which gives hikers the opportunity to explore the 6500ha Northern Drakensberg Nature Reserve, by hiking from one founding establishment to the next.
Each night is spent in a fabulous lodge, with beautifully appointed rooms and delicious meals.
Luggage is transferred from lodge to lodge, so hikers only need carry a small day pack.
A local walking guide accompanies each group to show the way and share local knowledge. This allows hikers to be fully immersed in the experience, not worrying about whether or not they are on the right track!
This route follows an undulating trail for 55kms, 1800m in elevation, over 4 days. Relative fitness is required but the paths have been selected to remain below the cliff line, making this route manageable for most. The longest day is 18kms, the shortest 9kms and the first day has the hardest terrain.
Cost
Pax | Rate per person sharing | ||
Jan – Sept 2026 | Oct – Dec 2026 | Jan – Sept 2027 | |
2 | R11 380 | R11 660 | R11 190 |
4 | R10 290 | R10 570 | R11 190 |
6 | R9 926 | R10 207 | R10 802 |
10 | R9 736 | R10 016 | R10 601 |
Includes
- 4 Nights Accommodation
- Meals from dinner on day of arrival to breakfast on day of departure
- 4 days hiking
- Luggage transfer
- Northern Drakensberg Nature Reserve Conservation Levy
excludes
- Drinks and resort extras
- On Trail snacks
- Spa treatments
The Drakensberg is beautiful no matter the season but it is best to be prepared for the changes.
Our favourite time is April and May 😉
Summer is a high rainfall season and we have wet weather between October and March. Wet-weather gear is important and if hikes cannot be complete because of downpours, hikers can be transferred with bags to the next stay-over (max 4, extra vehicles would incur an extra fee). Water is important for hot days and river crossings might require “shoes-off” and away we go!
Winter is generally more stable with less wet weather but hikers should always carry rain gear and clothing for warmth. March to September can be spectacular for walking with more temperate weather, cooler mornings and evenings, and streams less full.
Bookings generally are not available over long weekends and peak times, as the resorts have minimum night stay requirements.
Bookings can be done through All Out Adventures.
A minimum of 2 people is required for the route.
There aren’t set departure dates, we just enquire at the Lodges when there are people keen to do the route.
The Package is subject to availability at the accommodation venues. Once you have dates in mind and we can check availability for you.
The route is circular and so it is possible to start at any of the accommodation venues.
It is recommended that groups book an extra night accommodation the night before the starting point. We can arrange this for you.
Sections of the route can be done on horse back or mountain bikes.
A dose of adrenalin from activities at All Out Adventures can be included in the program, especially for family groups where the kids might not find hiking so thrilling 😊
It is also possible to adjust the route to accommodate individual group needs.
Please be in touch to discuss what would suit you best and we can put together an itinerary especially for your group.
