Sentinel to Mnweni 4 Day Traverse
What is the Sentinel to Mnweni Traverse?
Dear Olga, I would like to request the secret code to the greenlight district… ah wrong platform. If you are not here for the smutty stuff then you must be here to join our 4 Day Sentinel to Mnweni Traverse. To break it down, this 4 day traverse is a shorter version of our 6 Day Northern Traverse which is designed for hikers with less flexbility and smaller time constraints.
What to expect on the Sentinel to Mnweni Traverse
During the 4 Day trek from Sentinel to Mnweni, you will witness the awe-inspiring beauty of the Drakensberg’s rugged landscapes and towering peaks. The intricate patterns and textures of the basalt formtoions will leave you mesmerised, as each rock tells a stroy of millions of years of geological historty. From the inconic silhouette of Sentinel Peak to the impressive cascades of Tugela Falls, prepare to be amazed by the grandeur of nature’s masterpeice. As you explore the Mnweni Pinnacles, you will be rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views that strech as far as the eye can see. get ready for an unforgettable adventure through the heart of the Drakensberg mountains.
How difficult is this trek?
We rate this hike as moderate when comapred to other hikes in the Drakensberg. With that being said, the Sentinel to Mnweni Traverse isn’t a stroll in the park and shouldn’t be underestimated. There are various factors about the Drakensberg that can make this hike challenging. For instance, majority of this hike is off trail on uneven terrain. Although we will only be hiking around 12km each day, that off trail factor does play a factorin making this hike more difficult than if it had a trail. Additionally if you’re not used to sleeping in a tent on an inflatble mattress then your comfort level may also be affected.
Day 3 of the Sentinel to Mnweni Traverse: Madonna and Her Worshippers during sunirse on a mid winter morning.
INCLUDED
- Qualified mountain guide and wilderness first responder plus assistants
- retrun transfers from Mnweni CC to Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge
- Dinners, breakfasts 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
- Dry one liner jokes to motivate you up the mountain
- Dedicated Drakensberg trip planner
- 4 days/3 night in the mountains
- Local taxes
- 10% discount when purchasing equipment or clothing from Drifters
- 10% discount when purchasing food from Mama Alles
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
- Porters (can be hired on a daily basis for an additional fee)
- Visas for South Africa
- Health requirements (if any)
- Optional but highly recommended travel and medical insurance
- Personal hiking/trekking gear – you can rent some of the gear from us once in South Africa
- Snacks, personal medicine and water purifying tablets
- Meals & drinks not specified
Day 1
Our meeting location for the Sentinel to Mnweni Traverse is at Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge at 10am.
We aim to catch the 11:30am shuttle from Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge and head to Sentinel Car Park which is our actual starting point of the hike. After putting a rock in your bag we head off into these majestic mountains. The first section of the hike is known as the Zig Zag and will be where we cover a majority of our ascent in one fowl swoop. We gain 250 meterrs of vertcial ascent in just 2km. Afterwards its a gentle stroll to the chain ladders where you’ll conquer your fear of heights.
We then tackle the last uphill of the hike which is 70 vertical meters and takes us to our secluded campsite at Bilanjil Falls. The views of Tugela Falls from here are just magical, especially when the waterfall is in flow. Dinner is served just before sunset which is between 5-7pm depening on the time of year.
Day 2
Day 2 welcomes us with a 5am wake up call. Times may differ depedning on time of year. You are greeted by three rapid ping pong balls, I mean fresh cup of coffee in which you will take in the aromtic smells as we watch the sunrise. Then its time for breakfast before striking down camp and heading out.
We hike what is known as the Vlei which sounds like something from Game of Thrones. This is basically a marshland in the wet months so be emotionally prepared for wet feet. We then ascend what is known as Icidi which is where we will have some freshly caught snails for lunch before taking on the last 2 hours of the hike to our camp site at Madonna and Her Worshippers. We follow the same procedure as the night before while taking in the epic views of Madonna… and just like her we only have fun fun fun on our hikes.
Day 3
Woah is me will be the cry when the man waking me up passes me by. The first section of todays hike is fairly gradual before turning into a brutal uphill of about 200 vertical meters. We spend abour 3 hours hiking to what is possibly one of the most scenic and remote regions of the Drakensberg Escarpment, The Mnweni Pinnacles. Here we will take in the epic scenary while having a pleasnt lunch before hitting the Mnweni Highway which is a worn through trail taking us to our campsite at the top of Mnweni Pass. Tonight we also have the option on staying in one of Drakenberg’s best caves, Ledgers Cave.
Day 4
The final leg of this 4 day trek comes to an end as we descend down Rockeries Pass, one of the “easier” passes in the Drakensberg. The hike today roughly covers 12kms. We aim to arrive at the Mnweni Cultural Centre which is our end destination for this hike around 1-3pm depending on the groups fitness. We then load up the van and head back to Witsieshoek and should arrive by 5pm.
