Drakensberg Mini Traverse 3 Day Fastpacking
Mini Traverse: Fast Pack Edition
70km in 2 Days. You’ll Cry, You’ll Laugh, You’ll Limp Proudly.
So the title got your attention, huh? Welcome to the Mini Traverse Fast Pack Edition. It’s fast. It’s wild. It’s basically the Drakensberg’s version of a high-altitude espresso shot, short, intense, and guaranteed to leave you buzzing.
Now, you might be wondering why it says “3 days” when we claim to do the Northern Traverse in just two. Ah yes… Elementary, my dear Watson. Day one is purely for travel, sorting gear, carb-loading, and mentally preparing yourself for what’s to come. The real fun begins on Day 2 and 3, where we hit the trail hard and cover 70km of pure escarpment joy.
What is Fast Packing?
It’s like hiking… but meaner.
Fast packing is the art of moving quickly and lightly through the mountains somewhere between a death march and a trail run, but with better snacks and more swearing. On this trip, we cover ±40km on Day 1, aiming to reach The Saddle ( or beyond, if you’re feeling spicy ), and finish off the remaining 30km on Day 2.
It’s not a race, but it ain’t a stroll either. You’ll be sweating. You’ll be swearing. And you’ll be smug as hell when the mini traverse is over.
How Difficult is the Mini Traverse?
Let’s not sugar-coat it, this one’s a beast.
The 2-day Mini Traverse is not for beginners or casual strollers who think a Drakensberg photo means you’ve been there. It’s hard, remote, mostly off-trail, and involves some solid vertical gains, river crossings, weather tantrums, and potentially a few “what are we doing with our lives?” moments.
Only attempt this if:
- You’re fit, fast, and familiar with back-to-back hiking days
- You understand that bad weather can change everything, from pace to route to your opinion of your guide.
Want a bit more of a relaxed version? Then check out our six day mini traverse version here.
What Gear Do I Need to Bring?
Ah yes, the gear question. In short? Bring your legs we’ve got the rest.
We’ll provide you with:
- Lightweight sleeping bags (as in 460 grams light)
- Tents, inflatable sleeping mats, and eating utensils
- Deliciously convenient freeze-dried meals.
You just need to bring your personal clothing, trail snacks, 1L of water, and your A-game. We’ll send you a full packing list, but the golden rule is keep it light. If your pack weighs more than 7kg, you’ve brought shame upon this mountain.
When’s the Best Time to Hike?
This fast pack Mini Traverse is open all year round, but each season has its own quirks:
- Winter (May–August): Expect cold temps, biting wind, and shorter days (~10 hours of light). Bring layers and warm gear.
- Summer (September–April): Longer daylight hours, but also rain, mist, and the occasional thunderstorm that makes you question your hobby.
In both seasons, the escarpment plays by its own rules. Prepare for everything from sunshine to sideways snow, and maybe a rogue ibex. (Okay, maybe not the ibex.)
Why Hike With Soul Adventures?
Because we’ve been doing this since before most people were Googling “What shoes do I wear for hiking?”
With 20+ years of mountain experience, we’ve led thousands across the Drakensberg and beyond to places like Kilimanjaro, Everest Base Camp, and even parts of your soul you didn’t know existed.
We’re not just here to get you from A to B. We’re here to:
- Keep you safe with proper planning, permits, comms, and first-aid
- Keep you comfortable with light gear, strong coffee, and humour-based morale boosts
- Keep you entertained with inappropriate jokes, bad dance moves, and mountain wisdom
Oh, and if you survive? We’ll throw in a high five and maybe a cold beer at the end of this Mini Traverse extravaganza.
INCLUDED
- Qualified mountain guide and wilderness first responder
- Transfer from Cathedral peak hotel to Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge
- 1 night accommodation at Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge
- Dinner, breakfast, lunches and hot drinks on the mountain which our team will cook and prepare
- Equipment including 4 season tents, sleeping bags, sleeping mats, backpacks and eating utensils ( lightweight for this trip )
- Dry one liner jokes to motivate you up the mountain
- Dedicated Drakensberg trip planner
- 2 days/1night in the mountains
- Local taxes
- discounts on gear purchases at Drifters
NOT INCLUDE
- Transport to Cathedral Peak Hotel
- My beautiful wife
- Flights and airport taxes
- Items of a personal nature
- Tips for guides, porters and cook
- Visas for South Africa
- Health requirements (if any)
- Optional but highly recommended travel and medical insurance
- Snacks, personal medicine and water purifying tablets
- Meals & drinks not specified
Day 1 – Meet, Greet & Regret Nothing (Yet)
We kick things off at Cathedral Peak Hotel in the Northern Drakensberg. Aim to arrive around 12PM, not “African time,” but actual time. Here we’ll sort your gear, check your life insurance is up to date (just kidding… kinda), and hop in our pre-arranged transfer to Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge.
Why this roundabout route, you ask? Because once you finish the hike, your car is waiting for you at Cathedral. Genius, right?
We’ll run through a safety briefing, final gear check, hydration nagging, and maybe even a motivational speech that sounds suspiciously like a roast. If you need transport from Johannesburg, we can arrange it at an additional cost. Just say the word. Or grunt. We speak both.
Dinner tonight is on your own account at Witsieshoek, but we do recommend carb-loading. Tomorrow… is not for the weak.
Day 2 – Into the Great Wide Open (and Way Too Many Kilometres)
We’ll gently wake you at 5:00AM with the soothing sounds of a foghorn and emotional trauma. Breakfast is at 5:30, and by 6:00AM we hit the shuttle to Sentinel Car Park.
By 7:00AM, it’s game time.
We ascend the zigzags, up to the infamous chain ladders (pro tip: don’t look down), with a quick detour to admire Tugela Falls because what’s a 983m vertical waterfall if not a good excuse to catch your breath?
From there, we head partially into Lesotho, trekking about 14km to reach Madonna and Her Worshippers. Yes, that’s a real place. Yes, it looks like a cathedral built by giants. By midday, we should be halfway.
Then it’s on to the Mnweni Pinnacles, along the Mnweni Highway, and up and over to the Mnweni Buttress—because nothing says “holiday” like one more savage climb to end the day. We’ll bivvy just below North Peak, under a sky so clear it makes city people cry.
Dinner? Freeze-dried and fantastic. Or at least hot.
Day 3 – All Downhill From Here (Kind Of)
Rise and shine at 6:00AM sharp, no, we don’t care how much your quads are complaining. We’ve got two big climbs to conquer before we begin the final descent.
Depending on weather and trail conditions, we’ll take either:
- The Bell Traverse (spicy, scenic, and slightly exposed)
- Or Mlambonja Pass (long, less airy, still a thigh burner)
With a bit of luck, a lot of snacks, and no tantrums, we’ll roll back into Cathedral Peak Hotel around 2–3PM, where your vehicle, dignity, and a potential cold beer await.
You’ll be exhausted. You’ll be proud. You’ll swear you’ll never do it again… until next time.
